Konrad Theodor Preuss was a German ethnologist, archaeologist and ethnohistorian. He studied geography and history at Königsberg University. In 1895 he began his practical training at Berlin Royal Museum of Ethnology (today’s Ethnological Museum – Berlin State Museums). From 1920 to 1934 he held various positions at the museum until he was appointed director of the North and Central America section. From 1905 to 1907 Preuss embarked on numerous research trips in Mexico and lived in Columbia from 1913 to 1919. He conducted studies on language and religion in both countries, particularly on the myths and rituals of indigenous populations. In Mexico he focused on the Cora, Huichol and Nahua peoples; in Columbia, on the Witoto (the Amazon) and Kágaba peoples (Kogui, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta). Preuss was also involved in archaeological excavations in Mexico and Columbia (e.g. excavations in San Agustín).
The majority of Konrad Theodor Preuss’s papers were lost in the Second World War. Today, the Ethnological Museum of Berlin (Berlin State Museums) houses a significant collection of his papers and manuscripts.

Material:

• Materials on his trips through Columbia and a three-volume work with Nahua texts from Mexico. 4 manuscripts
• 1 travel diary
• 2 vocabulary books
• 1 language table
• 1 vocabulary box
• 2 photographs

Keywords: Columbia, Mexico, ethnolinguistics, ethnology

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