Guide to the Indigenous Materials at the American Philosophical Society

Description: The Kwakwaka'wakw materials in the ACLS collection are located predominantly in the "Kwakiutl" section of the finding aid, which contains a full listing of all materials (other relevant sections are "Northwest Coast", "Bella Bella (Heitsuk)", and item AfBnd.4 in "Non-American and non-linguistic material"). Some of the larger individual sets of materials listed within this section also have their own specific tables of contents (available upon request) detailing their often highly diverse contents. Overall, the vast majority of the material is made of of 1) manuscripts sent to Boas by George Hunt from the 1890s to the 1930s, frequently in both Kwak'wala and English, covering a very broad range of Kwakwaka'wakw history, culture, languages, customs, and traditions; and 2) field work materials recorded by Boas and Boas' own analyses of material sent by Hunt, covering a similar range of topics. Additional materials by other individuals focus especially on linguistic and ethnographic matters. Also see the guide entry "Kwakiutl materials, Franz Boas Papers" for information on the correspondence between Boas and Hunt, which gives additional context to the materials in the ACLS collection.

Collection:ACLS Collection (American Council of Learned Societies Committee on Native American Languages, American Philosophical Society) (Mss.497.3.B63c)

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Kwakwaka'wakw materials, Franz Boas Papers

Culture:

Wiwekam

Wiweqayi

Tłatłasikwala

Nak'waxda'xw includes: Nakoaktok, Nakwoktak, Nakwaxda'xw

Namgis includes: Nimkish, Nimpkish

Kwakwaka'wakw includes: Kwakiutl

K'ómoks includes: Comox

Gwatsinuxw includes: Quatsino

Gwawa'enuxw

Dzawada'enuxw includes: Tsawataineuk

Gopinuxw

Gusgimukw includes: Koskimo

Gwa'sala

Da'naxda'xw

A'wa'etłala

Language:English | German | Kwak'wala

Date:1885-1942

Type:Text

Genre:Correspondence

Extent:1 linear foot

Description: This collection contains the bulk of correspondence between Franz Boas and his professional colleagues, though there are also other Boas collections in the library. The correspondents listed above contain some correspondence related to the culture or language listed in this entry. The largest correspondence is that of George Hunt, which took place from 1894-1933 and runs around 1000 pages. A full index for this correspondence is available upon request, and includes cross references to the locations (in other APS collections) of fieldwork and other materials referred to in the letters. Other correspondences primarily about Kwakwaka'wakw matters are that of the Cadwalladers, Dan Cranmer, John Fillmore (concerning the transcription of Boas' cylinder recordings of Kwakiutl songs), Alfred I. Hall, and C. J. Nowell. In the finding aid listings for some of these correspondents, the individual letters pertaining to this culture or language will be identified by a subject heading, though for some correspondents this indexing has not yet been completed. Some letters may contain only brief mentions of work being conducted in relation to the topic. Some additional correspondences in this collection that have not yet been indexed may also contain additional material.

Collection:Franz Boas Papers (Mss.B.B61)

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Mi'kmaq materials, Frank G. Speck Papers

Culture:

Wolastoqiyik includes: Wəlastəkwewiyik, Malecite, Maliseet

Wabanaki includes: Wabenaki, Wobanaki

Passamaquoddy includes: Peskotomuhkati

Mi'kmaq includes: Micmac

Cherokee

Beothuk

Language:English | Mi'kmaq

Date:1909-1949

Contributor:Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950 | Butler, Eva L. | Mechling, William Hubbs, 1888-1953 | Barlow, Steve

Type:Text

Extent:8 folders

Description: Materials relating to Mi'kmaq history, language, and culture. Includes Speck's field notes on topics such as wampum, hunting territories, Cape Breton texts, Newfoundland traditions, the Passamaquoddy, etc., as well as a map with names of Bear River Band members and one piece of birch bark with pictographs inscribed; Speck's miscellaneous notes and correspondence on topics such as consultants, specimens, hieroglyphics, linguistics, fieldwork, Mi'kmaq and Cherokee, and the Mi'kmaq mission newspaper; a text on Mi'kmaq dance with interlinear translation, notes, and a musical score; 10 pages of linguistic notes and vocabulary collected along the Miramichi River, along with 6 pages of typed copy by John Witthoft; correspondence with Mechling concerning linguistic research on the Mi'kmaq, Malecite [Malecite-Passamaquoddy], and Oaxaca languages, Mi'kmaq burials, and historic materials on Beothuk and Mi'kmaq; a brief article on a traveler's account of the Mi'kmaq in 1822; an incomplete article or set of reading excerpts taken after 1922 by Speck from John G. Millais (1907); and extracts concerning the sweat house taken by Butler from the Jesuit Relations.

