Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
Mary Slusser Collection
FSA.A2015.21
Archival Resource Key
28.57 Cubic feet
1933-2017
English
.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Mary Slusser (1918-2017) was born as Mary Shepherd in Welland, Ontario to George Percy and Ethel Mary Shepherd. Her family moved to Michigan the following year and Slusser became a naturalized US citizen in 1934. Slusser followed her sister, Dorothy Shepherd (1916-1992), to the University of Michigan, where Mary graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1942. During her studies at Michigan, she met Robert Slusser, whom she would marry in 1944. Slusser moved to New York City in 1942, again following the path of her sister, Dorothy, who had enrolled in graduate school at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts. Slusser undertook some coursework at NYU as a part-time student. Slusser would eventually complete her graduate studies at Columbia University, earning a PhD in anthropology in 1950. She completed some of her coursework at Harvard University, while her husband studied at nearby Tufts University. Her dissertation was titled "Preliminary archeological studies of northern Central Chile."
Next, Slusser worked as a research analyst at the US State Department. Her husband also worked at the agency and spent much of his career completing foreign service appointments as an economist with USAID. Slusser accompanied her husband to his various overseas posts, beginning in 1954 in Vietnam. The Slussers would live and work abroad in Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Guinea, Nepal, and Tunisia. Slusser continued to work for the State Department as a field anthropologist. Mary received funding from the Smithsonian to acquire a small collection of Nepalese artifacts. She immediately took to learning about the art and culture of the region. She found a dearth of English-language information on the area and did her own field work and engaged with local scholars to fill in the gaps. She remained in Nepal for five years, contracted by the Smithsonian to write a guide to Nepal. Her research would lead to
Nepal Mandala: A Cultural Study of Kathmandu Valley, a two-volume set of text and images, predominantly her own photographs, which was published in 1982.
Robert Slusser retired in 1980, and he and Mary permanently settled in Washington, DC. Her scholarly work took her to museums, first at the Museum of African Art as a curatorial assistant from 1975 to 1978, and then a post-doctoral fellowship at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in 1989. After her fellowship, Slusser was asked to remain at the museum as a research associate, an unpaid position she held for the rest of her career. Slusser continued to publish works on Nepalese art, including the 2010 book,
The Antiquity of Nepalese Wood Carving: a Reassessment, co-authored with Paul Jett, a conservator at the museum. Slusser used carbon dating tests to show that many Nepalese wood sculptures were much older than originally thought. Slusser also contributed to the establishment of the Patan Museum in Nepal, which opened in 1997. She served as the museum's cultural advisor and curator and wrote the museum guide and many of the exhibition materials.
Slusser continued to travel to Nepal and other parts of central Asia well into her eighties, often visiting remote sites on foot with the aid of local guides. Slusser stayed active at home, continuing her research work despite declining eyesight and hearing. She died in 2017 at age 98.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into five series:
• Series 1: Biographical Materials
• Series 2: Correspondence
• Series 3: Research Files
• Series 4: Travel Files
• Series 5: Photographic Materials
Scope and Contents
Mary Slusser (1918-2017) was a prominent scholar of Nepalese art, architecture, and cultural history. This collection contains personal files, professional correspondence, research files, travel documents, and photographs. The research files relate to her study of specific subjects and contain mixed media. Photographic materials include prints, slides, negatives, contact sheets, and digital images on compact discs in both color and black and white. Most of the collections are related to her study of Nepal, though other countries are represented including Tibet, Laos, China, and Vietnam. Subjects include firsthand observations of objects and sites; notes on secondary sources; correspondence with fellow scholars; manuscript drafts; and records of her work on the gallery space, and guide to, the Patan Museum. The earliest materials date from 1951 during the beginning of her time living abroad alongside her husband, while both worked for the State Department. The materials continue through 2017, reflecting her dedicated scholarship and travel through the end of her life.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to reproduce and publish an item from the Archives is coordinated through the National Museum of Asian Art's Rights and Reproductions department. Please contact the Archives in order to initiate this process.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Custodial History
Gift of Mary Slusser, 2015.
Related Materials
Mary Shepherd Slusser papers, circa 1950 – circa 1995, National Museum of National History, National Anthropolgical Archives, NAA.1983.0407
Dorothy Shepard Photographs, National Museum of Asian Art Archives, FSA.A2015.12
Russell Hamilton Postcard and Photograph Collection, National Museum of Asian Art Archives, FSA.A2001.13
Russell Hamilton postcards, between 1900-1909, National Museum of African Art, Eliot Elisophon Photographic Archives, EEPA.2003-001
Preferred Citation
Mary Slusser Collection, FSA A2015.21. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Mary Slusser.
Bibliography
Slusser, M. S. (1970). Kathmandu: A collection of articles. Tribhuvan University.
Slusser, M. S. (1982). Nepal Mandala: A cultural study of the Kathmandu valley. Princeton University Press.
