Museum of Northern Arizona
3101 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-774-5211 ext. 256 or 269
library@mna.mus.az.us
Biographical Note
John Richard "Dick" Ambler was born on January 23, 1934, in Denver to John Vernon and Mary Louise (Sterling) Ambler. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado (1958), a master's degree from the University of Arizona (1961) and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder (1966).
His early career included working for the National Park Service at Mesa Verde National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Monument. He did his post-doctoral work on coastal sites in Texas for the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.
In 1967, he joined the anthropology faculty at NAU in Flagstaff. His research interests focused on the American Southwest and became concentrated on the Colorado Plateau and Kayenta Anasazi culture, in particular. He participated in major projects, including the Glen Canyon expeditions, Navajo Mountain projects and excavations in western New Mexico. He used a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the past, incorporating scientific standards and Native points of view.
In 1977, he authored the popular book "The Anasazi: Prehistoric People of the Four Corners Region," with photographs by Marc Gaede. His bibliography includes more than 38 professional publications, as well as volumes of unpublished work. His personal interests included pottery making, etching, pyrotechnics, travel, fiction writing, photography, carpentry, aboriginal technology, politics and helping to organize the Fort Valley volunteer fire department.
In 1985, he suffered a severe brain injury, forcing his early retirement in 1986. After his recovery, Ambler became passionate about live music and was often referred to as "Dick the Dancin' Man" in Flagstaff. As a fixture in the local community, he was voted the "Barometer of Cool" by Flagstaff Live! In 2002. He was known for his elaborate self-made jewelry and colorful shirts.
He was active in the local Libertarian party, running twice for county supervisor (1992, 2004) and was a strong proponent of medical marijuana. After retirement, he continued to remain active in the Southwestern archaeological community.
After a second traumatic brain injury in 2008, he moved to Denver to be closer to his daughters for care. Eight months after being diagnosed with a lung tumor, Ambler died peacefully on April 26, 2010 with his three living children – Kelly, Bridget and Devon – by his side.
*courtesy of the obituaries section of the Arizona Daily Sun, 05/05/2010
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records related to Ambler's professional and personal life and his many activities. Predominant in the collection are records related to his many publications, particularly with relation to the Anasazi, as well as Native American perspective on prehistoric technology. Other records in the collection document the many workshops that Ambler attended and often presented at. Ambler's educational career is well-documented through a series of records related to his academic status as a student and faculty member. A sizeable correspondence series complements Ambler's many personal and professional pursuits. Also included are records related to a variety of Ambler's personal activities, including his involvement with the Libertarian party, marijuana de-criminalization, a homemade jewelry business venture, and other various community organizations. Finally, a large amount of photographic slides document many professional projects and functions, but also a number of personal/familial moments.
Unpublished and published manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Controlled Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Ambler, J. Richard
Corporate Name(s)
Libertarian Party
Museum of Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona University. Dept. of Anthropology
J. Richard Ambler collection, MS-359 [Box Number]. Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Arizona.
Acquisition Information
Collection was donated to the Museum of Northern Arizona by Kelly and Bridget Ambler, the guardians of J. Richard Ambler's estate in September 2009 (accession #4382).
Series consists of Ambler's personal writings, both professional and personal. Many of the files in this series are collected works from different authors, but are thematically linked in anticipation of exclusive publications on specific topics, namely Kayenta Anasazi ceramics and Prehistoric Technologies.
Subseries consists of Ambler's manuscripts, most of which are professional and relate to his anthropological/archaeological work. Also included, however, are a few personal creative fiction pieces. Also included are Ambler's reviews of other publications.