Collection:Frank G. Speck Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.126)

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Miscellaneous materials, Frank G. Speck Papers

Culture:

Wolastoqiyik includes: Wəlastəkwewiyik, Malecite, Maliseet

Yuchi includes: Euchee

Tunica

Tsimshian includes: Ts'msyan, Ts'msyen, Zimshian

Wabanaki includes: Wabenaki, Wobanaki

Seneca includes: Onöndowága

Naskapi includes: ᓇᔅᑲᐱ, Iyiyiw, Skoffie

Navajo includes: Diné, Navaho

Maya

Nanticoke

Mi'kmaq includes: Micmac

Kwakwaka'wakw includes: Kwakiutl

Klamath

Inuit includes: Inuk, Eskimo (pej.), ᐃᓄᐃᑦ

Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe

Innu includes: Montagnais, Mountaineer

Dakota includes: Dakȟóta

Chinook

Chitimacha

Catawba includes: Iswa

Chickahominy

Cayuga includes: Gayogohó:no

Cheyenne

Cherokee

Creek

Choctaw includes: Chahta

Catawba includes: Iswa

Language:English | German

Date:1904-1950

Type:Text

Extent:46 folders

Description: Materials relating to Speck's research and other professional activities. Items include Speck's notes taken during graduate work at Columbia University under Franz Boas, and utilized for his own anthropology courses at the University of Pennsylvania; Speck's miscellaneous notes comprising circa 500 bibliographic cards and reading notes sorted out by tribe and/or language, dealing with tribes and countries in which Speck did no field work [other entries of this type are to be found among the various groups of materials in the Speck collection, according to tribe]; correspondence concerning exhibits and specimens for the Chicago World's Fair and for the Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts in New York City; two letters from Boas regarding the work of the Committee on Research in Native American Languages; correspondence regarding topics such as the double-curve motif, family hunting areas, indigenous foods and cooking methods, wampum, silverwork, birch-bark technique, baskets, Speck's research and publications, the research and publications of others, obtaining indigenous material cultural specimens for Speck, purchases of indigenous material culture specimens (baskets, masks, etc.) from Speck, Speck's identification of items in the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University, Speck's bibliography, and Speck's obituary; letters requesting copies of Speck's publications, or acknowledging the transmission of publications between Speck and others; copies and/or drafts of several of Speck's presentations and publications, including "Lectures on Primitive Religion," "Land Ownership Among Hunting Peoples in Primitive America and the World's Marginal Areas," "Review of Lowie's Introduction to Cultural Anthropology," and "The Double-Curve Motive in Northeastern Algonquian Art"; a bibliography of Speck's publications through 1942; rough drafts of miscellaneous papers, 1928-1948; Speck's notes on topics such as crane posture; Birket-Smith's 1946 "Plan for Circumpolar Research"; ten distribution maps for circumpolar culture traits, colored in with crayon to show distribution of traits including divination and miracle shamanism, sweat bath, turtle Atlas myth and world-tree concept, bone divination, bear veneration, curative power of mystic words and formulae, dog-ancestor myth, dog as soul leader, curvilinear patterns, and confession to cure taboo violation; and a prepublication manuscript of Hallowell's "The nature and function of property as a human institution" with additions and corrections.

Collection:Frank G. Speck Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.126)

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Mohawk materials, Frank G. Speck Papers

Culture:

Mohawk includes: Kanienʼkehá꞉ka

Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe

Language:English

Date:1933-1948

Type:Text

Genre:Correspondence | Notes | Reports

Extent:6 folders

Description: Materials relating to Speck's study of Mohawk language, history, and culture. Includes miscellaneous Mohawk field notes on topics such as Caughnawaga traps, St. Regis mask data obtained from Julius Cook, dance, addresses, etc., as well as a letter from Ray Fadden congratulating Speck on his Iroquois study (1945); Speck's review of "Listen for a Lonesome Drum" by Carl Cramer; a brief (circa 1945) by St. Regis Mohawks concerning Indian rights against New York and federal government after 1924, along with a letter from Muzzy Cook, Julius Cook, and Ray Fadden (Aren Akweks, Tehanetorens, of the Akwesasne Counselor Organization); a letter from former student Mary Rowell (married name Carse) regarding her summer experiences among the St. Regis Mohawk, including her general impressions of the culture and her concern about the dangers of false traditions being taught; a letter from Margaret Lazore concerning the sale of baskets at the Allentown Fair and mentioning the visit of Mary Rowell (Carse) and Ray Fadden; and two letters from Louis C. Jones returning Speck's manuscript "the Mohawk Folk Tale" and relating to Speck serving on the Handbook Committee of the American Folklore Society.