Slusser, M. S., & Patan Museum (2002). Patan Museum Guide. The Museum.
Slusser, M. S., Vajrācārya, G., & Fuller, M. (2005). Art and Culture of Nepal: Selected papers. Mandala Publications.
Slusser M. S., & Jett, P. (2010). The Antiquity of Nepalese Wood Carving : A reassessment. University of Washington Press ; in association with the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Smithsonian Institution.
Bhaktapur (Nepal)
Nepal
Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)
Nepal -- Architecture
Nepal -- Art
Nepal -- Description and Travel
Tibet (China)
Vietnam
Canada
Wood-carving
Art, Asian -- Research
Sculpture
Photography -- Archives
Himalaya Mountains
Biographical Materials
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1933-2012
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
Papers related to Mary Slusser's personal life and education, including personal writing, correspondence, her curriculum vitae, and the transcript of an oral history interview she gave with the Society of Woman Geographers in 2011. Also includes materials related to her husband, Robert Slusser.
Curriculum Vitae
Archival Resource Key
1933-1998
1
1
Odds and Ends
Archival Resource Key
1969-2009
1
2
Oral history SWG interview
Archival Resource Key
2012
1
3
Restaurants/902/Rag
Archival Resource Key
2008
1
4
SWG Oral History
Archival Resource Key
2011
1
5
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1992-2017
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
These papers consist of Mary Slusser's professional correspondence with fellow scholars and enthusiasts. Correspondence related to particular projects can be found within the Research Files.
Cristi
Archival Resource Key
2004-2008
2
1
Erich, Rohit Thomas
Archival Resource Key
2005-2007
2
2
Gautam
Archival Resource Key
2004-2017
2
3
General correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1992-2015
2
4-5
Kamal P. Malla
Archival Resource Key
1997-2009
2
6
Niels
Archival Resource Key
2004-2012
2
7
Nutan
Archival Resource Key
2005-2008
2
8
Research Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1966-2011
Arrangement
Mary Slusser's research files are organized into four subseries based on the format in which she stored them and period of creation:
• Subseries 1: Binders, 1960s-1970s
• Subseries 2: Binders, 1990s
• Subseries 3: Folders
• Subseries 4: Index Cards
Scope and Contents
Mixed media files representing Slusser's research projects, beginning in 1966 and continuing through the end of her life in 2017. Early files represent her broad study of the history, art, and culture of the Kathmandu Valley. Later files focus on specific objects and projects, including the materials she wrote for the Patan Museum, her published scholarship on wood carving, and the results of carbon dating tests she had requested. The folder names derive from Slusser's original names when available. Folder names in brackets have been designated by the archivist.
Binders, 1960s-1970s
1
Archival Resource Key
1966-1975
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
Contains research notes from three-ring binders Slusser kept in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of these folders are categorized by broad themes and represent her early learning and interest in Nepal. These notes were gathered from both firsthand observations and secondary research.
1. History
Archival Resource Key
1974
3
1-2
2. Foreign Sociology
Archival Resource Key
1971-1974
3
3
3. Cities
Archival Resource Key
1967-1974
3
4
5. Architecture early
Archival Resource Key
1970-1971
4
1
6. Architecture Malla
Archival Resource Key
1969-1971
4
2
8. Nathas, Nagas, Buddha
Archival Resource Key
1966-1975
4
3-4
Art
Archival Resource Key
1971-1972
4
5
Bhaktapur
Archival Resource Key
1966-1970
4
6
Deupatan
Archival Resource Key
1971-1974
5
1
Festival
Archival Resource Key
1966-1969
5
2
Kathmandu I
Archival Resource Key
1968-1974
5
3
Kathmandu II
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
5
4-5
M.G.
Archival Resource Key
1968-1974
5
6
6
1
Patan
Archival Resource Key
1966-1971
6
2
Reliefs, Licchavi caityas, decor. Fragments, architecture
Archival Resource Key
1971
6
3
Sculpture I
Archival Resource Key
1969-1971
6
4
7
1
Sculpture II
Archival Resource Key
1968-1971
7
2
Sites
Archival Resource Key
1966-1971
7
3
Vishnu
Archival Resource Key
1968-1971
7
4
Binders, 1990s
2
Archival Resource Key
1990-2003
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
Consists of three-ring binders from the 1990s, including mixed paper and photographic formats. These binders relate to specific subject and project files that were created after Slusser established herself as a noteworthy scholar of Nepal. Includes materials related to her work with the Patan Museum.