Box
Folder
1
1
Miscellaneous story ideas, undated
1
2
Continental Glacier, undated
1
3
The War Between the Sexes, undated
1
4
Fiction: Simphin [sp?], undated
1
5
Papers, 1962-1963
1
6
Bone Whistles, 1966
1
7
The Nature of Prehistoric Contact Between the Southwest and California as Indicated by Bone Whistles, circa 1966
1
8
Review - Latest Aztec Discoveries: Origin and Untold Riches, circa 1967
1
9
"Archaeologists Probing Ancient Indian Culture" - article with Ambler, 1970
1
10
Reviews, 1977-1979
1
11
Public Law 96-95 and Interior Design, 1980
1
12
Coping with Cultural Resource Regulations: Hints from an Archaeologist, 1982
1
13
Border Towns, 1982-1983
1
14
Archaeological Contracting by Public and Private Organizations: A False Dichotomy, 1983
1
15
Summary of Kayenta Archaeology, 1985
1
16
Review: Investigation at the Rock Creek Burial Alcove, 1986
1
17
Reviews of Publications, 1983-1987
1
18
NAU Archaeology Series #1 - Navajo National Monument, 1985-1987
1
19
Kayenta Craft Specialization and Social Differentation, 1987
1
20
Kachinas, 1971-1988
1
21
Miscellaneous papers/grant ideas, 1985-1988
Box
Folder
2
1
fiction: South Wind, 1987-1988
2
2
Writing Dos and Don’ts, 1988
2
3
The Descent of Human Feces, 1986-1989
2
4
Trace Element Analysis of Pueblo II Kayenta Anasazi Sherds, 1987-1989
2
5
Numic Light on the Late Prehistory of the Northern Southwest, 1988-1989
2
6
The Anasazi Abandonment of the San Juan Drainage and the Numic Expansion, 1985-1990
2
7
Ages and Stages, 1986-1990
2
8
The Role of Women in Human Evolution, 1989-1990
2
9
Archaeology - some ideas, 1989-1990
2
10
Virgin Anasazi Communal Structures and Regional Variation - draft and notes, 1990
2
11
The Evolution of Mermaids, 1990
2
12
The Evolution of Writing Modes, 1990
2
13
Publication ideas and info, 1989-1991
2
14
Building Bridges: The Archaeological Approach to the Behavioral Sciences, 1990-1991
2
15
The Archaeological Roots of the Behavioral Sciences, 1991
2
16
Prehistoric Artifact Invention, Value, and Change, 1991
2
17
An Archaeological View of Artifact Technology, Terminology, and Evolution, 1991
2
18
Miscellaneous Ideas - especially re Kayenta, circa 1982-1992
2
19
Feline Comfort, 1975-1992
Box
Folder
3
1
Building Bridges: The Archaeological Foundations of the Behavioral Sciences, 1989-1992
3
2
Archaeological Thoughts on the Evolution of Technology, 1992
3
3
Thoughts on Systems and the Abandonment of the Virgin Anasazi Area, 1991-1993
3
4
The Shonto Junction Doghouse, 1992-1993
3
5
Snake Shit, 1993
3
6
Numics - General, S. Paiute, 1985-1994
3
7
Building Bridges, 1991-1994
3
8
The Shonto Junction Doghouse, 1993-1994
3
9
Oxford University Press - Archaeological Guides for Travelers, 1994
3
10
"Virgins" articles and presentations - ideas and miscellaneous, 1989-1996
3
11
Climate, 1982-1997
3
12
Story Ideas, 1988-1997
3
13
"Virgins" and "Origins" - miscellaneous notes, 1990-1998
3
14
"Archaeologies" publication: "An Ethnohistoric, Linguistic, and Archaeological Reconstruction of Hopi and Keres Origins", 2007
Box
Folder
4
1
Correspondence and publications re: migration patterns, 2001-2008
Subseries consists of Ambler's work at compiling a formal and thorough publication on Kayenta Anasazi ceramics, a personal research interest of his for several years. As such, many files here are collected works from other authors. His work on this publication is documented here, although it was never formally published.
