Raymond Charles Vietzen was an American automobile dealer,[1]artifact collector,[2] and amateur archaeologist.[3] As prolific author and artist from Elyria, Ohio, he wrote and illustrated numerous articles, books, and chapters in edited volumes on the history and prehistory of North America winning him many honors—chief among them the title of "Colonel."[4] Col. Vietzen is probably best known for establishing the Indian Ridge Museum[5] in 1930 and for founding the Archaeological Society of Ohio[6] (formerly the Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society),[7] whereby he presided as its editor, president, secretary, and treasurer[8] from 1941 to 1980. Most of his publications are dedicated to the excavations that he led at many famous archaeological sites in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.[9][10][11] His relic collection was sold by Old Barn Auction[12] between 1998[13] and 1999[14] grossing $1,777,652.[15] In 2000, Colonel Matthew W. Nahorn founded the New Indian Ridge MuseuminAmherst, Ohio, celebrating Col. Vietzen's legacy. However, Col. Vietzen has received criticism for digging Native American graves, as well as the sale and trade of antiquities.[16]
Col. Vietzen was an authority on archaeology, geography, and history of the midwestern and eastern United States, particularly for Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, between 1941 and 1995. He penned over 35 publications. They include at least 17 books, 14 peer-reviewed scholarly articles, and 4 chapters in edited academic volumes. Many of these are available at public libraries or online.
Vietzen, Raymond (1941). Ancient Man in Ohio. Lorain, Ohio: McCahon Printers.
Vietzen, Raymond (1945). The Immortal Eries. Elyria, Ohio: Wilmot Printing Company.
Vietzen, Raymond (1968). Sittin' on Stump. Elyria, Ohio: Indian Ridge Museum.
Vietzen, Raymond (1973). Yesterday's Ohioans. Elyria, Ohio: Indian Ridge Museum.
Vietzen, Raymond (1974). The Riker Site. Bolivar, Ohio: Archaeological Society of Ohio.
Vietzen, Raymond (1974). Lorain County Historical Society (ed.) "Prologue." Lorain County Sesquicentennial. Elyria, Ohio: American Multi-Service. pp. 6–7.
Vietzen, Raymond (1974). Lorain County Historical Society (ed.) "Indian Ridge Museum." Lorain County Sesquicentennial. Elyria, Ohio: American Multi-Service. p. 17.
Vietzen, Raymond (1988). Rothgery, James and Glendening, Anne (eds.) "Sheffield." Kipton-Camden Township History. Wellington, Ohio: Camden Historical Society.
Col. Veitzen received numerous awards and honors for his accomplishments.[1] For his achievements as an artist, author, archaeologist, artifact collector, historian, he 14 accolades were bestowed upon him. Some of the most prestigious are listed below.
Col. Veitzen excavated hundreds of archaeological sites in the U.S.[1] Among his contributions to knowledge are 15 well-know areas of interest archaeologically and historically in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. They have Smithsonian trinomial designations. For example, Cahokia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 11MS2 with "11" for state of Illinois, "MS" for Madison County, and "2" for the second site to be documented therein.
Spiro Mounds (34LF40) LeFlore County, Oklahoma, 1936
Page Site[18] (15LO1) Lewisburg, Logan County, Kentucky, 1938–1942
Moes Site (33LN55) Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio, 1940
Seaman's Fort Site[19](33ER85) Milan, Erie County, Ohio, 1940–1942
Morris-Franks Site[20](33LN8) Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio, 1941–1942
Glover's Cave (15CH315) Trenton, Christian County, Kentucky, 1941–1955
Cahokia (11MS2) Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois, 1949
^ abcVietzen, Raymond (1992). My Life and Philosophy as an Archaeologist, Author, Artist. Elyria, Ohio: White Horse.
^Ballinger, Bill; Ballinger, Linda (2014). Collectors of Historic and Prehistoric Artifacts, Volume 2. Westerville, Ohio: Robin Enterprises. p. 85. ISBN9780988239319.
^Cooper, Steven (2016). Who's Who in Indian Relics, No. 11: A Historic Record of Prominent Collectors and Their Collections. Kirkwood, Missouri: Messenger Printing Company. pp. 7–10.
^Wachtel, Hubert (1960). Who's Who in Indian Relics. Dayton, Ohio: H. C. Wachtel. pp. 110–112.
^Hovan, James (1995). "Necrology: Colonel Raymond C. Vietzen". Ohio Archaeologist. 45 (3): 39.
^Parks, Cameron; Thompson, Ben (1976). Who's Who in Indian Relics, No. 4. Kirkwood, Missouri: Messenger Printing Company. pp. 322–327.
^Onken, Bobby (2000). Legends of Prehistoric Art, Volume 1. Richland Center, Wisconsin: Hynek Printing. pp. 233–234.
^Sogenfrei, Jan (April 1998). "Prehistoric and Historic Artifact Auction: Raymond Vietzen, Elyria, Ohio and Kory Pelt, Cut-Off, Louisiana". Old Barn Auction. Findlay, Ohio.
^Helmann, Ron (1998). Colonel Raymond C. Vietzen Indian Relic Collection Auction Catalog. Sidney, Ohio: Helmann and Associates.
^Helmann, Ron (1999). Colonel Raymond C. Vietzen Indian Relic Collection Auction Catalog II. Sidney, Ohio: Helmann and Associates.
