National Anthropological Archives
A. Harvey Schreter papers
Schreter, A. Harvey
NAA.2016-37
Archival Resource Key
10.25 Linear feet
3,943 Slides
35mm color
5 Scrapbooks
19 Sound cassettes
9 Videocassettes (VHS)
1 DVD
1916-2015
bulk 1960-2008
A. Harvey Schreter (1916-2008) was a world traveler and collector of pre-Columbian, African, and Pacific art. The collection contains materials related to trips taken by Harvey and his wife Phyllis between 1960 and 2000, slide lectures based on these trips,and personal and professional papers.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Access to the A. Harvey Schreter papers requires an appointment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Received from Harvey Schreter in 1985 and Carol Schreter in 2016.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series: (1) World travels, lectures, and related documentation and (2) Personal and professional papers.
Biographical Note
A. Harvey Schreter (1916-2008) was the President of Schreter Neckware, a necktie manufacturer, as well as a world traveler and collector of pre-Columbian, African and Pacific art. Schreter became a member of the Explorers Club in 1982, frequently lecturing to the Washington Chapter about his travels with his wife, Phyllis Schreter.
Preferred Citation
A. Harvey Schreter papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Processing Information
The bulk of the collection was organized prior to donation by Harvey Schreter's daughter, Carol. Lecture slide shows were stored in slide carousels. The archivist removed the slides from the carousels while maintaining the order of the slide shows. The archivist condensed some groupings of materials for clarity and to remove duplicates. Photo Lot 85-13 (A. Harvey Schreter photographs and audio tape of Jivaro peoples and region) was incorporated into the A. Harvey Schreter paper under World travel, lectures, and related documentation--Amazon--Jivaro peoples and region photographs and Jivaro peoples and region audio recording.
Processed and encoded by Gabrielle Sanchez, May 2022.
Related Materials
The Baltimore Museum of Industry holds the records of the Schreter Neckwear Company.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive Repository holds the A. Harvey Schreter Home Movies collection.
Scope and Contents
The A. Harvey Schreter papers consist of correspondence, lecture notes, promotional materials, clippings, photographs (color 35mm slides and prints), scrapbooks, and audio and video recordings documenting his world travels, lecture series, and personal and professional life. The bulk of the collection contains material related to trips taken by Harvey and his wife Phyllis to North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania between 1960 and 2000. These trips becasme the basis for lectures delivered by the Schreters monthly from the 1980s through the early 2000s. Also included are personal and biographical papers of Harvey Schreter, his wife Phyllis, their children and extended family; materials related to Harvey's membership in the Explorers Club; materials related to the Schreter Neckwear Company; and materials related to the "Schreter System," an exercise program for the pelvic floor muscles.
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.
Separated Materials
Video recordings in this collection have been transferred to the Human Studies Film Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Tourism
Voyages and travels
Africa, East
Africa, North
Africa, West
Africa, Southern
Caribbean Area
East Asia
Europe
Middle East
North America
Oceania
South America
Southeast Asia
Explorers Club
World Travels, lectures, and related documentation
Archival Resource Key
1960-2008
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials related to trips taken by Harvey and Phyllis Schreter between 1960 and 2000. The Schreters visited locations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Many of these trips became the basis for lectures delivered by the Schreters for the Explorers Club, colleges and universities, and other institutions. The series contains 35mm color slides used in the lectures, lecture notes, audio and video recordings of lectures, additional slides not arranged into lecture slide shows, and other related material.
The slides depict landscapes, village and city life, tourist sites, and museums.
Arrangement
The series has been arranged into subseries by trip. The trips are arranged chronologically.
