The Edward S Morse papers document the numerous and valuable contributions made by Morse (1838-1925) to the areas of malacology, zoology, ethnology, archaeology and art history. Morse was one of the 1st Americans to live in Japan. He devoted much of his life to documenting life in Japan before it was transformed by Western modernization. In addition to preserving the household records of a samurai family and many accounts of the tea ceremony, Morse made notes on subjects as diverse as shop signs, fireworks, hairpins, agricultural tools, artists’ studios, music, games, printing, carpentry, the Ainu, gardens, household construction, art and architecture. (Coverage: 1856-1925)