Extra-museum activities, 1926-2000

The extra–museum activities series contains records relating to curators' involvement with outside organizations, primarily correspondence regarding activities and membership. Of particular interest are the records of Spinden's participation in outside organizations. Included are records regarding Spinden's membership in the Century Association, the Eighth American Scientific Congress of 1940, the Explorer's Club, the New York Academy of Science, and the School Art League. One file, "Congresses and Conventions," contains material relating to other members of the department.

The "Eastern Association of Indian Affairs" file contains correspondence with the National Park Service regarding the destruction of Pueblo villages and legislation related to Native American affairs. Also of significance is a file on the American Anthropological Association that includes correspondence with the State Department and the White House regarding the post–war removal of art from Germany. Extra–museum activities also contains several drafts of Spinden papers and articles, including "Organization of the Hall of Early Man," "Time Scale for a New World," "Four-Dimensional Exploration," and several articles on American Indian culture and art. A file on the Science Service contains news releases on Spinden's archaeological and research discoveries.