Guide to the Indigenous Materials at the American Philosophical Society

Description: Materials relating to Speck's study of Penobscot language, history, and culture, and his preparation of his book Penobscot Man. This includes several folders of Speck's field notes, notes organized around specific topics (including data not used in Speck's published works), copies and drafts of lectures and essays, correspondence, etc. Topics include Penobscot social organization, calendar system, house furnishings, hunting morality, animal lore, religion, art, sayings, alphabet, counting and measuring, canoe-making, face-painting, texts with interlineal translations, and "Bird Lore of the Northern Indians" (a faculty public lecture at the University of Pennsylvania). Additionally, significant correspondence concerns the preparation, expenses, dissemination, and reception of his Penobscot publications. Other topics of correspondence include Ethel Gandy's monograph on Penobscot art; names of chiefs and their clans; "clown" performances outside of the southwest among the Penobscot, Iroquois [Haudenosaunee], Abenaki, and Delaware; place names; the relationship of Penobscot-Mohegan and Mahican; a comparison of Zuni-Navajo and Red Paint; Tutelo. There is a particularly large folder of Speck's miscellaneous Penobscot notes containing both a variety of notes and correspondence from Penobscot consultants as well as non-Native colleagues. These include letters from Roland E. Nelson (Needahbeh, Penobscot) concerning drum for exhibit; letters from Nelson, Franz Boas, John M. Cooper, William B. Goodwin, E. V. McCollum, and J. Dyneley Prince, all concerning Penobscot Man; Clifford P. Wilson concerning moosehair embroidery; Edward Reman concerning Norse influence on Penobscot; Carrie A. Lyford concerning moose-wool controversy and Ann Stimson's report; Ann Stimson, letter of thanks; Henry Noyes Otis concerning genealogy of Indians named Sias on Cape Cod (Speck marked this Penobscot); Princess Pretty Woman (Passamaquoddy) concerning her dress (apparently at the Penn Museum); Dorothy Ranco (Penobscot) concerning Princess Pretty Woman's dress; Roland W. Mann, concerning site of Indian occupancy according to Penobscot tradition; Ryuzo Torii, letter of introduction. Other miscellaneous items include a 5-page transcript of agreements between Indians of Nova Scotia and the English, August 15, 1749; 2 pages, transcript of agreement of July 13, 1727 (letter of transmittal, Lloyd Price to Miss MacDonald, September 24, 1936); Ann K. Stimson, Moose Wool and Climbing Powers of the American Mink; miscellaneous field notes on topics like songs, kinship, totem, medicine, and social units; and 4 pages of Penobscot words and their cultural use.

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

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Penobscot materials, Frank Siebert Papers

Culture:

Penobscot

Mi'kmaq includes: Micmac

Abenaki includes: Abnaki

Language:English | Abenaki, Eastern

Date:1669; 1678; 1725-1796; 1809-1884; 1900-1995

Type:Sound recording | Still Image | Text

Extent:12 linear feet; 3 hrs. (audio); 5 photographs

Description: The Penobscot materials in the Frank Siebert Papers are concentrated in Series III. Siebert collected census material, treaties and treaty minutes, placenames, with a strong representation of songs, stories, and linguistic materials. There are detailed notes about Indian claims in Maine and genealogical information. There are also educational materials for the teaching of the Penobscot language as well as a wealth of information on Penobscot linguistics. Series V, Siebert's notebooks, have extensive grammatical, phonetic, and vocabulary of the Penobscot language. Both Series III and V reflect Siebert's deep interest in the history of Maine and the Eastern Abenaki including archaeological, pre-history, and colonial era documents such as the Eliot Bible, which Siebert owned a rare copy in his library, which was sold at auction. Series VI and VII contain various drafts of essays on Penobscot culture, language, and history. Series XI contains 5 related photos of Louis Lolar, taken in 1933. Series XII contains approximately 3 hours of Penobscot language recordings, primarily from the 1930s and 1950s.

Collection:Frank Siebert Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.97)

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Powhatan materials, Matthew Schropp Henry Correspondence on Indian Names

Culture:

Powhatan

Language:English

Date:February 8, 1857

Contributor:Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823 | Henry, Mathew Schropp, 1790-1862

Subject:Geography | Place names | Linguistics

Type:Text

Genre:Correspondence

Extent:1 Letter

Description: Concerning Powhatan place names. Refuses aid for Henry to visit Canada to study languages of Indians. Refers to Heckewelder.

Collection:Matthew Schropp Henry Correspondence on Indian Names (Mss.497.3.H39)

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Quileute recordings

Culture:

Quileute

Language:English | Quileute

Date:1969-1970

Contributor:Black, Beatrice | Hamp, Eric P.

Type:Sound recording

Genre:Conversations | Elicitation sessions | Stories | Vocabularies

Extent:14 sound tape reels (29 hr., 59 min.) : DIGITIZED

Description: Linguistic field recordings of the Quileute language made by Eric Hamp, based on Manuel J. Andrade's "Quileute Texts" (Columbia University Press, 1931.) The recordings consist of Hamp reading back from Andrade's transcription of Quileute texts to Beatrice Black, a Quileute-speaking consultant, who repeats them in the correct pronunciation, provides explanation, and suggests corrections. Includes occasional discussions in English, with some infrequent English translations of the text. Texts included are primarily Quileute legends and folklore. Also included are conversations and discussions about basket making, local history, family history, education, potlatches, and Quileute vocabulary relating to calculating age, digging clams, gender-specific forms of address, names of rivers, and other miscellaneous terms. Recorded at Taholah, Washington, in August 1969 and November 1970. (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:Quileute recordings (Mss.Rec.80)

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Quileute texts

Culture:

Quileute

Quinault

Language:English | Quileute

Date:1969

Contributor:Black, Beatrice | Hamp, Eric P.

