The public is fascinated with archaeology and stories of arrowheads and broken pieces of pottery found in their own backyards. They want to know what it all means and who were the people who made these objects? Reading about past civilizations, attending lectures, volunteering for field projects, finding artifacts, and even experimenting with making and using artifacts from the past are all part of the romance of archaeology. Many people enjoy it as a hobby.
Charles L. Lucy was a talented amateur or avocational
archaeologist interested in all aspects of archaeology, but he also conducted
research and published his findings. Charles L. Lucy was a toolmaker
Ingersoll-Rand in Athens, Pennsylvania, but also a talented avocational
archaeologist for more than 60 years. He
was born February 22, 1922 and died on June 29, 2003, at the age of 81. Charles, or Chuck as he was known to many,
was mentored under
Dr.
Elise Murray of the Tioga Point Museum in Athens, PA (read more about Dr.
Murray in our blog from January 2020 by clicking the link). He was a member of the Carnegie Museum of
Natural History and a regional representative of the Section of Archaeology, a
member of the
Society
for Pennsylvania Archaeology, an editor for
Eastern States Archaeological
Federation, a member of the New York State Archaeology Association, and a
member of the
Tioga Point Museum. One of his most notable traits is that he was
not only extremely interested in archaeology, but he also published his
findings (see list of publications below), especially in the journal
Pennsylvania
Archaeologist, where you can read many of his articles.
Chucks passion for archaeology and the rich archaeological
resources along the Chemung and Susquehannock Rivers led to countless
excavations and research. Chuck’s interest in Susquehannock pottery, especially
from the upper Susquehanna Valley was a focus of his research and led to
multiple journal articles and presentations. His attention to detail in his analysis
drew the attention of former State Archaeologist, John Witthoft who was
interested in the area and research of Proto-Susquehannock culture
attributes. Chuck Lucy participated in
excavations at numerous sites with John Witthoft and later Barry Kent. These
sites include Kennedy site (36Br43), Blackman site (36Br83) and the Sick site
(36Br50). Witthoft examined the Lucy collection from the Sick site for his
research and publication of Susquehannock Miscellany in 1959. Lucy’s significant contributions to the
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) knowledge base of sites
on the upper Susquehanna River and the Chemung River Valley are indispensable.
 |
| Charles Lucy excavating at the Kennedy Site with the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology in 1983 |
When he passed, his family very generously donated his vast
library to The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Section of Archaeology
library. Unfortunately, our busy
schedules while working in the office have prevented us from doing much with
cataloging and organizing this most generous donation. Thanks to the quarantine
(something not often said) and tele-working I have had the privilege, as one of
my tasks, of working with the more than 1400 books, journals, maps, personal
correspondence, and other materials that made up his library. Most of the material centers on archaeology
and anthropological topics, especially northern Pennsylvania and southern New
York. It is clear Chuck had many interests, including religious texts,
children’s books, general literature, and the natural world. The titles span from Houses and House-Life
of the American Aborigines from 1881 thru Yankee, The Magazine of New
England Living in 2003; providing over a century’s worth of cultural
information. The wonderful condition of
these materials demonstrate that they were of great importance to him. All were signed by him and many include the
date and place of purchase. There are
also many that were signed by their authors with notes about the friendship
held between the author and Mr. Lucy.
Charles Lucy was a wonderful asset to Pennsylvania archaeology and his
library is a true treasure. It has been
a very interesting task that I have been honored to work with this legacy left
in our care.
This addition to our research library is a wonderful asset
that will benefit our research of the collections we curate and also of benefit
to researchers who access our collections or as we respond to inquiries and
emails regarding archaeological collections from the region. We thank our many donors who have so
generously entrusted us with their collections and continue to share these donations through our blogs and
our online collections.
 |
| Research Library |
A sample of
publications by Charles L. Lucy
Lucy, Charles
1950
Notes
on a Small Andaste Burial Site and Andaste Archaeology. Pennsylvania
Archaeologist
20(3-4):55-62.
1959 Pottery Types of the Upper Susquehanna. Pennsylvania
Archaeologist 29(1):28-37.
1971 Pottery Types of the Upper Susquehanna.
In Foundations of Pennsylvania Prehistory,
edited by Barry C. Kent, Ira F. Smith, and Catherine McCann, pp.
381-392.
Anthropological Series, No. 1,
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
Harrisburg.
1991a The Owasco Culture: An Update. Journal of
Middle Atlantic Archaeology 7:147-168.
1991b
The
Tioga Point Farm Sites 36BR3 and 36BR52:1983 Excavations. Pennsylvania
Archaeologist
61(1):1-18.
Lucy, Charles L., and Catherine McCann
1983
The
Wells Site, Asylum Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania
Archaeologist
53(3)1-12.
Lucy, Charles L.
& Richard J. McCracken
1985 Blackman Site (36BR83): A
Proto-Susquehannock Village. Pennsylvania Archaeologist
55(1-2):5-29.
Lucy, Charles L. and Leroy Vanderpoel
1979
The
Tioga Point Farm Site. Pennsylvania Archaeologist 49(1-2):1-12
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