Box
Folder
4
2
Anasazi Bibliography, undated
4
3
Kayenta Ceramics dating, 1984
4
4
Anasazi Ceramics, circa 1985
4
5
Kayenta Anasazi rough drafts, 1985
4
6
Kayenta Anasazi Synthesis: Chapter 1 drafts, 1985
4
7
Kayenta ceramics rough notes, 1985-1986
4
8
Kayenta Burial Patterns etc., 1986
4
9
Northern Kayenta Ceramic Chronology, 1987
4
10
Kayenta Anasazi Ceramics - General Information and References cited, 1985-1988
4
11
Kayenta Anasazi - Lucius and Breternitz: Field Guide, 1985-1986
4
12
Kayenta Anasazi - Blinman: Mesa Verde, 1985-1986
4
13
Kayenta Anasazi Ceramics - Stein: Burials at Pottery Pueblo, 1985-1986
Box
Folder
5
1
Kayenta Anasazi - Heacock: Hopi Buttes, circa 1985
5
2
Kayenta Anasazi - Bolsom: Heavy Mineral Analysis, 1985
5
3
Kayenta Anasazi - Intrakayenta Variation, 1986
5
4
Edited 1st edition of "The Anasazi" for MNA's 2nd edition, 1987
5
5
Kayenta Anasazi Ceramics - Entire MS as submitted to U of A press, 1988
5
6
Correspondence re: Publication of Kayenta Anasazi Ceramics, 1988
Subseries consists of records related to Ambler's work at a compilation of articles – many of his own – that he anticipated having published. As such, many of these files consist of writings by different authors. Between 1990 and 1996 Ambler undertook two separate iterations of this project.
Series consists of assorted research materials (documents/maps) used in anticipation of broader archaeological/anthropological projects and reports, either personal or those used for NAU/MNA projects.
Box
Folder
9
7
Pottery from Arizona AA:2:61, undated
9
8-9
Pottery from Coombs Site, undated
9
10
Questions and answers - human evolution tape for Jr. High School, undated
9
11
Miscellaneous unpublished papers, undated
9
12
No Driving or Digging sign [36 CFR 800], undated
9
13
Colton, Breternitz, etc. dates [ceramics], undated
Box
Folder
10
1
Dust Devil Cave - Checklists of Stone Material, undated
10
2
Almeda Brown Ware, undated
10
3
Mogollon periods and phases, undated
10
4
Kayenta misc. negatives, undated
10
5
Museum of Northern Arizona and the Glen Canyon Project - General, undated
10
6
Archaeological Research near Winslow, Arizona, 1958-1959
10
7
Paul Tabori - The Natural Science of Stupidity, 1959
10
8
Guaymas Research Proposal, 1964
10
9
Dust Devil Cave - Burial 1, 1970
10
10
Testing of other cave sites near Navajo Mountain, 1970
10
11
Butler Wash - miscellaneous, circa 1976
10
12
Poncho House, 1976
10
13
Schanuel site, 1976
10
14
The Anasazi: Prehistoric People of the Four-Corners Country - Contractual agreement [MNA], 1977
10
15
Youngs Canyon, 1976-1978
10
16
Dolores River, 1977-1978
10
17
Cobb Nuclear Corporation, 1978
10
18
Dust Devil Cave, 1981
10
19
Dust Devil Cave - Organized Research Proposal, 1983
10
20
Dust Devil bones, circa 1984
10
21
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: Black Mesa Archaeological Project, 1983-1985
10
22
The Modern Paiutes, 1986
10
23
Sites reported but not recorded, 1965-1987
10
24
Navajo National Monument - National Register of Historic Places, circa 1968-1987
10
25
Cave in Henry Mountains - Gary George, 1987
10
26
Hidden Hollow - Observatory Mesa Rd, Budweiser Tank surveys, 1987
Box
Folder
11
1
Observatory Mesa, 1987
11
2
Misc. research notes and correspondence, 1985-1988
11
3
Houston Archaeological Society - articles on Cedar Bayou, Wallisville, early Spanish, 1988
11
4
Dust Devil Cave - Chenopodium seed, 1988-1989
11
5
Crater Lake - archaeological survey, 1988-1989
11
6
House Rock Valley, 1990
11
7
Artifacts - misc. notes, 1990
11
8
Playing with fire - possible book, 1991
11
9
Northern Arizona Maps [projects], 1993
11
10
Black Mesa B/W pots, 1993
11
11
Dust Devil Cave - C-14, 1971-1995
11
12
BMIII - PI: Catastrophism as Influencing Anasazi Evolution, 1988-1997
11
13
Sandal photos, 1995-1998
11
14
David Wilcox - Central Arizona Brownware, 2001-2002
Series consists of records related to various conferences, presentations, and workshops that Ambler organized, attended, or was asked to submit a paper for. Included are the papers presented at most of the conferences.
