Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Author and Curator Emeritus of the Southwest Musem.
From early childhood memories of a grandmother who, claiming a Mohawk in her parentage, sang Indian lullabies to her grandson and his boyhood meeting with the famous Nez Perce Chief Joseph, Dr. Mark R. Harrington's life long interest and work with the American Indian earned him the accolade by Arthur G. Coons of Occidental as "one of the greatest living experts on the native peoples of America"
His first job was at the American Museum of Natural History where he worked before finishing his education. Later he worked for the Peabody Museum of Harvard and the Museum of American Indian, Heye Foundation. During the ensuing years he lived with 43 different Indian tribes, the first anthropologist to gather his information first hand while sharing their lives.
In 1928 he came to California as Director of Research at the Southwest Museum and soon became its Curator. His important excavations include the Gypsum Cave expedition, the Tule Springs site and the "Lost City" site, all in Nevada. California expeditions include several sites in the Little Lake area and a 10,000 year old site at Borax Lake.
In 1930 he was led to an old abandoned adobe, near the San Fernando Mission, which had once been owned by General Andres Pico. Lovingly restored by Dr. and Mrs. Harrington it was their home until 1945. In June of 1970 Dr. Harrington was honored by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society who named their library the Mark R. Harrington Library.
He was a consultant for the restoration of La Purisima Mission at Lompoc, the Hugo Reid Adobe at the Arboretum in Arcadia and the San Fernando Mission.
A "giant" of a man who left many monumental works as evidence of his life here.
The Valley: July 1971 Vol. 21, #5
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Andres Pico Adobe * Box 7039/10940 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91346 * 818 365-7810