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Charles Hoffman Collection, 1939-2004

NAU.MS.355
NAU.PH.2007.54

Biographical Note

Charles Hoffman was born in Wildwood, New Jersey, on 17 August 1929. He majored in Journalism and received his B.S.J. degree from University of Florida. Afterwards, he completed his M.A. in Anthropology and minored in Geology from the same university. He went on to achieve a PH.D in Anthropology and minored in Cultural Anthropology at University of Arizona. Hoffman began teaching at Northern Arizona University in 1972. His teaching disciplines included peoples and cultures of the Caribbean area, past and present anthropology of historic sites including the Flagstaff, Williams and Little Colorado River Basin areas, Paleo-Indians of the new world, and anthropological theory. He investigated Paleo-Indians of Silver Springs Run in Florida, site A-356 and the archaic peoples of the Southeastern United States, as well as the Columbus landing location in the new world. Hoffman retired from NAU in 1995 and operated as a contact archaeologist with his own firm, Archaeology International. Hoffman died July 1, 2005.

Scope and Content Note

Series I: site reports contained in this series cover the period of 1976-2003 approximately. The historic and prehistoric site reports are arranged more or less chronologically by site number where the last two digits of the year and the report number merged (i.e. 84012 is the 12th site report for the year 1984). The designation “NAU” before the file number was used inconsistently, and its presence or absence does not seem to indicate true affiliation of the site or the report with the institution. The reports have for the most part been produced by students under Dr. Hoffman’s direction to document individual sites and created nominations for the National Register for Historic Places through the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office. Typically, these report files contain copies of (SHPO) historic inventory reports, raw research notes, and documenting images (including photographic prints, slides and negatives). Many of the reports are very detailed and lengthy, while others may only contain a draft site document, or just images or notes relevant to the location. The site reports represent northern Arizona locations generally, with some areas featuring extensive depth and research (Lyman Lake, St. Johns, Arizona Rancho Hotel in Holbrook, AZ., Lower Little Colorado River (region), Flagstaff Old Town/Downtown, Northern Arizona University's Historic North Campus and Williams, AZ. Historic District are examples). Users of this collection need to be aware that there are gaps in the numbering sequences for this collection, and files can contain a wide array of materials from a variety of resources. Dr. Hoffman’s own index is included, and provides some insight into the files, and their organization and content.

Over time it is possible to see the evolution of the data collection within this series, with greater emphasis on documentation, data collection and observation occurring over time. By the end of the series though, there are folders that simply contain information obtained from secondary sources which may reflect a degree of preparation on the part of Dr. Hoffman for further or future investigations.

Prehistoric site reports are somewhat different in that they are not as consistently organized and have a number of different numbering schemes, including alphabetical by place and numerical by project. Year and report numbers reprise the Historic Site Reports. The archaeological site reports are significantly more detained, and mirror finished academic publications. These reports cover a wide array of locations across the southwest covering the period of 1980-2005, and were done under contract for a variety of entities. Folder titles are as they appear in Dr. Hoffman's files. Photographs from Series I have been separated into Series I of the photographic portion of the collection.

Series II: subject files are comprised of files that contain publications of, and information about local, regional and national archaeological/historical organizations that Dr. Hoffman worked with, was a member of, or corresponded with. There are also general subject files on places, people and events in the region, as well as publications and papers Dr. Hoffman retained. Owing to how the material in this series was housed and used, there are several alphabetic sequences employed within the folder subjects in this series. It should be noted that some of the subject files make direct references to the Historic and Archaeological Site Reports using their numbering systems. Photographs from Series II have been separated into Series II of the photographic portion of the collection.

Series III: Correspondence retained by Dr. Hoffman are professional in nature, and document significant aspects of his educational and teaching careers, generally covering the period of 1960-2000. It should be noted that Dr. Hoffman included relevant correspondence within other series files.

Series IV: Site workbooks represents raw data gathered by Dr. Hoffman and some students while investigating various archaeological and historic sites. Also contained here are some of Dr. Hoffman's class teaching files and class notes. Student notebooks can also be found in with site files.

Series V: maps relate specific historic and prehistoric sites to particular geographic areas. Dr. Hoffman's map collection is compromised largely of U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute topographic maps. Oversize maps relate to Flagstaff, Williams Downtown revitalization, and various sites, including building sites

Series VI: Historic Preservation Conference (1979) contains conference preparation and proposal records, budgets, presentation schedules, copy of presentations, correspondence, promotional brochures, council literature, mailing lists, and a final report. Series holds conference papers with a starting date of September 20, 1978 and an ending date of July 25, 1979.

Photographic images (slides, prints, negatives) were found throughout the collection in July 2012, principally in the site reports and subject files. These have been separated and a unique record group (photographs) created. The photographs were processed in the summer of 2013.

Extension re-processing took place in the fall semester of 2015 and resulted in the disposition of materials related to sensitive archaeological sites and other land owners.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Related Material

Charles A. Hoffman Papers, University of Florida Smathers Libraries, Special and Area Studies Collections

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Charles Hoffman Collection [manuscript], NAU.MS.355, Special Collections and Archives. Northern Arizona University. Cline Library. Flagstaff, Arizona.

Charles Hoffman Collection [photograph], NAU.PH.2007.54, Special Collections and Archives. Northern Arizona University. Cline Library. Flagstaff, Arizona.

Acquisition Information

Collection donated in 2007.

Processing Information

Processed in the winter and fall of 2011. Photographs were processed during the summer of 2013. Oversized maps processed in February of 2015. Extensive re-processing and appraisal/disposition of the collection took place in the fall of 2015.

Container List