Joseph T. Goodman papers

Joseph T. Goodman practiced several professions during his lifetime (1838-1917), two of which, archeology and journalism, are documented within his papers at the Peabody Museum.

Mr. Goodman's initial professional focus was journalism and writing. In 1861, he became a co-owner of the Territorial Enterprise of Virginia City, Nevada. By 1862, he had become sole owner of the newspaper (he remained such until 1874). During 1862, Joseph Goodman and Dennis E. McCarthy hired Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) as a local reporter. Although Samuel Clemens had published short stories previously, his work under Goodman's editorship at the Territorial Enterprise was credited with giving the author his initial "start" due to the extensive circulation of the newspaper on the West Coast. Goodman and Twain stayed in touch beyond their initial professional association; it is reported that Goodman offered Twain editorial advice later in his career. Mark Twain is briefly mentioned within Subseries II (Professional Material/Writings/Fiction and Journalism).

By 1883, through his profession as a businessman (mining investments, raisin vineyard), Joseph Goodman met Dr. Gustavus Eisen. Dr. Eisen shared his interest in understanding the Maya inscriptions and calendar with Goodman. Goodman's choice to decipher the Maya inscriptions and calendar established the beginning of his archeological vocation. Although Goodman credits Eisen with providing encouragement, professional contacts, and research materials, the majority of the research and its results was accomplished solely by Joseph Goodman. Goodman's research was initially guided by previously published research as well as photographic documentation of molds and glyphs. This documentation was primarily supplied by Alfred Maudslay, an English archeologist who made significant contributions to Central American archeology.

In 1893, Maudslay discussed his on-going research published in the Biologia Centrali-Americana series with Dr. Eisen. Eisen suggested recruiting Joseph Goodman to create the appendix for Maudslay's publication. To this end, Goodman visited Maudslay in England in 1895. In the Appendix, Goodman focused on deciphering the Maya calendar. The tables that Goodman compiled, which run through an entire "calendar round," are still considered valid. Additionally, in 1905, Goodman discovered a correlation between the Maya Long Count and the Gregorian calendar that is still used by Maya epigraphers. Goodman died in Alameda, California on October 1, 1917.