I Nepal Examples
Archival Resource Key
1991-2001
8
1-4
II Clay-Stucco examples and techniques: Tibet-Ladakh, China, Japan, Central Asia, India
Archival Resource Key
1995
8
5
II Clay-Stucco: Nepal and Asia Technique
Archival Resource Key
1992-1994
8
6
II Clay-Stucco: Terracotta stylistic relations
Archival Resource Key
1991
9
1
III Lacquer A-M
Archival Resource Key
1990-1995
9
2-3
IV Lacquer
Archival Resource Key
1992-1996
9
4-5
Devicat
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
10
1-2
Galleries and labels
Archival Resource Key
1996
10
3-5
Silkroad Research Notes
Archival Resource Key
2003
11
1-3
Folders
3
Archival Resource Key
1969-2011
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
Contains research files that Slusser maintained in individual folders. These materials contain a mix of correspondence, notes, secondary sources, and photographs related to particular subjects. Also includes manuscripts of her later published work.
Alsop, Ian publications
Archival Resource Key
1986, 2002, undated
11
4
Atkva Narayana
Archival Resource Key
2005
11
5
Bhelacche
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
6
Bhelacche
Archival Resource Key
2006
11
7
Bibliography
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
8
Bibliography
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
9
Bibliography
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
10
Bilampau
Archival Resource Key
2002
11
11
107
1
Blind Eye
Archival Resource Key
2004-2005
12
1
Botanical
Archival Resource Key
2006-2009
12
2
Bungamati
Archival Resource Key
2005
12
3
C14 Data
Archival Resource Key
2006-2007
12
4
Chattopadhyay, An Essay on Newar Culture
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
5
Chepah
Archival Resource Key
2007-2009
12
6
Cleveland
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
12
7
Conservation of Paintings, Asianart.com
Archival Resource Key
2003
12
8
Coomaraswamy, Early Indian Architecture
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
9
Devimahatmya, Artibus Asiae Review
Archival Resource Key
1997
12
10
Dossiers
Archival Resource Key
2002-2004
12
11
Dowman, Power Place in the KV
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
12
Dry-lacquer or Clay? Contributions
Archival Resource Key
1994-1995
13
1
East Asian Lacquer, Orientations
Archival Resource Key
1994-1996
13
2-3
Edits
Archival Resource Key
2007-2008
13
4
Façade General Reliefs
Archival Resource Key
2007
13
5
Free Standing Sculptures
Archival Resource Key
undated
13
6
Fürer-Haimendorff, Elements of Newar Social Structure, Caste in the Multi-Ethnic Society of Nepal
Archival Resource Key
undated
13
7
Garuda on Caityas
Archival Resource Key
undated
13
8
Garuda only
Archival Resource Key
undated
13
9
Glossaries
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
1
Graph
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
2
Gutschow, Niels publications
Archival Resource Key
1976, 1979, 2007
14
3
Hanu-Bhairava
Archival Resource Key
1996-2002
14
4
Hevajra and other fakes
Archival Resource Key
1997-2008
14
5
Horns
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
6
Ikha-Narayana
Archival Resource Key
2005
14
7
Indra Pilloried Klimkeit Corr
Archival Resource Key
1976-1979
14
8
Indrachok image
Archival Resource Key
1996
14
9
Indresvara
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
10
Inkwell Addenda
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
11
Itum-Baha
Archival Resource Key
2004-2006
14
12
Jokhang
Archival Resource Key
undated
14
13
Jokhang Paper
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
14
14
Kaliyadamana inscription
Archival Resource Key
1971
14
15
107
2
Kapoor Indra and Buddha
Archival Resource Key
2007
15
1
Kirti on Caityas
Archival Resource Key
undated
15
2
Kirtimukha crown
Archival Resource Key
undated
15
3
Kirtimukha only
Archival Resource Key
undated
15
4
Kuber Singh Shakya, A Master Craftsman of Nepal
Archival Resource Key
2001
15
5
Kumar paper
Archival Resource Key
2006
15
6
Lord Vishnu, Asian Art and Culture
Archival Resource Key
1995-1996
15
7
Makara
Archival Resource Key
undated
15
8
Manuscripts
Archival Resource Key
2009
15
9
Mekong
Archival Resource Key
2004-2005
15
10
Metamorphosis
Archival Resource Key
1998
15
11
Metamorphosis - manuscript
Archival Resource Key
1997
16
1
Metamorphosis - notes
Archival Resource Key
1997
16
2
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
3
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
4
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
5
Mithuna Maithuna