Box
Folder
11
15
Museum of Northern Arizona - Salado Red Ware seminar, 1967
11
16
Fremont Symposium - SAA, 1969-1970
11
17
SAA Fremont symposium, 1969-1970
11
18
"Behavioristic Archaeology in the Southwest" conference planning, 1971
11
19
SAA meeting - the San Mateo project, 1977-1978
11
20-21
Great Basin Archaeological Conference - Fremont Symposium, 1978-1979
11
22
1st Anasazi Symposium: Kayenta Craft Specialization and Social Differentation, 1981
Box
Folder
12
1
RBMV talk at UCLA, 1983
12
2
Third Anasazi Symposium, circa 1983
12
3
Great Basin Archaeological Conference - Dust Devil Symposium, 1984
12
4
2nd Anasazi Symposium: Kayenta Anasazi Utilization of Canyons and Plateaus, 1982-1985
12
5
Kayenta Anasazi Utilization of Canyons and Plateaus in the Navajo Mountain District, 1983-1985
12
6
Society for American Archaeology meeting: Abstract, 1985
12
7
Arizona Archaeological Council meeting: Special Topics - Anasazi, 1985
12
8
Society for American Archaeology paper - The Effects of Numic Aggressiveness on Pueblo IV Peoples, 1985-1986
12
9
Third Anasazi Symposium, 1985-1986
12
10
correspondence: Third Anasazi Symposium, 1986
12
11
Gordon Bronitsky paper - Third Anasazi Symposium, 1986
12
12
Great Basin Anthropological Conference - Desha Complex session, 1986
12
13
Society for Applied Anthropology paper - Archaeology as Applied Anthropology, 1986
12
14
Intra-Cultural Workshop, Dr. Pertti Pelto, 1987
12
15
Building Bridges - SAA annual meeting contribution, 1989-1990
Box
Folder
13
1
Building Bridges - Early Drafts [2], 1989-1990
13
2
Building Bridges - Early Drafts [3], 1990
13
3
Bridges - Ideas and misc., 1989-1991
13
4
Building Bridges - Southwestern Anthropological Association annual meeting, 1991
13
5
Materials Research Society: A General Terminology of Artifact Evolution, 1991-1992
13
6
Pecos Conference paper: Fuelwood and Anasazi: Mobil Sedentism, 1993
13
7
Durango Conference on Southwest Archaeology, 1995
13
8
Where did all the Virgins go? - symposium paper, 1993-1996
Series consists of records related to Ambler's involvement with institutions of higher learning and other educational institutions.
Included are his student papers and records while studying at the University of Colorado and the University of Arizona (which includes his master's thesis documentation),
his professional involvement (educator and facilitator) with the Museum of Northern Arizona, the University of Texas, and Northern Arizona University, and any other educational opportunities he was involved with after his formal retirement in 1986.
Predominant in this series are course syllabi and exams for a variety of courses taught by Amber at NAU.