Europe
Archival Resource Key
1960-1968
London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence Holland
Archival Resource Key
85 Slides
color 35 mm
1960
4
Portugal, Spain, France, Berlin
Archival Resource Key
39 Slides
color 35 mm
1966
4
Phyllis and Carol miscellaneous; Artist Schreter in France
Archival Resource Key
15 Slides
color 35 mm
1968
4
Colorado River
Archival Resource Key
1963
Lecture slide show--On the Colorado River with George White
Archival Resource Key
39 Slides
35 mm color
1963
4
Africa
Archival Resource Key
1967-1969
East Africa Safari--Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania
Archival Resource Key
12 Slides
35mm color
1967
4
Slides--African miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
15 Slides
35mm color
4
Correspondence and photographs
Archival Resource Key
1967
1
1
Chile and Easter Island
Archival Resource Key
1969
Slides
Archival Resource Key
11 Slides
35mm color
1969
4
Virginia (Tangier Island)
Archival Resource Key
November 1969
Slides
Archival Resource Key
21 Slides
35mm color
November 1969
4
Southeast Asia
Archival Resource Key
April 1970
Lecture slide show--Bali, Java, Thailand: Colorful, Charming, Unique
Archival Resource Key
275 Slides
35mm color
April 1970
4
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
3
Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1 Scrapbook
10
Afghanistan
Archival Resource Key
1973-2008
Lecture slide show--Afghanistan and Pakistan: Land of the Khyber Pass
Archival Resource Key
198 Slides
color 35 mm
1973
4
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
2
Slides
Archival Resource Key
30 Slides
color 35 mm
1973
4
Video recording of Exploring Afghanistan lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
Fall 2002
Scope and Contents
Video recording of lecture on 1973 trip to Afghanistan given by Schreter at Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University).
Audio recording of Exploring Afghanistan lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
6 March 2008
9
2
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture on 1973 trip to Afghanistan given by Schreter at Towson Lunch and Learn.
Egypt
Archival Resource Key
November 1975
Lecture slide show--Egypt: Cairo to Abu Simbel, Much by Small Riverboat
Archival Resource Key
229 Slides
35mm color
November 1975
5
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
4
New Guinea
Archival Resource Key
1977
Lecture slide show--New Guinea: 5,000 Years Back in Time
Archival Resource Key
199 Slides
35mm color
1977
5
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
5
Audio recording of New Guinea slide show
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
September-November 1985
9
3
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture on trip to New Guinea given by Schreter at Chrysler Museum. Includes music.
China
Archival Resource Key
June 1979
Lecture slide show--China: The Many Faces of China
Archival Resource Key
251 Slides
35mm color
June 1979
5
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
6
Audio recording of The Many Faces of China lecture
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
9
4-5
West Africa
Archival Resource Key
January 1981
Lecture slide show--West Africa's Art Belt: Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, Togo, Ivory Coast
Archival Resource Key
338 Slides
35mm color
January 1981
5
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
7
Big Horn River, Montana and Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
Archival Resource Key
67 Slides
35mm color
1983
Slides
Archival Resource Key
67 Slides
35mm color
1983
6
Amazon
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
Lecture slide show--Amazon Jungle: A Visit with Headhunters and their Shaman
Archival Resource Key
188 Slides
35mm color
1985
6
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
8
Slides
Archival Resource Key
22 Slides
35mm color
6
Jivaro peoples and region slides
Archival Resource Key
18 Slides
35mm color
1985
6
Scope and Contents
Photographs made by A. Harvey Schreter documenting ceremonies of Jivaro people, including the shaman Tukupi. The photographs depict Jivaro people, dwellings, basketmaking, a quiver with curare, and members of Schreter's expedition party. Also includes images of sacred falls in Miasal, Ecuador and a map of areas that Schreter visited in the Shuar region.
Custodial History
Formerly Photo Lot 85-13. This material was incorporated into the A. Schreter papers at time of processing.
Jivaro peoples and region sound recording
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1985
9
1
Scope and Contents
Documents a shaman healing Schreter's injured leg and back.
Custodial History
Formerly Photo Lot 85-13. This material was incorporated into the A. Harvey Schreter papers at time of processing.
"The Jivaro (Shuar) Indians" in Explorers Journal
Archival Resource Key
1985-2001
1
9
Scope and Contents
Contains article written by Harvey and published in Explorers Journal and related documentation.