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
6
Modern Nepal Examples
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
7
Moorcroft
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
8
MSS Scholarship
Archival Resource Key
2005
16
9
Mustang Exhibit, Asian Art
Archival Resource Key
1995-1998
16
10
Mustang Lecture
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
16
11
Nagas and Makaras
Archival Resource Key
2007
16
12
Near East
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
13
Nepal examples
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
14
The Nepalese Caitya, Artibus Asiae Review
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
16
15
Notes
Archival Resource Key
2007-2011
17
1
Notes
Archival Resource Key
2004-2009
17
2
Off Prints Bibliography
Archival Resource Key
2000
17
3
Off Prints Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1973-2010
17
4-5
Old Caste notes
Archival Resource Key
undated
17
6
Other
Archival Resource Key
undated
17
7
Patan Museum Asian Art (Internet)
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
17
8
Patan Museum Orientations
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
17
9
Permissions
Archival Resource Key
2007-2008
17
10
Pimche-Baha
Archival Resource Key
1969-1971
17
11
Powell Exhibition
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
17
12
Powell Exhibition - invitations
Archival Resource Key
1998
17
13
Purandi Ganesha
Archival Resource Key
1996
17
14
Rocks and Yaksas
Archival Resource Key
2006
18
1
Salabhanjika
Archival Resource Key
2006
18
2-3
Santanesvara Kathmandu
Archival Resource Key
2005
18
4
Sasunani
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
18
5
Scripts
Archival Resource Key
2001
18
6
Seeing, Rather than Looking at, Nepalese Art
Archival Resource Key
2009
18
7
Strut Evolution
Archival Resource Key
undated
18
8
Stupa
Archival Resource Key
2003
18
9
Style
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
18
10
Su-Baha
Archival Resource Key
2005
18
11
Sulima
Archival Resource Key
2004-2007
19
1
107
3
Sulima Strut
Archival Resource Key
2000-2006
19
2
Taleju
Archival Resource Key
2003-2004
19
3
Tamvagu Narayana Hyumata Tol
Archival Resource Key
2005
19
4
Tantric Object National Museum
Archival Resource Key
1996-2004
19
5
Tara Nani
Archival Resource Key
2005
19
6
Tashe Gelung
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
19
7-8
Throne and painting
Archival Resource Key
1996
19
9
Tibet examples
Archival Resource Key
undated
20
1
Tibetan painting
Archival Resource Key
undated
20
2
Tibetan painting conservation
Archival Resource Key
1998
20
3
Torana
Archival Resource Key
2007
20
4
Tvayabaha
Archival Resource Key
2006
20
5
Tyagah
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
20
6
Tyagah Capah
Archival Resource Key
undated
20
7
Uku-Baha
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
20
8
Uku-bahal
Archival Resource Key
undated
20
9
Unknown provenance, Eskenazi and Sotheby
Archival Resource Key
2005-2009
20
10
Unknown provenance, Pritzker Collection
Archival Resource Key
2005-2008
20
11
Vajrabhairava painting, ACQ
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
21
1
Vajravarahi
Archival Resource Key
2001
21
2-3
Vanaratna
Archival Resource Key
1997-2003
21
4
Vansittart: Tribes, Clans, Castes
Archival Resource Key
undated
21
5
Virginia Museum
Archival Resource Key
2003
21
6
Viśveśvara
Archival Resource Key
2006
21
7
Water Conduit review, Artibus Asiae
Archival Resource Key
1996
21
8
Woodcarv Paper
Archival Resource Key
2005-2006
21
9
Xeroxes
Archival Resource Key
undated
21
10
Yetkha Bahah
Archival Resource Key
undated
21
11
Yetkhabaha
Archival Resource Key
2004-2006
21
12
[Loose printouts]
Archival Resource Key
undated
22
1-3
[Miscellaneous]
Archival Resource Key
1982-2000
22
4-5
107
4
[Miscellaneous]
Archival Resource Key
undated
22
6
Index Cards
4
Archival Resource Key
undated
Arrangement
Arranged in the original order kept by Slusser.
Scope and Contents
Consists of index cards, which include research notes on different topics.
[Index cards]
Archival Resource Key
undated
23
Travel Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1965-2007
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Contains materials such as journals, itineraries, maps, and correspondence related to Mary Slusser's travels. The folder names are derived from Slusser's original labels and titles. In addition to Slusser's travel papers, there is a copy of her travel companion, Lila Bishop's, journal from their trip to Tibet in September and October 2001.
