The man who brought us all together… a true visionary. Almost every thing he predicted, mostly all came true. He put up with me for years…Thank you!
The longest suffering and hardest working member of our team. There was nothing he could not build, fabricate or repair. As Stuart kept buying old beat up buildings, Pete kept making them habitable and useful. As well as keeping up with all of the repairs to the ones we already owned.
Tom was one of the folks I first met back in 1971. It took him a number of years to finish his Phd. Dissertation on lithics wear patterns. When I made this shot he was teaching in the Field School Program.
Ray, started working with Stuart when he was a teenager. He was one of the best Phase one and Phase two site surveyors I ever met. During the hey day of Kampsville Contract Archaeology contracts, he oas one of our key elements of success.
The first time I met Vern was 1971. He was the glue that held the crew together. An enthusiastic amateur archaeologist and a veteran of many years of digging with the likes of Greg Perino. Vern, went from unit to unit helping the college students screen their dirt , as well as any other task he could come up with to improve their lot in life. He took me under his wing, we became friends. Every so often I would drive to Centralia, Illinois to visit him at home.
Larry Bartram and Treg Wyden.. Both part of the Kampsville Field School Backbone. One rainy day, we were cleaning the nooks and crannies on top of the vault of the old Bank of Kampsville (now one of our lab buildings) We found some cool stuff. I still have a calendar plate “Compliments of the Bank of Kampsville, 1929”
In 1971 this corner bar and tavern was known as the Copper Kettle. At some point in time it was sold to Bob and Carol. Seen here during one of Kampsville’s all too often floods.
Dr. Howard Winters and one of his grad students. When I met him, Howard was one of the most respected figures in North American Anthropology. You would never know it by his demeanor. He was one of the kindest and down to earth people I have ever met.
With the passage of time I have forgotten their names. But, having done it myself one season I have not forgotten that contract work continued till the ground was too frozen to work. Such, was the time pressure we were under.
Karen Attwell, another person who came and stayed for many years… always a delight to be around.
A surrogate mom and pop for all of us, for many years. Karl came to Kampsville while working on his masters. Donna came along for the ride. Over the years, they both handled many varied role within the community. The gatherings at their farm…amazing.
I could easily write a book on the cumulative accomplishments of the folks kicking back at this table. These are the faces that helped shape North American Archaeology into what it is today. I was lucky to have them as co-workers and friends.
George Odell, George and his wife Freida brought a level of much needed “old school” perspective to the organization. And, many an evening were spent at their place around the piano making music.
Jim Novelli, one of the hardest working “wild men” I ever knew.
Heather and Don Albertson. I had the joy of working with Heather and I got to know Don fairly well. A great couple!
Lis Anne getting water. Water at her home was not really fit for consumption. Once a week a whole bunch of jugs got taken to the local spring. (This amazing young lady was one of the best educator’s I have ever met)
Some of the “Field School Gang” in front of the vault of the old Bank of Kampsville
Fellow contract worker circa 1979. I apologize for forgetting the name. But, I have not forgotten that he was a great person to work with.
David and Nancy Asch (at our first annual Kampsville Pioneer Days Celebration) David is a world class statistician and Nancy was the Botanist that oversaw the analysis of all of the different types of carbonized plant remains.
Chip, one of the biggest hearts and hardest workers on our team.
Julie Murphy hanging at the “Old Drug Store”. The first time I met Julie was when she shared a ride with me from Chicago to Carbondale. Unfortunately, that night Rt. 57 got hit by a record ice storm. That night Julie, myself and four others was spent in a ditch inside my backwards facing ’63 Ford. For better or worse a year or two later I introduced her to the folks in Kampsville, she spent a couple of seasons doing contract work.
John and his family eventually moved a few mile South of Kampsville to set up his own space. Here he is with my wife Mondira in front of one of his dwellings.
A gathering at the Udesen’s. This is one of my favorite images..
