George B. Barbour papers
name: label: Creator
content: Barbour, George B. (George Brown)
label: Names
content: League of Women Voters of Cincinnati
label: Names
content: Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre
place: label: Place
content: Zhangjiakou (China)
label: Place
content: East Asia
topic: label: Topic
content: Fossil hominids
label: Topic
content: Geology
label: Topic
content: Biological anthropology
creator: label: Creator
content: Barbour, George B. (George Brown)
setName: label: See more items in
content: George B. Barbour papers
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: George Brown Barbour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1890. He entered the University of Cambridge in 1912, but his education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. For his part, Barbour's service was largely spent in italy as an ambulance driver and medical aide. Despite the war, Barbour was able to continue his studies and received his BA in 1916 and MA in 1918. In 1919, Barbour moved to the United States and began doctoral studies at Columbia University. 

In 1920 Barbour married Dorothy Dickinson, a graduate of Columbia and active spokesperson for Christian education. That same year, the Barbours moved to Peking, China where Barbour had accepted a professorship at Yenching University. Dorothy occasionally taught classes there as well.

While in China, Barbour conducted research and fieldwork on Chinese geology, and was associated with colleagues at the Geological Survey of China. From 1929-1931 Barbour engaged in research contributing to dating "Peking Man", discovered in 1929 by Pei Wenzhong.

Barbour received his PhD from Columbia University in 1929. Due to an illness of one of their sons, the Barbours returned to the United States in 1931. Unable to get visas to return to China due to the political revolution, Barbour accepted a temporary teaching position at the University of Cincinnati in 1932. Between 1933 and 1936 Barbour served as an editor for the Geological Society of America, and taught at the University of London. During this time, Barbour again went to China to conduct field research, this time alongside Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French paleontologist and geologist. In 1937, Barbour returned to the faculty of the University of Cincinnati, this time as professor of geology. Barbour retired in 1960, having spent much of his tenure as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his work in China, Barbour also conducted research in South Africa. Dorothy continued with her promotion of Christian education in China and was an active member of the League of Women Voters of Cincinnati, serving on a "China Study" committee within the organization.

George Barbour died on July 12, 1977.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.29 Linear feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1920-1971
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: National Anthropological Archives
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NAA.1973-04
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Photographic prints and negatives have not been matched.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The George B. Barbour papers contain correspondence, field notebooks, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, and ephemera documenting his work with the Geological Survey of China. Barbour's South Africa research is not included in this collection.

Dorothy's interests are reflected in the papers which include newsletters, notes, and other material relating to Dorothy's work with the League of Women Voters and Christian education in China.

Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: The Human Studies Film Archives holds a film by George B. Barbour (HSFA 1981.5.6).

The Hoover Institution Library and Archives and the	University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library hold George B. Barbour papers.