Nepal
Archival Resource Key
November, 1965-December, 1967
24
1-2
SI Trip
Archival Resource Key
October 1992
24
3-4
Nepal
Archival Resource Key
October-November, 1993
24
5
Nepal
Archival Resource Key
March-April, 1994
24
6
Vietnam
Archival Resource Key
April-May, 1995
24
7
Central Asia SI Associates
Archival Resource Key
October 18-November 7, 1995
25
1
Nepal - Central Asia
Archival Resource Key
October-November, 1995
25
2
Apr - May
Archival Resource Key
1996
25
3
Oct - Nov
Archival Resource Key
1996
25
4
October
Archival Resource Key
1997
25
5
Mustang
Archival Resource Key
May, 1998
25
6
Mustang Notes
Archival Resource Key
May, 1998
25
7
Mustang
Archival Resource Key
May-June, 1998
25
8
Mustang, NYT
Archival Resource Key
1998
26
1
Mustang Trek
Archival Resource Key
1998
26
2
Tibet trip
Archival Resource Key
1999
26
3
May
Archival Resource Key
2000
26
4
Canada
Archival Resource Key
September 2000
26
5
Tibet trip
Archival Resource Key
September 10-October 10, 2001
26
6-7
Lila's Tibet Journal
Archival Resource Key
September-October, 2001
26
8
Tibet journal and slide list
Archival Resource Key
September-November, 2001
26
9
[Untitled notebook]
Archival Resource Key
September-November, 2001
26
10
Tibet docent talk
Archival Resource Key
July 10, 2002
27
1
Silk Road
Archival Resource Key
September 22-November 11, 2003
27
2
Silkroad Planning
Archival Resource Key
2003
27
3-4
Silk Road Talk
Archival Resource Key
2004
27
5
Nepal
Archival Resource Key
2005
27
6
Niel
Archival Resource Key
November 4-11, 2006
27
7
Nepal - Thailand
Archival Resource Key
November 6-December 13, 2007
27
8
Map of South-Central Tibet
Archival Resource Key
undated
28
1
Maps
Archival Resource Key
undated
28
2
Vietnam
Archival Resource Key
undated
28
3
[Untitled notebook, Kathmandu]
Archival Resource Key
undated
28
4
[Untitled notebook]
Archival Resource Key
undated
28
5
Photographic Materials
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1955-2017
Arrangement
Organized into four subseries:
• Subseries 1: Slides
• Subseries 2: Prints
• Subseries 3: Negatives and Contact Sheets
• Subseries 4: Images on Compact Disc
Scope and Contents
The photographic materials are organized by format: slides; prints; negatives and contact sheets; and image on compact disc. The collection contains both color and black and white images. Slusser created and maintained a large photo collection from her research and travel. The slides contain personal travel images in addition to materials related to research. The rest of the collection includes copies of images Slusser used in her publications, including those of sculptures, wood carvings, and historic sites.
Slides
1
Archival Resource Key
1955-2017
Arrangement
The slide boxes are ordered alphabetically by Cabinet letter, thereafter by drawer letter and number. However, some boxes contain multiple drawers of slides and are not necessarily in order themselves. The slide boxes are ordered based on the earliest drawer within the box. For example, a box containing slides from Drawer C-2 and Drawer A-3, would be ordered based on the A-3 drawer.
The slides in folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
Four containers of slides are found in plastic sheets within folders. The rest of the slide collection is housed in 49 boxes, with the slides arranged in their original order within the boxes. The "Slide Index" folder contains Mary Slusser's original catalog of those slides and can serve as a resource for navigating the contents of those boxes.
Cabinet A Drawer A-1
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
29
Cabinet A Drawer A-2
Archival Resource Key
1957-1962
30
Cabinet A Drawer C-2, Drawer A-3
Archival Resource Key
1957-1962
31
Cabinet A Drawer A-4
Archival Resource Key
1962-1965
32
Cabinet A Drawer C-3, Drawer A-4
Archival Resource Key
1962-1965
33
Cabinet A Drawer B-4, Cabinet A Drawer A-5
Archival Resource Key
1962-1965
34
Cabinet A Drawer B-1
Archival Resource Key
1967-1969
35
Cabinet A Drawer B-2
Archival Resource Key
1952, 1957-1962
36
Cabinet A Drawer B-3
Archival Resource Key
1957-1962
37
Cabinet A Drawer B-5
Archival Resource Key
1963-1965
38
Cabinet A Drawer C-5, Cabinet B Drawer A-1
Archival Resource Key
1962, 1967-1969
39
Cabinet B Drawer B-1, Cabinet B Drawer A-2
Archival Resource Key
1967-1971
40
Cabinet B Drawer C-2, Cabinet B Drawer A-3
Archival Resource Key
1976-1980
41
Cabinet B Drawer A-4
Archival Resource Key
1967
42
Cabinet B Drawer B-4, Cabinet B Drawer A-5
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
43
Cabinet B Drawer B-2
Archival Resource Key
1967-1971, 1976-1980
44
Cabinet B Drawer B-3
Archival Resource Key