Box
Folder
13
15
Degree requirements, 1956
13
16
Art 472: Southwest Indian Art, 1956
13
17
Anthropology 452 - Archaeology and Ethnology of Mexico and Central America, 1956-1957
13
18
"Behavioristic Archaeology in the Southwest" conference planning, 1956-1957
13
19
Anthropology 241: Primitive Arts and Crafts, 1957
13
20
Anthropology 241 paper: Hohokam Pottery, 1957
13
21
Anthropology 215R paper: The Salado Intrusion into the Hohokam Classic Period, 1958
13
22
University of Arizona - Museum Assistantship, 1958
13
23
Anthropology 280 paper - The Fremont Culture: Its Place in the Willey and Phillips Historical-Developmental Classification, 1958
Box
Folder
14
1
Anthropology 330a term talk - Hopi Kivas and Religious Architecture, 1958
14
2
Anthropology 276 - Comparative Social Organization, 1958
14
3
Anthropology 280: Archaeology of North America, 1958-1959
14
4
Anthropology 215R - Archaeology of the SW, 1958-1959
14
5
Anthropology 282 - Archaeology of South America, 1959
14
6
Anthropology 276 paper: Free Wandering, Restricted Wandering, and Central-Based Wandering Community Types, 1959
14
7
UCRBS - University of Utah, 1958-1960
14
8
Geochronology 300, 331, term papers, 1958-1960
14
9
University of Arizona - Geochronology 331: Pleistocene Biology, 1960
14
10
MA Thesis - Doghouse negatives and prints, 1960
14
11
MA Thesis - 35mm negatives and prints, 1960
14
12
MA Thesis - 4x5 negatives and prints, 1960
14
13
MA Thesis - negative inventory and selection list, 1960
Series consists of multiple files of correspondence, mostly related to Ambler's professional and scholarly activities.
Other personal correspondence files have been noted as such. All correspondence files in this series have been arranged chronologically.
Box
Folder
17
9
Miscellaneous professional correspondence, 1960-1961
17
10
Letter from Mary Alvarez, 1969
17
11
Miscellaneous Correspondence - Cultural Resource Management, 1973-1978
17
12
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1969-1971
17
13
Miscellaneous "A" correspondence, 1966-1971
17
14
Miscellaneous "B" correspondence, 1964-1979
Box
Folder
18
1
Miscellaneous "C" correspondence, 1965-1977
18
2
Miscellaneous "D" correspondence, 1963-1979
18
3
Miscellaneous "E" correspondence, 1966-1976
18
4
Miscellaneous "F" correspondence, 1963-1980
18
5
Miscellaneous "G" correspondence, 1964-1979
18
6
Miscellaneous "H" correspondence, 1964-1980
18
7
Miscellaneous "I" correspondence, 1965-1975
18
8
Miscellaneous "J" correspondence, 1964-1978
18
9
Miscellaneous "K" correspondence, 1965-1980
18
10
Miscellaneous "L" correspondence, 1960-1980
18
11
Miscellaneous "M" correspondence, 1964-1979
18
12
Miscellaneous "N" correspondence, 1964-1966
18
13
Miscellaneous "O" correspondence, 1964-1967
18
14
Miscellaneous "P" correspondence, 1964-1976
18
15
Miscellaneous "R" correspondence, 1964-1976
18
16
Miscellaneous "S" correspondence, 1964-1980
18
17
Miscellaneous "T" correspondence, 1963-1980
18
18
Miscellaneous "U-Z" correspondence, 1965-1980
Box
Folder
19
1
Smithsonian book of antiques, 1980
19
2
Correspondence, 1961-1962, 1976-1982
19
3
RAM - Correspondence with UCLA and Watson Smith, 1981-1985
19
4
Chris Robinson - Dine Bi Keya Museum, 1983-1986
19
5
Letter to the editor: "Literacy Standards", 1986
19
6
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1985-1988
19
7-8
Miscellaneous correspondence - early 1980s [predominantly], 1980-1989
19
9
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1988-1989
19
10
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1993
Box
Folder
20
1
Correspondence with Linda Lay Shuler, 1987-1995
20
2
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1993-1995
20
3
Response to Nation Box 251 personal ad, 1997
20
4
Miscellaneous professional correspondence, 1980-1998
Subseries consists of records related to Ambler's personal life and includes other personal and genealogical information about members of his family.
Other significant records in this subseries relate to his various job searches.
Also included are records on his secluded nature getaway, Pahreah.
A file on biographical information contains some images of Ambler's popularity as "Dick the Dancin' Man."
