Arthur Randolph Kelly
Encyclopedia
Arthur Randolph Kelly was a professional archaeologist born in Hubbard, Texas
to Thomas Lucius Kelly and Mamye Lewis (Atwood) Kelly on October 27, 1900.
After graduating from high school, Kelly studied at the University of Texas; obtaining his bachelor degree in 1921. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas he became interested in the field of physical anthropology
while taking classes under anthropologist G.C. Engerrand; who directed Kelly to go to Harvard and study under anthropologist Earnest Hooton
. He earned his M.A. in anthropology in 1926 and his Ph.D. in 1929; both from Harvard.
Kelly was hired in 1933 by the Smithsonian Institution
as director of excavations at the Macon Plateau Site near Macon, Georgia
on the Ocmulgee River as a part of the Federal Relief archaeological program. James A. Ford
was assigned by the Smithsonian as an assistant to Kelly.
While at Macon Plateau, Kelly was in charge of between 700 and 1000 Works Progress Administration
laborers. In 1937 the National Park Service put the Macon Plateau site on the list of National Historic places and was formally called the Ocmulgee National Monument
. The same year Kelly was hired by the National Park Service as Superintendent of the Ocmulgee National Monument.
In 1939 Kelly was promoted to chief archaeologist of the National Park Service
, and moved from Macon, Georgia to Washington, D.C. He left Washington in 1941 to become superintendent of the Custom’s House National Monument in Salem, Massachusetts
.
In 1943 Kelly went back to his former job as superintendent at Ocmulgee National Monument
at Macon, Georgia where he remained until he was asked by the University of Georgia
to start a Department of Anthropology there in the fall of 1947.
Kelly served as Chairman of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia from 1947 until 1963, and remained a professor there until 1969. Kelly’s archaeological work in Georgia include the Etowah Mound and Village site
, the Lake Douglas Mound, the Oliver and Walter F. George River Basin surveys, the Estatoe Mound, the Chauga Mound, and the Bell Field Mound among others.
Doctor Kelly and his wife, Rowana, had four daughters together: Sheila, Joanna, Patricia, and Cora Lewis.
Hubbard, Texas
Hubbard is a city in Hill County in Central Texas. It was named for Texas Governor Richard B. Hubbard. The population was 1,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hubbard is located at ....
to Thomas Lucius Kelly and Mamye Lewis (Atwood) Kelly on October 27, 1900.
After graduating from high school, Kelly studied at the University of Texas; obtaining his bachelor degree in 1921. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas he became interested in the field of physical anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
while taking classes under anthropologist G.C. Engerrand; who directed Kelly to go to Harvard and study under anthropologist Earnest Hooton
Earnest Hooton
Earnest Albert Hooton was a U.S. physical anthropologist known for his work on racial classification and his popular writings such as the book Up From The Ape...
. He earned his M.A. in anthropology in 1926 and his Ph.D. in 1929; both from Harvard.
Kelly was hired in 1933 by the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
as director of excavations at the Macon Plateau Site near Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
on the Ocmulgee River as a part of the Federal Relief archaeological program. James A. Ford
James A. Ford
James Alfred Ford was an American archaeologist. He was born in Water Valley, Mississippi, on February 12, 1911. He became interested in work on Native American mound research while growing up in Mississippi.-Archaeological work:...
was assigned by the Smithsonian as an assistant to Kelly.
While at Macon Plateau, Kelly was in charge of between 700 and 1000 Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
laborers. In 1937 the National Park Service put the Macon Plateau site on the list of National Historic places and was formally called the Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument preserves traces of over ten millennia of Southeastern Native American culture, including major earthworks built more than 1,000 years ago by Mississippian culture peoples: the Great Temple and other ceremonial mounds, a burial mound, and defensive trenches...
. The same year Kelly was hired by the National Park Service as Superintendent of the Ocmulgee National Monument.
In 1939 Kelly was promoted to chief archaeologist of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, and moved from Macon, Georgia to Washington, D.C. He left Washington in 1941 to become superintendent of the Custom’s House National Monument in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
.
In 1943 Kelly went back to his former job as superintendent at Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument preserves traces of over ten millennia of Southeastern Native American culture, including major earthworks built more than 1,000 years ago by Mississippian culture peoples: the Great Temple and other ceremonial mounds, a burial mound, and defensive trenches...
at Macon, Georgia where he remained until he was asked by the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
to start a Department of Anthropology there in the fall of 1947.
Kelly served as Chairman of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia from 1947 until 1963, and remained a professor there until 1969. Kelly’s archaeological work in Georgia include the Etowah Mound and Village site
Etowah Indian Mounds
Etowah Indian Mounds is a archaeological site in Bartow County, Georgia south of Cartersville, in the United States. Built and occupied in three phases, from 1000–1550 CE, the prehistoric site is located on the north shore of the Etowah River. Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site is a designated...
, the Lake Douglas Mound, the Oliver and Walter F. George River Basin surveys, the Estatoe Mound, the Chauga Mound, and the Bell Field Mound among others.
Doctor Kelly and his wife, Rowana, had four daughters together: Sheila, Joanna, Patricia, and Cora Lewis.