Mary Butler Lewis (1903–1970) was an American archaeologist, anthropologist, and public educator best known for her contributions to the fields of Mesoamerican archaeology and Northeastern and Central U.S.

prehistory Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use ...

. She was the first female archaeologist to earn a doctorate degree from the department of anthropology at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

, as well as one of the first female archaeologists to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. She worked with the

University of Pennsylvania Museum The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology—commonly known as the Penn Museum—is an archaeology and anthropology museum at the University of Pennsylvania. It is located on Penn's campus in the University City neighb ...

as the assistant of the American section and as a research assistant, where she conducted her own fieldwork in

Piedras Negras Piedras Negras may refer to: * Piedras Negras, Coahuila, a city in the state of Coahuila, Mexico ** Piedras Negras Municipality, a municipality in Mexico, with the center in the eponymous city * Piedras Negras (Maya site) Piedras Negras is the ...

in Guatemala. She pioneered research on Mesoamerican pottery and ceramics, which paved the way for many new projects. President of the Philadelphia Anthropological Society, Butler conducted historical research in Pennsylvania and New York.

Early life and education

Butler was born in 1903 in Media, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Eleanor Baird Reed and George Thomas Butler, a leading attorney of the Delaware County Bar Association." Butler attended

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely foll ...

for her undergraduate studies, graduating in 1925, then went on to the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

for a year of postgraduate studies. She taught French in the United States for a few years, and later began her studies in anthropology with a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

at Radcliffe College of

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

, where she graduated in 1930. In 1936, she earned her Ph.D. from the

. She was the first female archaeologist to earn an anthropology degree at the University of Pennsylvania. At the time, she was one of the first female archaeologists to earn a doctorate degree in the United States. Her dissertation, "Ethnological and Historical Importance of Piedras Negras Pottery," pioneered research in Mesoamerican pottery for future scholars. Butler was also a member of the

Society for American Archaeology The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is a professional association for the archaeology of the Americas. It was founded in 1934 and its headquarters are in based in Washington, D.C. , it has 7,500 members. Its current president is Deborah L. ...

as well as

Sigma Xi Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society () is a highly prestigious, non-profit honor society for scientists and engineers. Sigma Xi was founded at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a small group of graduate students in 1886 ...

Influence in the Field of Mesoamerican Archaeology

Butler's influence in the field of Mesoamerican Archaeology began with her employment at the

, where she was Assistant of the American Section from 1930 to 1939. At the start of her career, she travelled to Guatemala on two separate occasions for expeditions sponsored by the

. During these expeditions, she worked under J. Alden Mason and Linton Sattherthwaite. Butler used the research from these expeditions for her dissertation. She also published the Piedras Negras "Preliminary Papers," and her study of ceramics became "pivotal" to Linton Satterthwaite's reconstruction of the

site. After receiving her doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Butler became a research associate at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. From 1939 to 1941, she was funded by the

American Philosophical Association The American Philosophical Association (APA) is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarl ...

to do fieldwork in Guatemala. With this funding, she visited Guatemala twice more, first at the site of

Alta Verapaz Alta Verapaz () is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and ...

and then Quiche. She excavated sites near San Pedro Carcha, Chama, and Nabaj, and her work was continued by Robert Burkitt.

Influence in the Field of Northeastern and Central United States Prehistory

When Butler entered the field of Northeastern and Central United States archaeology and prehistory, it was male-dominated. Because Butler had credentials and training from outside the United States, she was a more attractive candidate for

field work Field research, field studies, or fieldwork is the collection of raw data outside a laboratory, library, or workplace setting. The approaches and methods used in field research vary across disciplines. For example, biologists who conduct f ...

. As a result, Butler was able to gain field work employment even when women were generally barred from such employment.

Ceramic Technology Project

She began her work in 1935 leading a Ceramic Technology Project that was co-sponsored by the

and

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...

. This project consisted of analyzing artifacts with chemicals and other petrographic methods. Specifically, her findings included an analysis of pigments, clays, and other factors in technology that had changed over time.

Survey of Hudson Valley

In 1936, she directed work for the

Pennsylvania Historical Commission The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage. The commission cares for ...

in 1936 in Somerset County. Afterwards, she conducted a large archaeological survey of the

Hudson Valley The Hudson Valley (also known as the Hudson River Valley) comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in the U.S. state of New York. The region stretches from the Capital District including Albany and Troy south to ...

for

, including 45 sites, sponsored by a grant from the

Carnegie Corporation The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic fund established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to support education programs across the United States, and later the world. Carnegie Corporation has endowed or otherwise helped to establis ...

. She hired many women to work with her in the field; her first field crew was almost one-third women. After two field seasons, the Carnegie Corporation discontinued its financial support due to the war effort, where the remaining funds were directed instead. In 1940, Butler used this data and presented a paper at the Eastern States Archaeological Federation. Even with the Federation's backing, her contributions did not receive much recognition. At the time of publication, the New York State Archaeologist did not include her survey results in his publication of major works, which can be attributed to gender bias.

Local Pennsylvania Historical Sites

After marrying Clifford Lewis in 1942 and having two children, she shifted her professional focus to local historical sites in Pennsylvania. This change from a global to local focus is described as a "survival strategy" for many female archaeologists at the time. Female archaeologists struggled with sexism in the workforce and having to balance raising children with their careers, so the best option was to work close to home. When her children were young, Butler tried to avoid taking long trips that would require her to leave her family. In 1943, however, Butler took an emergency call and conducted an excavation in

Broomall, Pennsylvania Broomall is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,789 at the 2010 census. History This crossroads community was renamed for the post office established to hon ...

. She "bundled up her eleven-week-old daughter in the car and went forth to the dig - carrying on efficiently as director, and giving the baby her bottle at the coffee break and lunch hour." She later became a Historian-Archaeologist for the restoration of the Morton Morton House in Norwood, Pennsylvania. For this project, she conducted historical research and analyzed correspondences, financial records, and more from the location. An avid educator, she was an instructor at Hunter College,

Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College ( ; Welsh: ) is a women's liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Founded as a Quaker institution in 1885, Bryn Mawr is one of the Seven Sister colleges, a group of elite, historically women's colleges in the United ...

, and

, employing her graduate students on the Morton Morton restoration project.

Final Years and Death

For her entire career, Butler was a research associate at the

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology—commonly known as the Penn Museum—is an archaeology and anthropology museum at the University of Pennsylvania. It is located on Penn's campus in the University City neighb ...

. She was a fellow of the American Anthropological Association and became President of the Philadelphia Anthropological Society. Lewis continued her research until she died of cancer in 1970 at her home in Media, Pennsylvania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Mary Butler American women anthropologists American women scientists 1903 births 1970 deaths University of Pennsylvania alumni Vassar College alumni Radcliffe College alumni 20th-century American anthropologists 20th-century American women American women archaeologists