David Crockett Graham

David Crockett Graham (1884-1961) was an American Baptist missionary, polymath scholar, and professor who conducted extensive research in Sichuan Province, China from 1911-1948. As curator of the Museum of Art, Archaeology and Ethnology at West China Union University, he pioneered archaeological excavations and ethnographic documentation.

Graham managed the first scientific excavation at Sanxingdui (1934), collected nearly 400,000 zoological specimens discovering 230+ new species, and documented indigenous cultures of Western China. His interdisciplinary work spanned archaeology, anthropology, zoology, and comparative religion.

Honors include Fellowship in the Royal Geographical Society (1929), Guggenheim Fellowships (1952,1955), and honorary doctorate from Whitman College (1931).