Box
Folder
20
7
Museum of Northern Arizona job, 1960-1961
20
8
M1903A3 Springfield rifle, 1962
20
9
Job Hunting, 1965
20
10
Job offer from Northern Arizona University, 1967
20
11
Job Inquiries, 1967-1970
20
12
Jobs, 1975
20
13
Vita - info, 1952-1980
20
14
Devon's speaking vocabulary, 1980s
20
15
Decree of Divorce social gathering and map, 1986
20
16
Accident - Jeremy Mitchell, 1987
20
17
Answering machine messages, 1989
20
18
Pahreah - construction, 1986-1990
20
19
University of Albany application, 1990
20
20
University of Maine position opening, 1991-1992
20
21
Northern Arizona University Job opening, 1992
Box
Folder
21
1
Crow Canyon - Director of Research position, 1992-1993
21
2
Qawasqar people (Chile) project, 1987-1994
21
3
Genealogy of Ambler family, 1993-1994
21
4
Genealogy information, 1996
21
5
J. Richard Ambler biographical information, 1986-2010
Subseries consists of Ambler's involvement with local politics, in particular his 1992 and 2004 runs for political office under the banner of the Libertarian party.
Box
Folder
21
6
Letter to the editor re: Flagstaff city complex, 1978
21
7
H.R. 1646 - Native American Grave and Burial Protection Act, 1989
21
8
Coconino County Community Board application, 1990-1991
21
9
Politics, 1990-1992
21
10
Coconino County Board of Supervisors election, 1992
21
11
Politics - forms, 1992
21
12
Ambler for Supervisor - Ads and Press Releases, 1992
21
13
Contributions and petition signatures, 1992
21
14
Letter to the editor re: Coconino County Board of Supervisors building, 1994
21
15
Robert Wadman re: community policing, 1995
21
16
Libertarian party bylaws, 1996
21
17
Coconino County Budget, 1992-1999
21
18
Dick Ambler, Libertarian [campaign materials], 2004
Subseries consists predominantly of records related to his home business, Ancient Arts.
Included is design information for moccasins and descriptions of his homemade jewelry.
Box
Folder
22
4
Enchanted Owl t-shirt design, circa 1980s
22
5
Ancient Arts - Prehistoric Moccasins information, 1980
22
6
Ancient Arts - Prehistoric Moccasins patterns, 1980
22
7
Ancient Arts - miscellaneous information, 1991-1994
Series consists of assorted slides from (mostly) professional and personal endeavors.
Many images are related to NAU and MNA projects, while others are images used in preparation for Ambler's 1977 (and later 1987 reprinting) of his MNA publication on the Anasazi.
Also included are some personal family photos.
Note
Some groupings of slides were titled, but many were stored loosely with no apparent organization.
Box
Folder
22
14
Miscellaneous slides and transparencies - Navajo Mountain, 1980s
22
15
Chihuahua, 1978
22
16
NM H-10-74, 78, 55, 1977-1979
22
17
Miscellaneous slides of objects, 1970s
22
18
Anasazi - general (as shown to Verde Valley Archaeological Society) slides, 1958-1988
22
19
Misc. Kayenta etc. slides, 1959-1983
Box
Folder
23
1
Misc. Kayenta, seri Kiva [sp?], 1959-1983
23
2
Ignacio Zaraguza [sp?] and Olla Cave, 1978
23
3
Dust Devil, Seri Kiva [sp?], Misc. Kayenta, 1959-1983
23
4
Survey, Winona, etc., 1978
23
5
Misc. Navajo Mountain, Kayenta, 1958-1983
23
6
Navajo Mountain, Chaco, Pottery Firing, 1976
23
7
NA10101, firing pots, etc., 1970
23
8
Taos, Picaris, Acoma, 1970
23
9
Gt [sp?] sand dunes, 1960s
23
10
Poncho House, Tsegi Area, Kayenta area + maps, 1976-1983
23
11
Paul Long, Jr. [misc. slides], 1959-1964
23
12
RB568 etc., 1983
23
13
Map - trading groups? 1000-1100 AD, A352 Dr. Colton, undated
23
14
Rattlesnake, Long House Valley, Black Mesa mining, etc., 1976-1983