Collection:Frank G. Speck Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.126)

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Naskapi materials, Frank G. Speck papers

Culture:

Naskapi includes: ᓇᔅᑲᐱ, Iyiyiw, Skoffie

Innu includes: Montagnais, Mountaineer

Language:English | Innu-aimun | Naskapi

Date:1910s-1940s

Type:Moving Image | Still Image | Text

Genre:Correspondence | Maps | Photographs

Extent:1.5 linear feet; 500+ photographs; 10+ maps; 1 film

Description: The Innu and Naskapi materials in the Frank Speck Papers are extensive and found to some degree in most sectionsn of the finding aid. The majority of these materials are identified by Speck as "Montagnais-Naskapi," though they include materials relating to Innu peoples from throughout Québec and Labrador, particularly the communities in the area of Lac St-Jean (Mashteuiatsh; usually given as "Lake St. John" by Speck), St-Augustin (usually "St. Augustine" in Speck); and Naskapi communities in northern and central Labrador. The main body of field work manuscript material is found in Subcollection I, Series II, especially items II(3B1a) through II(4B13). In Series III and IV, there are approximately 500-600 photographs and lantern slides from these communities. Series V contains approximately 12 maps pertaining to Speck's research into hunting territories and place names. In Subcollection II, Series I, see correspondence from Beston, Cooper, Gusinde, Myers, Sapir, and especially the voluminous correspondence with Richard White, a trader in Labrador who provided Speck with extensive information on the Naskapi peoples of the region for decades. In Series II, there are numerous works by Speck, including draft versions of "Naskapi, the Savage Hunters of the Labrador Peninsula." Finally, in Series IV, there is a brief silent film consisting of footage taken of various Innu peoples, including Joseph Kurtness, doing various activities, such as skinning and preparing hides, and singing.

Collection:Frank G. Speck Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.126)

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Ojibwe materials, Frank G. Speck Papers

Culture:

Seneca includes: Onöndowága

Ojibwe includes: Ojibwa, Chippewa, Ojibway

Naskapi includes: ᓇᔅᑲᐱ, Iyiyiw, Skoffie

Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe

Innu includes: Montagnais, Mountaineer

Cree includes: Nēhiyaw, Cri

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:English | French

Date:1927-1949

Type:Text

Genre:Notes | Correspondence | Reviews | Stories | Maps

Extent:14 folders

Description: Materials relating to Speck's study of Ojibwe language, history, and culture. Includes 15 pages of Tamagami [Temagami First Nation] myths and five texts in English; 21 pages of Matagama Ojibwe [Mattagami First Nation] notes, including a 2-page phonetic key, a letter from Speck to Samuel (i.e., James) Miller of Gogama requesting ethnographic and map data, 2 maps (one of Mattagami hunting territories), typed reading notes, and a sketch of a play for Mattagama Otcipwe [sic]; a Christmas circular letter telling the story of a Chippewa [Ojibwe] boy returning home for Dance; a copy of Speck's favorable review of Sister Bernard Coleman, "Decorative designs of the Ojibwa of northern Minnesota" [Printed, Speck (1949).]; and a brief popular account on Ojibwe hunting territories by Speck, refuting Roosevelt (1889-1896), who had denied that Indians have a sense of property, along with two pages of notes. Also includes several folders of correspondence, including correspondence with A. I. Hallowell in which Hallowell describes a field trip to the Berens River Saulteaux, Sweet Grass Cree (mentions attitude of Cree to Leonard Bloomfield), and Cold Lake Chipewyan, festivals, etc., and a letter from Speck to Hallowell with pencilled responses of Hallowell to questions asked; letters from D. H. Learmouth, a factor for Hudson's Bay Company at Waswanippi, recounting his experiences in adjudicating Matagama land inheritance and providing ethnographic data sought by Speck from Samuel (i.e., James) Miller of Gogama and data on hunting territories; letters from James E. Holden concerning unsuccessful attempts to purchase baskets at Nipigon; letters from J. Allan Burgesse regarding the Matagama Ojibwe and enclosing a drawing of a "flesher"and a list of hunting territories and biographical information on owners; a letter from Robert Solenberger concerning Tonawanda [Seneca] and Chippewa [Ojibwe] women who make baskets and giving their addresses; a letter from B. W. Thayer concerning Ojibwe beadwork found during a Minnesota field trip; a letter from Henry Woodman discussing the decline of crafts among Bear Island Indians (Temagami); a letter from Prentice Gilbert Downes about the circumboreal region, disucssing his visit to Naskapi near Davis Inlet, to Cree, and to Chippewas, along with 2 pages of notes (Speck?) in French-English, discussing changes in Indian culture; and a letter from Speck to Chief Mitchele Buckshot in Maniwaki, Quebec requesting buckskin and beadwork.

