This collection of essays examines the history of American archaeology in terms of some of the major figures and internal and external forces that shaped its development. The importance of using the vast array of unpublished materials in writing the history of archaeology is stressed, as is the need for examining more closely the important contributions of women, particularly in the period up to and immediately after World War II. Finally, the role of institutions in the development of American archaeology is also examined, both for their progressive and regressive attributes.