Background
Spinden, Herbert Joseph was born on August 16, 1879 in Huron, South Dakota, United States. Son of Eugene and Mary Rose (Herbert) Spinden.
Spinden, Herbert Joseph was born on August 16, 1879 in Huron, South Dakota, United States. Son of Eugene and Mary Rose (Herbert) Spinden.
Master of Arts, Harvard, 1906, Master of Arts, 1908, Doctor of Philosophy, 1909.
1 son, Joseph Gilmour. Engaged in field work in archeology and ethnology, in North Dakota and Idaho, for Peabody Museum, Harvard University, 1905-1908. Assistant curator anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, 1909-1921.
Curator Mexican archeology and ethnology, Peabody Museum, 1921-1929.
Curator of anthropology, Buffalo (New York) Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1926-1929. Now curator of America Indian art and primitive cultures, Brooklyn (New York) Museum.
Exchange professor to National University and Museum of Mexico, under auspices Department of State. Specializes in ancient art and ancient American history.
Has made extensive explorations in search of ruined cities in Central America, and prepared exhibits on Aztecs.
Mayas, et cetera Special government work in Central and South America, 1917-1918. In charge exhibition of industrial art, 1919.
Solved the chronology of Mayan inscriptions, their civil calendar and Venus calendar, also the eras estimated by the Toltecs.
Attache American Legation, Havana, as observer of Cuban elections, 1920. National delegate to Congress of Americanists, Rio de Janeiro, 1922. The Hague and Gotheborg, 1924.
Member National Research Council, 1925-1927, 1936.
Lectured at universities of Peru, Chile and Argentina as Federal Good Neighbor Activity, 1941.
Member American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Antiq. Society, American Anthropology Association (ex-president), American Ethnological Society, American Folk-Lare Society, Eastern Association on Indian Affairs (ex-president), Society des Americanistes de Paris.
Fellow Royal Geography Society.
Clubs: Delta Upsilon, Harvard, Explorers (p.p., honorary. Member), Century (New York).
Married Ailes Gilmour, March 12, 1948.