Frederick Johnson papers concerning the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains
name: label: Creator
content: Johnson, Frederick, 1904-1994
label: Names
content: Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains
topic: label: Topic
content: Archaeology
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The papers were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by Frederick Johnson in 1982.
creator: label: Creator
content: Johnson, Frederick, 1904-1994
setName: label: See more items in
content: Frederick Johnson papers concerning the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Frederick Johnson papers concerning the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains mainly comprise information and records pertaining to the committee. CRAR operated from 1945 to the mid 1970's with the goal of protecting archaeological remains from destruction and promoting salvage archaeology through government action. Frederick Johnson created the committee, organized its original members, and served as secretary during its early years. This collection includes correspondence, notes, meeting materials, and transcripts.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Frederick Johnson (1904-1994) was an archaeologist and advocate for the protection of archaeological remains, mainly active during the mid to late 20th century. Johnson received his B.A. in Sociology from Tufts College in 1929 and later joined the Robert S. Peabody Foundation at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, serving as curator and later, director. Johnson pursued a wide range of anthropological interests and was a leader in field of early radiocarbon dating methods. He was active in multiple organizations outside of the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains (CRAR), serving as president of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) in 1947 and as secretary of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) from 1949-1952. 

Johnson created and acted as chair of the SAA's Planning Committee, a group which was tasked with evaluating archaeological needs and efforts relating to the Works Projects Administration. During this work, the members of the Planning Committee became concerned with the certain destruction of archaeological sites that would result from an approaching large-scale program for the construction of dams and other public works on America's rivers. Out of this concern, Johnson formed the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains with support from the Smithsonian, SAA, AAA, and the National Research Council. The original members of the CRAR consisted of Frederick Johnson, John O. Brew, Alfred V. Kidder, and William S. Webb. The group served as a lobbying and support organization for government action of salvage archeology which upheld professional standards in archaeology.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.57 Linear feet (10 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1929-1969
label: Date
content: bulk 1944-1957
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: National Anthropological Archives
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NAA.1982-39
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The material in this collection is arranged into four series: (1) Correspondence, 1944-1968; (2) Notes and meeting materials, 1929-1955; (3) Other anthropological organizations, 1944-1955; and (4) Transcripts of meetings, 1948-1949.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The Correspondence series is organized alphabetically. Johnson's folder titles were mostly retained. Some folder titles have been created by the archivist and are placed within square brackets. Processed by Lea Sellon, October 2022
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Frederick Johnson papers concern the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains (CRAR), for which Johnson served as secretary during the 1940's and 1950's. There is also some material concerning Johnson's other activities of the period, mainly including work for the Society of American Archaeology.
This collection mainly consists of correspondence, budgets, reports, notes, meeting materials, and transcripts. 

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 National Anthropological Archives holds material related to the result of the efforts of the Committee for the Recovery of Archaeological Remains in the River Basin Survey Records.

The National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, The Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology at the Phillips Academy, and  Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles hold papers and photographs of Frederick Johnson.