The Whole Story

There is no shortage of information produced by members of the Nathan “Nate” Harrison Historical Archaeology Project.  With one book, multiple articles, eight graduate student theses, over 1,000 pages in eight technical reports, and a complete online artifact catalog, people who say they can’t get enough of our work will be tested to see if that is really true.  Furthermore, the 2020-21 “Born a Slave, Died a Pioneer” exhibit at the San Diego History Center is a focal point of the yearlong celebration that commemorates the centennial of Harrison’s passing in 1920.

Books and articles

Technical reports

Artifact catalog
Download the completed artifact catalog. (.pdf)

MA theses
  • Stroud, Sarah. 2005. “Scratching the Surface: Historical and Archaeological Investigations of Nate Harrison’s Homestead.” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Tennyson, Matthew Patrick. 2007. “‘Straight out of Dixie’: An Analysis of the Architecture of the Nate Harrison Cabin.” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Lennox, Jaime. 2008. “Archaeological History: Seriation of Nate Harrison Narratives”. Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Gunderman, Shelby M., 2010, “‘The First White Man on the Mountain’: Archaeological, Historical, and Cultural Examinations of Nate Harrison’s Cultural Identity.” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Tennesen, Kristin Norean. 2010. “Survival, Subsistence, and Industry at the Nate Harrison Historical Archaeology Site” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Collins, Katherine Lavis. 2013. “An Anthropological and Archaeological Analysis of American Victorian (1876-1915) and Progressive Ear (1900-1920) Medicine in San Diego, California.”  Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Droessler, Rachel Michele. 2015. “Reconstruction of San Diegan Food Culture through Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Faunal Remains, San Diego, California.” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

  • Holm, Cecelia. 2018. “Museums and Community Engagement.” Unpublished Master’s thesis, San Diego State University.

About the Project Director

Dr. Seth Mallios is Professor of Anthropology, University History Curator, and Director of the South Coastal Information Center at San Diego State University. An archaeologist, anthropologist, and historian, Professor Mallios received his BA from the University of California, Berkeley and his MA and PhD from the University of Virginia. Dr. Mallios previously served as Site Supervisor at the 1607 James Fort archaeological site in Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Since moving to San Diego in 2001, Professor Mallios has spearheaded six local research projects: The San Diego Gravestone Project, The Lost Murals of San Diego State Project, The Nathan “Nate” Harrison Historical Archaeology Project, The Whaley House Historical Archaeology Project, The San Diego Archaeological Geographic Information System, and The Historical Archaeology of Local Rock 'n' Roll. Dr. Mallios has published ten books, dozens of articles, and garnered nearly $2 million in over 90 extramural grants, contracts, and awards.

Students throwing water ballons at Dr. Mallios
Dr. Mallios has many shortcomings but is remarkably water-resistant.
New Book - Cover
This book is the culmination of over 15 years of archaeological, anthropological, and historical research.