Headhunters and Hummingbirds: An expedition into Ecuador by Robert McCracken Peck
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
10
Ecuador sound recording
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
9
6
Scope and Contents
Ecuador Highlands--9 Days. Oswaldo Daily Report.
Harvey Schuar Lecture (sound recording)
Archival Resource Key
9
7
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
Kenya
Archival Resource Key
August 1988
Lecture slide show--Africa: Pre-historic Man and the Nomads of Northern Kenya
Archival Resource Key
133 Slides
35mm color
August 1988
6
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
11
"Richard Leakey's Search for Prehistoric man and the Land of the Turkana" in The Explorers Journal
Archival Resource Key
1988-1997
1
12
Scope and Contents
Contains article written by Harvey and published in Explorers Journal and related documentation.
Video recording of Richard Leakey Land lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
18 February 1989
Scope and Contents
Video recording of lecture presented by Harvey and Phyllis Schreter for the the Explorers Club Washington Group at the Cosmos Club.
Sound recording of Richard Leakey Land lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound recording
9
8
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording is unknown.
Save the Elephant
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
Scope and Contents
National Geographic and Richard Leakey.
The Origin of Human Adaptability: New Evidence from East Africa and East Asia
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
4 December 2004
Scope and Contents
Video recording of lecture given by Rick Potts for the Explorers Club Washington Group.
Costa Rica
Archival Resource Key
1992
Howler monkey study
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
22 April 1992
9
9
Syria and Jordan
Archival Resource Key
April 1994
Lecture slide show
Archival Resource Key
206 Slides
35mm color
April 1994
6
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
13
Sound recording of Syria and Jordan: Then and Now lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
9
10
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
Canada
Archival Resource Key
July 1984-August 1994
Lecture slide show--Trout fishing in Spatsizi, British Columbia
Archival Resource Key
137 Slides
35mm color
July 1994
6
Lecture notes--Trout fishing in Spatsizi, British Columbia
Archival Resource Key
1
14
Lecture slide show--British Columbia and Alberta
Archival Resource Key
159 Slides
35mm color
August 1994
6
Lecture notes--British Columbia and Alberta
Archival Resource Key
1
15
Lecture recording
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
9
11
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
Israel
Archival Resource Key
1995
Lecture slide show--Israel: Its Art, Architecture, Archaeology and 3 Major Religions
Archival Resource Key
209 Slides
35mm color
1995
7
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
16
Sound recording of Israel: Its Art, Architecture, Archaeology and 3 Major Religions lecture
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
May 1998
9
12-13
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture given at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
Video recording of Exploring Israel lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
17 April 1999
Scope and Contents
Video recording of lecture given for Explorers Club Washington Group.
Sound recording of lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
9
14
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
Sound recording of Israel: Its Art, Architecture, Archaeology and 3 Major Religions lecture
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
9
15-16
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
South Africa
Archival Resource Key
1997
Slides
Archival Resource Key
236 Slides
35mm color
1997
7
Sardinia
Archival Resource Key
May 1998
Lecture slide show
Archival Resource Key
88 Slides
35mm color
May 1998
7
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
17
Sicily
Archival Resource Key
May 1998
Lecture slide show
Archival Resource Key
65 Slides
35mm color
May 1998
7
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
18
Portugal
Archival Resource Key
1998
Slides
Archival Resource Key
285 Slides
35mm color
8
Certificate from Cabo do Roca
Archival Resource Key
2 November 1998
1
19
Alaska
Archival Resource Key
2000
Lecture slide show
Archival Resource Key
128 Slides
35mm color
2000
8
Slides
Archival Resource Key
35 Slides
35mm color
2000
8
Elderhostel itinerary
Archival Resource Key
1
20
Cuba
Archival Resource Key
2000
Lecture slide show--Exploring Cuba: Under Castro, Off Limits to Americans
Archival Resource Key
172 Slides
35mm color
2000
8
Lecture notes
Archival Resource Key
1
21
Excess slides
Archival Resource Key
30 Slides
35mm color
2000
8
Sound recording of lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
9
17
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of lecture. Time and place of recording unknown.