1966, 1976-1980
45
Cabinet B Drawer B-5
Archival Resource Key
1967-1969
46
Cabinet B Drawer C-3
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967
47
Cabinet B Drawer C-5, Cabinet E Drawer A-1
Archival Resource Key
1967
48
Cabinet C Drawer 1 Kingdom of Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Archival Resource Key
1960s, 1990s
49
Cabinet C Drawer 1 Kathmandu, Patan
Archival Resource Key
1960s, 1990s
50
Cabinet C Drawer C-2 Bhaktapur, Newar Culture
Archival Resource Key
undated
51
Cabinet C Drawer C-2 People, Festivals -1
Archival Resource Key
undated
52
Cabinet C Drawer C-3 Festivals - 2, Sacred Sites - 1
Archival Resource Key
undated
53
Cabinet C Drawer C-3 Sacred sites - 2
Archival Resource Key
undated
54
Cabinet C Drawer C-4 Architecture
Archival Resource Key
undated
55
Cabinet C Drawer C-4 Licchavi period Inscriptions, Architecture, Caityas
Archival Resource Key
undated
56
Cabinet C Drawer C-5 Licchavi Period Caityas, Reliefs, Metallurgy
Archival Resource Key
undated
57
Cabinet C Drawer C-5 + Cabinet D D-1 Woodcarving, bone, clay, painting, bilampos, paubhas
Archival Resource Key
undated
58
Cabinet D Drawer D-1 Murals, Cabinet D Drawer D-1 Painting: Paper, MSS Sculpture, Goddesses
Archival Resource Key
undated
59
Cabinet D Drawer D-1 Painting, Bilampas - Paubhas, Painting Mural
Archival Resource Key
undated
60
Cabinet D Drawer D-2 Painting - Paper, Cabinet D Drawer D-2 Sculpture: buddhas bodhisattvas - 1
Archival Resource Key
undated
61
Cabinet D Drawer D-3 Bodhisattvas - 2, Gods, alphabetical
Archival Resource Key
undated
62
Cabinet D Drawer D-3 Siva Uma-Mahesvara, Cabinet D Drawer D-4 Vishnu
Archival Resource Key
undated
63
Cabinet D Drawer D-4 Vishnu, Cabinet D Drawer D-4 Lacquer-clay
Archival Resource Key
undated
64
Cabinet D Drawer D-4 Lacquer-clay, Cabinet D Drawer D-5 miscellany
Archival Resource Key
undated
65
Cabinet D Drawer D-5 Miscellany
Archival Resource Key
undated
66
Cabinet E Drawer 1-B, Cabinet E Drawer 2-A
Archival Resource Key
1995-1998
67
Cabinet E Drawer 2
Archival Resource Key
1998
68
Cabinet E Drawer 3-A
Archival Resource Key
1998
69
Cabinet E Drawer 3-B, Cabinet Drawer 4-A
Archival Resource Key
1998, 2001
70
Cabinet E Drawer 4-B
Archival Resource Key
2001
71
Cabinet E Drawer 5-A
Archival Resource Key
2001
72
Cabinet E Drawer 5-B
Archival Resource Key
1970s, 2001
73
Cabinet F Drawer 1-A
Archival Resource Key
2003
74
Cabinet F Drawer 1-B
Archival Resource Key
2003
75
Cabinet F Drawer 2-A
Archival Resource Key
2003
76
Cabinet F Drawer 2-B
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967, 2003
77
Patan Museum Objects Slide Only
Archival Resource Key
1993
28
6-7
Slide Index
Archival Resource Key
2009-2017
28
8
Vietnam slides
Archival Resource Key
April-May, 1995
28
9
Prints
2
Archival Resource Key
1970-2013
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
The print collection consists of printed photographs that were originally stored in plastic sleeves within binders or photo albums. Original notes have been preserved alongside the photographs themselves. Two of the original photo albums, Rajasthan 1 and 2, have been kept in their original format. Both of those albums were prepared by Slusser's frequent travel companion, Lila Bishop, and contain extensive notes within the original pages.
98 Mustang Roll 39, Yara - sheep, children, trail to Tangye
Archival Resource Key
1998
78
1
98 Mustang Roll 40, Tangye to Chuk
Archival Resource Key
1998
78
2
98 Mustang Roll 41, Traveling Companions
Archival Resource Key
1998
78
3
98 Mustang Roll 42, Lubra - Kag Beni - Jomson
Archival Resource Key
1998
78
4
Architecture
Archival Resource Key
undated
78
5-7
Bilampos murals
Archival Resource Key
1971-1973
79
1
107
5
Bone and Clay
Archival Resource Key
undated
79
2
Buddha and Bodhisattva
Archival Resource Key
undated
79
3-4
Caturvyuna
Archival Resource Key
undated
79
5
Comparative Archi Inscriptions
Archival Resource Key
undated
79
6
Diverse Divinities
Archival Resource Key
undated
80
1
Extra pix
Archival Resource Key
1970, undated
80
2
Far East Postcards copies of archives deposits
Archival Resource Key
2002
80
3-4
Festivals Bahi - Dyo - Boyegu
Archival Resource Key
undated
80
5
Fountains
Archival Resource Key
undated
80
6
Ganesa-Siva
Archival Resource Key
undated
81
1-3
Garuda Garudasana
Archival Resource Key
undated
81
4
General
Archival Resource Key
undated
81
5
General-Brahma
Archival Resource Key
undated
82
1-2
Goddesses
Archival Resource Key
undated
82
3-4
Goddesses
Archival Resource Key
undated
83
1-2
House - community
Archival Resource Key
undated
83
3-4
Indra Vajrapani - Purusa
Archival Resource Key
