Cornell University Anthropology Collections

Cornell University Anthropology Collections The Cornell Anthropology Collections include over 20,000 archaeological and ethnographic pieces, Lower Paleolithic to modern, for teaching and research.

Visits by appointment only. The Anthropology Collections at Cornell University include over 20,000 pieces, archaeological and ethnographic, ranging from the Lower Paleolithic through the 20th century. The collections are available by appointment for teaching and research. The origins of the Anthropology Collections can be traced to the University Museum, one of the first three buildings constructe

d at Cornell. In the early years of the University, anthropological and archaeological materials came into the Collections via Geology, Classics, Zoology, and other programs. After the Second World War, as the Anthropology Department separated from Economics and Sociology and and grew, the Anthropology Collections were re-organized and expanded to support the mission of the Department.

An interesting exhibit at the Met this summer – although I suspect that, like the author and some commentators, I'd want...
06/19/2026

An interesting exhibit at the Met this summer – although I suspect that, like the author and some commentators, I'd want to see more accompanying text/interpretation....

You may stand a little straighter after visiting the Met’s Temple of Dendur, which has been reanimated with sculptures by the Swiss master of figurative tension.

A few shots from late in the Reunion open-house today, Alison had considerably more people in the morning but Fred wasn’...
06/06/2026

A few shots from late in the Reunion open-house today, Alison had considerably more people in the morning but Fred wasn’t there until later to get photos. There was still a steady stream of visitors through the afternoon, who seemed to really enjoy the Collections, the selected objects, and most of all, Alison’s explanations and stories.

Open House this Friday...Anthropology & Archaeology CollectionsCome visit the new location of the collections in the Ant...
06/01/2026

Open House this Friday...
Anthropology & Archaeology Collections
Come visit the new location of the collections in the Anthropology Collaboratory in Olin Library, view selections of archaeological and ethnographic material, and chat with curators.
Fri, June 05 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Anthropology Collaboratory, Olin Library, room B66
The Collections will be open for most of the afternoon, too. You're welcome to stop by outside of designated hours if you miss the morning open house!

Current status of the McGraw Hall renovation. Fred went up to consult with Alison on a variety of projects — it’s been a...
05/29/2026

Current status of the McGraw Hall renovation. Fred went up to consult with Alison on a variety of projects — it’s been a crazy semester and we hadn’t been able to get together for ages! Alison will be doing an open-house for Reunion as usual, next Friday in the new Collaboratory space, so those coming for Reunion should be sure to stop by!

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05/13/2026

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The fragment wasn’t placed besides the body, but stuffed inside it.

A little update on the McGraw Hall renovation project
05/13/2026

A little update on the McGraw Hall renovation project

As McGraw Hall, one of the university’s oldest buildings, is rebuilt from the inside out, workers have made several discoveries, and faculty are reusing and studying materials from the building in the classroom.

A nice article on a great collection of material culture!
05/01/2026

A nice article on a great collection of material culture!

Yale’s Bicentennial Schlock collection offers a window into the star-spangled commercialism that swept the country 50 years ago.

Today from the Kittyverse — the Collections do not currently include much of this genre; Curator Emeritus Fred used to b...
04/15/2026

Today from the Kittyverse — the Collections do not currently include much of this genre; Curator Emeritus Fred used to bring in examples from his personal collection. Curator Alison is also a fan, and eventually there will be more formally added. This sort of popular material culture is very interesting and important — and students love seeing such more familiar things alongside more traditionally collected ethnographic objects.

04/14/2026

We have several bronze axes in the Collections, great to see this experimental project!

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150 McGraw Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
14853

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