Relationships and Going Places

As curator of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History for forty years, Stanley Freed’s insider knowledge, academic integrity, captivating anecdotes and droll asides transform the original documents, letters, and archives on which his history is based, into a fascinating narrative. more »

Julia Sneden writes: “Blame my hairdresser.The worse her life gets, the shorter she cuts my hair. She was having husband trouble yet again. She just grew angrier and angrier as she spoke, snip-snip-snip, and by the time she was through with her sorry tale, I was nearly bald." more »

The letters are deeply descriptive and reveal familiar emotions. A father in 1820 pleads for his sick daughter, “Pray send out Dr. Carmichael to me immediately — as I consider her to be in great danger. Delay not a moment, for her life and my happiness depend on it." more »

Elaine Soloway writes: "The application for benefits required a copy of Tommy’s separation papers, medical evaluation from a physician, and current medical issues. The Air Force papers were in my hand. His diagnosis of Primary Progress Aphasia was filed in the folder marked 'Brain'."  more »