Ohio History Journal

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WARREN KING MOOREHEAD

WARREN KING MOOREHEAD

 

Warren King Moorehead, noted archaeologist and director of

the Department of American Archaeology of Phillips Academy,

Andover, Massachusetts, for thirty-one years, died in the Mas-

sachusetts General Hospital, Thursday, January 5, 1939. Dr.

Moorehead, who had retired from Phillips Academy in June 1938,

was taken ill while on a European tour and had been in poor health

following his return.

Dr. Moorehead was a life member of the Ohio State Archae-

ological and Historical Society, and served as the curator of its

Museum from February, 1895, to August, 1897. During that

time he carried on archeological explorations in the State and did

much to stimulate an interest in the pre-historic remains of this

area. Although long absent from Ohio he always retained his

keen interest in the archaeology of his native state and kept in close

touch with his many local friends.

He was the son of Dr. William G. Moorehead of the Xenia

Theological Seminary and Helen King Moorehead, and was born

in Sienna, Italy, March 10, 1866. His early years were spent in

Xenia where he was educated in the public schools. He later

attended Denison University at Granville and then spent three

years studying under Dr. Thomas Wilson of the Smithsonian

Institution. His early archaeological experience was gained in

Ohio where he conducted mound explorations on his own initia-

tive for a period of four years. Following this work he carried

on field investigations at Fort Ancient that resulted in wide-spread

interest in this earthwork and played a significant part in its

eventual preservation as a State park.  Later he supervised

field explorations in Ohio and other states for Prof. F. W. Putnam

of Harvard University in connection with the World's Columbian

Exposition of 2893 at Chicago.

Dr. Moorehead served as a member of the U. S. Board of

Indian Commissioners for twenty-six years and always maintained

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