Collection:Frank G. Speck Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.126)

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Ojibwe materials, Maureen Matthews Papers

Culture:

Ojibwe includes: Ojibwa, Chippewa, Ojibway

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:Chippewa | English | Ojibwa, Northwestern | Ojibwa, Western | Oji-Cree (ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᒧᐏᐣ)

Date:1955-2011 (bulk 1992-2011)

Type:Sound recording | Still Image | Text

Extent:350+ hours; 2500+ photographs; 100+ documents

Description: Audio recordings, photographs, and born-digital manuscripts documenting Ojibwe communities and individuals primarily in Manitoba and Ontario, with a smaller number from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Subject matter includes the photographs and ethnography of A. Irving Hallowell in these communities in the 1930s, thunderbirds, memegwesiwag, Ojibwe language, religion, ceremonies, and other traditions. The main communities concerned are Berens River, Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids, Pikangikum, Poplar Hill, and Jackhead. The majority of the audio materials are interviews recorded in the context of producing radio documentaries for CBC Radio One from the early 1990s through late 2000s. (See Series I, Subseries 12 for the broadcast version of these documentaries.) Transcripts for both the finished documentaries and some of the interviews are located in Series II. Photographs taken during Matthews' visits to indigenous communities, museums, and other locations can be found in Series III.

Collection:Maureen Matthews Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.164)

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Omushkego materials, Maureen Matthews Papers

Culture:

Omushkego includes: Cree, Swampy, Mushkegowuk, Omushkigowack

Language:Cree, Swampy | English

Date:1976, 1986, 1998-2001, 2009

Subject:Art | Folklore | Hunting | Ontario--History | Social life and customs

Type:Sound recording | Text

Genre:Conversations | Interviews | Radio programs | Stories

Extent:97 hours

Description: Audio recordings of interviews and narrations primarily by or with Louis Bird of Peawanuck. Major topics include Omushkegowak folklore, history, wihtigo, and other topics. The recordings include consist of three general types: stories and commentaries recorded directly by Louis Bird in Cree with some English explanation; interviews conducted by Louis Bird in Cree with elders and other residents of Peawanuck, Attawapiskat, and Kashechewan; and interviews by Maureen Matthews with Louis Bird in English on a variety of topics. Some of the interviews conducted by Matthews were recorded in the context of producing radio documentaries for CBC Radio One. (See Series I, Subseries 12 for the broadcast version of these documentaries.)

Collection:Maureen Matthews Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.164)

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Ottawa material

Culture:

Odawa includes: Ottawa

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:Ottawa | English

Date:1947-1948

Contributor:Chingwa, Joe | Cooper, Victoria | Ettawageshik, Jane, 1915-1996 | Ettawageshik, Fred, 1896-1969

Type:Sound recording

Extent:21 sound tape reels (8 hr., 28 min.) : DIGITIZED

Description: This collection consists of Ottawa songs, interviews, Vocabularies, legends, Nanabojo stories, autobiographical stories, and information on Ottawa history. Some of the material is given in both Ottawa and English, some in Ottawa only. Recordings in Series 1 made by Jane Ettawageshik in Philadelphia in 1947, and Series 2 in Michigan in 1948. Transcriptions and translations of some of the collection can be found in Mss.SMs.Coll.20, "Anishinaabe Language Tape Transcriptions of Anishinaabe Language Recordings by Anishinaabe People from the Traverse Area of Michigan During the 1940s". (NOTE: This material has been digitized and can be accessed online for free by users not physically at the APS Library through a login and password. Please see our Audio Access Page for information on how to request these materials.)

Collection:Ottawa material (Mss.Rec.1)