undated
83
5
Itum-Bāhāh
Archival Resource Key
undated
83
6
Jalasayana
Archival Resource Key
undated
83
7
Kuber Signh Shakya
Archival Resource Key
2001
84
1-5
Licchavi Period
Archival Resource Key
undated
84
6
Licchavi Period - Caityas
Archival Resource Key
undated
84
7-8
Licchavi Period - Decay, odds and ends
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
1
Licchavi Period - India comparisons
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
2
Licchavi Period - inscriptions
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
3
Licchavi Period - Linga Shrines
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
4
Licchavi Period - reliefs
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
5
Mahabauddha temple
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
6
Metallurgy without sculpture
Archival Resource Key
undated
85
7-8
Mustang photo album
Archival Resource Key
1998
85
9
86
1
MSS Covers paintings and drawings
Archival Resource Key
undated
86
2-3
Painting - MSS
Archival Resource Key
undated
86
4
Paintings on paper
Archival Resource Key
undated
86
5
Paubhas deities
Archival Resource Key
undated
87
1
People
Archival Resource Key
undated
87
2
People Culture
Archival Resource Key
undated
87
3-4
Pictures - photos
Archival Resource Key
undated
87
5
Rajasthan 1
Archival Resource Key
January 29-February 27, 2013
88
1
Rajasthan 2
Archival Resource Key
January 29-February 27, 2013
88
2
Silk Road I
Archival Resource Key
2003
89
1
Silk Road II
Archival Resource Key
2003
89
2
Silk Road III
Archival Resource Key
2003
89
3
Silk Road [loose photos]
Archival Resource Key
2003
89
4
Silk Route painting Paubha display
Archival Resource Key
1982
89
5
Siva Sankara - Narayana
Archival Resource Key
undated
89
6
Stupas
Archival Resource Key
undated
90
1
Surya-Yaksa
Archival Resource Key
undated
90
2-3
Svayambhūnātha 441
Archival Resource Key
1988
90
4
Temples
Archival Resource Key
undated
90
5
Uma - Maheshvara
Archival Resource Key
undated
90
6
107
6
Vajravarahi/Marici
Archival Resource Key
undated
90
7
Valley, towns, cities
Archival Resource Key
undated
91
1-2
Varaha
Archival Resource Key
1992
91
3
Vihara Matha
Archival Resource Key
undated
91
4
Vishnu
Archival Resource Key
undated
91
5-6
Vishnu, Garuda Garudasana
Archival Resource Key
undated
91
7
92
1
Visnu
Archival Resource Key
undated
92
2
Visnugupta
Archival Resource Key
undated
92
3
Woodcarving
Archival Resource Key
1977
92
4
107
7
Woodcarving - Panauti
Archival Resource Key
undated
92
5
Woodcarving struts - Ikha Narayana
Archival Resource Key
undated
92
6
Woodcarving struts - Itumbahal
Archival Resource Key
undated
92
7
Woodcarving struts - miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
1
Woodcarving struts - Tyagah
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
2
Woodcarving struts - Ukubaha
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
3
Woodcarving struts - Yetkha Baha
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
4
Wood-Clay
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
5-7
Wood-Clay, Bone Clay
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
8
Zwalu paintings and Kachu
Archival Resource Key
undated
93
9
[Loose Photos 1]
Archival Resource Key
undated
94
1
[Loose Photos 2]
Archival Resource Key
undated
94
2
[Photo album]
Archival Resource Key
1998
94
3
[Photo album]
Archival Resource Key
1998
94
4-5
[Untitled photo album]
Archival Resource Key
undated
94
6-7
Negatives and Contact Sheets
3
Archival Resource Key
1965-2017
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title, with the exception of a negative index, which is placed at the beginning of the subseries. The materials are arranged in their original order and maintain Slusser's personal filing system.
Scope and Contents
The negatives and contact sheets are organized into both folders and boxes. The earliest materials include Slusser's first experience living and researching in Nepal.
Index: Black and White
Archival Resource Key
2017, undated
95
1
Black and white, and color, negatives and proofs
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
95
2-3
Itum - Bahal
Archival Resource Key
undated
95
4
Kāliyadamana
Archival Resource Key
undated
95
5
Negative File "A"
Archival Resource Key
1968
95
6
Negative File "M"
Archival Resource Key
1965-January, 1970
96
1
Negative File "N"
Archival Resource Key
February, 1970-June, 1971
96
2
Negative File "O"
Archival Resource Key
June, 1971
96
3
Negative File "P"
Archival Resource Key
October, 1971
96
4
Negative File "Q," Negative File "R"
Archival Resource Key
October-December, 1971; May 1977
97
1
Negative File "S"
Archival Resource Key
1982?