Video recording of lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
Scope and Contents
Video recording of lecture given by Harvey and Phyllis Schreter. Time and place of recording unknown.
Unidentified travel photographs
Archival Resource Key
1975-2003, undated
Unidentified travel slides
Archival Resource Key
7 Slides
35mm color
1979-1995
8
Travels (photographic prints)
Archival Resource Key
41 Photographic prints
color
1975-2003, undated
1
22
Promotional materials for lectures
Archival Resource Key
1933-2006
A Life of Adventure
Archival Resource Key
1933-1990
1
23
12
1
Promotional materials, schedules, and related correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1978-2006, undated
2
1
Personal and professional papers
Archival Resource Key
1916-2015
Arrangement
This series is arranged into four sub-series: (1) Personal and family papers, (2) Schreter Neckwear Company, (3) Explorers Club, and (4) The Schreter System.
Scope and Contents
This series contains personal, biographical, family papers, as well as materials related to the Schreter Neckwear Company, the Explorers Club, and the "Schreter System." It includes papers, photographs, scrapbooks, and audio and visual recordings.
Personal and family papers
Archival Resource Key
1916-2015
Biographical information about Harvey
Archival Resource Key
1916-2008
2
2
12
1
The Impact of the Walters Art Gallery on the Life of Harvey Schreter
Archival Resource Key
January 2001
2
3
Scope and Contents
Memoir written by Harvey Schreter.
Biographical information about Phyllis
Archival Resource Key
1922-2015
2
4
Extended Schreter family
Archival Resource Key
1994-2002, undated
2
5
Letters from Harvey and Phyllis to family from overseas
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960 - circa 1970
2
6
Donations and charitable giving
Archival Resource Key
1968-2002, undated
2
7
Fishing
Archival Resource Key
1963-2004
2
8
Scrapbooks
Archival Resource Key
3 Scrapbooks
10
11
Scope and Contents
Contains 3 personal scrapbooks:
1. Colorado River (1959), Gem Cutters Guild, Letter of Recommendation from American Jewish Congress
2. A. Harvery Schreter as a Young Man (to 1964)
3. Personal accomplishments (1963-1972)--travels, lectures, charitable activities, honors (Schreter Neckwear), newspaper articles
Memory Lane, 1942-2001: Harvey and Phyllis Schreter and Family
Archival Resource Key
1 DVD
2014
Scope and Contents
Edited video created by Harvey Schreter from 16mm family movies and 2001 oral history about the Schreter Neckwear Company. Original made on VHS; transferred to DVD by J. Lombardi in 2014.
Schreter Neckwear Company
Archival Resource Key
1950-2001
Highlights and history
Archival Resource Key
1950-1992, undated
3
1
Cultures of Man collection
Archival Resource Key
1980-1981, undated
3
2
Smithsonian Neckwear and Richard Leakey Skull Tie Editorials (Scrapbook)
Archival Resource Key
1 Scrapbook
12
Oral history interview with Harvey Schreter, Schreter Tie Company
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
2001
9
18-19
A. Harvey Schreter and Sons Company History: An interview with Harvey Schreter at the Baltimore Museum of Industry
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
May 2001
Explorers Club
Archival Resource Key
1982-2005
Explorers Club application, correspondence, and photographs
Archival Resource Key
1982-2002, undated
3
3
2005 Explorer Grants Program
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
21 May 2005
Scope and Contents
A Lifetime of Exploration by A. Harvey Schreter and Acropolis of Umm el-Marra, Syria by Adam Maskevich
The Schreter System
Archival Resource Key
2002-2007
Promotional materials and correspondence
Archival Resource Key
2002-2007, undated
3
4
The Schreter System "Isolates" the Sphincter and Pelvic Floor Muscles
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
12 min
2003