Etienne B. Renaud Papers

Professor of Anthropology Etienne B. Renaud (1880-1973) began working as a lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Denver in 1920 and remained a faculty member until his retirement in 1948. He was the first professional archaeologist to make a systematic study of eastern Colorado. In the summer of 1929, Renaud directed a field expedition for the Colorado Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature and Science). He then proceeded with other archaeological surveys of the western High Plains. His archaeology reports were supported not only by the University of Denver, but also by the Smithsonian Institution. After his retirement, he continued to travel, write papers, and give lectures. The collection reflects Renaud's influence on archaeological survey methods, showing one of the first attempts at systematic excavations ever made in the western High Plains. Renaud was instrumental in the development of the Anthropology Department at the University of Denver, becoming its first full professor in 1924. When the Mary Reed Building was built in 1932, Renaud designed the space for the Museum of Anthropology. Many of the artifacts collected during Renaud's archaeological fieldwork are part of the museum's collection. Renaud was a forerunner in the field of archaeology in the Rocky Mountain Region, and contributed greatly to the field as a whole. He influenced many students and colleagues, writing approximately 125 articles for American and European publications on archaeology, craniometry, linguistics, and Native American religion.