97
2
Negative File "T," Nepal
Archival Resource Key
undated
97
3
Negative file "X"
Archival Resource Key
undated
97
4
Yatkha Bahal
Archival Resource Key
undated
97
5
[MS.M1.1 - M30.952]
Archival Resource Key
undated
98
[MS.M31.953 - N31.902]
Archival Resource Key
undated
99
[MS.N31.903 - O11.825]
Archival Resource Key
undated
100
[MS.O23.826 - MS.P20.758]
Archival Resource Key
undated
101
[MS.P21.759 - Q16.592]
Archival Resource Key
undated
102
[MS.Q16.593 - S.405]
Archival Resource Key
undated
103
[MS.S406 - S.967]
Archival Resource Key
undated
104
[MS.T.1 - T.934]
Archival Resource Key
undated
105
Images on Compact Disc
4
Archival Resource Key
2005-2009
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
There are 59 discs with photographs from Mary Slusser's collection. The format is predominantly CD-R, but DVD-R and Gold CDs are also included. The discs are stored in archival sleeves. Any paper associated with the original disc and case has either been included in the sleeve, or a photocopy has been included in instances with notes on acidic material, such as Post-it notes.
090603 - 1414
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
1
1423 Disc 2
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
2
I M. Slusser
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
3
II M. Slusser
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
4
III M. Slusser Backup of all pix on PC desktop
Archival Resource Key
August 23, 2006
106
5
Aspects of Nepalese wood carving Mary Slusser Nepal Images
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
6
Balaju Water goddess
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
7
CD-R
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
8
CD-R 2 of 3 pix on this from PC
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
9
CD-R Title: 060518_1503(D:) copy of Selected folders from Nepal ALL sites
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
10
CD-R Tvāy bahal
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
11
Color Neg. Strips Neils Gutschow Yetakhā contacts
Archival Resource Key
August 15, 2006
106
12
D:\mary slusser\jpeg (and ditto tiff)
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
13
For Mary Slusser Mustang Cave Art © Various Photos
Archival Resource Key
2009
106
14
For Mary Slusser Wood Carvings by Niels Gutschow
Archival Resource Key
August, 2007
106
15
Gaubhas
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
16
Ikha Narayana
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
17
Jokhang; Kumār illus.
Archival Resource Key
December 28, 2005
106
18
Kathmandu Woodcarvings
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
19
Kathmandu Yethka torana
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
20
Klimek Pix Uku [seris?] (Patan)
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
21
Kumar 9762, 9763, 9824, 9970, 9971
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
22
Kumar Nepal
Archival Resource Key
November, 2005
106
23
Kumar paper
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
24
Loczanits Jokhang etc. Wooden Sculptures
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
25
Mary
Archival Resource Key
June 20, 2007
106
26
Mary
Archival Resource Key
July 21, 2007
106
27
Mary Final JPG
Archival Resource Key
October, 2008
106
28
Mary Nepal Back-up DVD
Archival Resource Key
2005
106
29
Mary Scans Guhumapa - Large Itum Baha Pauba
Archival Resource Key
March, 2006
106
30
Mary Scans Tyagah b/w and slides
Archival Resource Key
September 13, 2005
106
31
Mary-Jaw Kua-bahā Mañjuśri
Archival Resource Key
2006
106
32
Mary - Nepal
Archival Resource Key
November 2007
106
33
Mary-Nepal Slides Woodcarving from slides
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
34
Merry Mary's Scans
Archival Resource Key
March 7, 2007
106
35
MS 2 Vajravarahi fty #429
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
36
Mustang Caves © Various Photographers
Archival Resource Key
2009
106
37
Pair 15th cty. Eskenazi struts
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
38
Seebahaḥ Tyagah Capaḥ
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
39
Slusser Slides Vietnam Disc 1 (of 3) copy 1
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
40
Slusser Slides Vietnam Disc 2 (of 3) copy 1
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
41
Slusser Slides Vietnam Disc 3 - of 3 copy 1
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
42
Slusser Uku baha strut collection
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
43
Strut photos Thomas Schrom photos
Archival Resource Key
April 27, 2005
106
44
Tibetan Buddhist Wall Paintings of Mustang, Nepal
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
45
Tyaga Chapa now, Tyaga strut piece, Tyaga strut piecedet
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
46
Tyagah from Raju + Nutan
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
47
Uku Bahal Struts Enhanced Images by: Yawen Chang
Archival Resource Key
2006
106
48
Woodcarv Kumar Jokhang
Archival Resource Key
January 31, 2006
106
49
Wood carving
Archival Resource Key
October 6-November 8, 2006
106
50
Yatkha-Baha
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
51
Yaksas
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
52
Yelahha bahal Niels Gutschow
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
53
Yetkha Pix and Drawings
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
54
[Caprid?] Mary Slusser Jpegs & Tiffs
Archival Resource Key
January 19, 2006
106
55
*-1427
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
56
[Untitled DVD-R]
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
57
[Untitled DVD-R]
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
58
[Untitled DVD-R]
Archival Resource Key
undated
106
59