Schooled, professional archaeologists refer to George Nichols (1916-1983) as an amateur archaeologist. But amateur or no, Mr. Nichols has been credited with some pretty important archaeological discoveries. One such discovery is the Walter site which George reported to the University of Missouri in 1970 and research confirmed as the earliest known occupation of Howard County, Missouri. Mizzou archaeology professor Carl H. Chapman--the grandfather of Missouri archaeology--said of George Nichols: "His collection became a valuable addition to the knowledge of the past that has been used in part in the interpretation of the prehistory of our state". Chapman also said that "His excellent records of his findings made his collection of great archaeological historical value." More than a few times, George's collection served as a seminar and study tool for professors and students at the University of Missouri. The findings he recorded and the research he compiled provided content for a number of publications and papers by himself and other archaeologists.

George Nichols collected because he was bent on preservation and passionate about education. As a member of the Missouri Archaeological Society, he served as chairman of the Preservation of Sites Committee and successfully introduced a bill to the Missouri legislature to protect archaeological sites on state lands. He collected with precision, documenting not only the fields in which he found relics, but where in those fields he found each piece. His hand drawn maps are replete with various notations, sketches and his numbering system. And they often include surveys of mounds, camp sites, villages and landmarks.

Mr. Nichols' legacy can now be preserved and expanded by the careful introduction of his collection and its documentation to all of Missouri's dedicated artifacts collectors and preservationists who will care for and share his discoveries forever.

A few pieces in the Nichols collection were found in Texas, Colorado and Ohio. Mr. Nichols grew up in Texas and lived in Colorado and Ohio for short periods before settling in Columbia, Missouri.