Subject:Folklore | Linguistics | Place names | Social life and customs | Washington (State)--History

Type:Sound recording

Genre:Conversations | Elicitation sessions | Speeches | Stories | Vocabularies

Extent:5 sound tape reels (10 hr., 18 min.) : DIGITIZED

Description: Linguistic field recordings of the Quileute language made by Eric Hamp, based on Manuel J. Andrade's "Quileute Texts" (Columbia University Press, 1931.) The recordings consist of Hamp reading back from Andrade's transcription of Quileute texts to Beatrice Black, a Quileute-speaking consultant, who repeats them in the correct pronunciation, provides explanation, and suggests corrections. Includes occasional discussions in English, with some infrequent English translations of the text. Texts included are primarily Quileute legends and folklore, with some speeches and descriptions of Quileute life, customs, and history. Recorded at Taholah, Washington, in August 1969. (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:Quileute texts (Mss.Rec.73)

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Sahaptin materials, Phillips Fund Collection

Culture:

Walla Walla includes: Waluulapam, Natítayt

Yakama includes: Yakima

Tayx

Umatilla includes: Natítayt

Sahaptin includes: Shahaptin

Language:English | Umatilla | Walla Walla | Yakama

Date:1966, 1988

Contributor:Hunn, Eugene | Jacobs, Melville, 1902-1971 | Rigsby, Bruce | Sturgis, Sam | Winishut, Linton

Type:Text

Genre:Field notes | Dictionaries | Reports | Stories | Vocabularies

Extent:158 pages

Description: The Sahaptin materials in the Phillips Fund collection consist of 4 items. Materials in this collection are listed alphabetically by last name of author. See materials listed under Hunn and Rigsby. The Hunn material consists of a typeset manuscript draft "Plateau Place names"; copy of fieldnotes; Sahaptin place name transcriptions, with information about itinerary, along Columbia River, Oregon. Rigsby's materials consist of 3 items: "A Short Practical Dictionary of the Yakima Sahaptin Language," which includes a history of language documentation, notes about orthography, and a ca.670-item lexicon; "Report on 1966 Sahaptin Linguistic Field Research"; and "Yakama Sahaptin texts," containing 4 stories modified from Melville Jacobs' "Northwest Sahaptin Texts, Part II."

Collection:Phillips Fund for Native American Research Collection (Mss.497.3.Am4)

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Seneca materials, Frank G. Speck Papers

Culture:

Seneca includes: Onöndowága

Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe

Language:English | Seneca

Date:1921-1949

Type:Still Image | Text

Extent:16 folders

Description: Materials relating to Speck's interest in Seneca language, history, and culture. Several folders contain correspondence, including one with six letters from Jesse Cornplanter to Speck and others on topics such as his religious beliefs and changes in the way of life; praising Speck; pay for Native consultants; sending Christmas greetings; and husk faces. Other correspondence includes letters from Charles E. Congdon concerning Coldspring Longhouse ceremonies, use of stick and post in dance, Tonawanda and Cattaraugus medicines, congratulating Speck on his Iroquois (1945), describing Alleghany ceremonials, and giving a sketch of the arrangement of participants; from James M. Luongo concerning Seneca and other specimens; from Clara Redeye transmitting a 1941 picture of four generations and sending dolls; from Spencer F. William, a Seneca writer seeking work; from Evangeline Clark sending thanks for reprints, which she had sent to Suffolk University; from Merle H. Deardorff concerning consultant Clayton White, Pennsylvania place names, Speck (1942), and a lengthy discussion of the practices of Handsome Lake adherents; and from Speck to Deardorff concerning an Iroquois conference at Allegany. Other folders contain William N. Fenton's Seneca ceremonial calendar from Coldspring, 131 pages of organized, detailed field notes on ceremonies; Congdon's 4-page essay comparing the religion of Handsome Lake with Judaism and Greco-Roman spirits; Clayton White's description of the one-year death feast; Clayton White's description of a False Face Dance at Coldspring Long House, taken for Deardorff; Speck's miscellaneous notes containing words and two letters from Sherman Redeye to Speck concerning corn-husk masks; Speck's notes on the Oklahoma Seneca with an outline of ceremonials and a chart, with special attention to dances and funerary practices; and Ferdinand Isserman's student paper "Mythology of Seneca Indians." Some of these materials may be restricted due to cultural sensitivity.

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

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Seri materials, William O. Bright Papers

Culture:

Seri includes: Comcaac

Date:1955, 2005-2006

Contributor:Moser, Edward W. | Marlett, Steve | Bright, William, 1928-2006

Subject:Linguistics | Place names

Type:Text

Genre:Correspondence | Vocabularies | Drafts | Essays

Extent:0.1 linear feet

Description: William Bright's Seri papers consist of possible cognates between Seri, Chontal (unidentified variety), Karuk and Quechan, by Edward W. Moser, a copy of a Fortnight Magazine article, and comments on Steve Marlett's manuscript on "The Form and Use of Names in Seri", for publication in IJAL (Series 1).

Collection:William O. Bright Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.142)

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Serrano materials, William O. Bright Papers

Culture:

Serrano includes: Taaqtam

Language:Serrano | English | Cupeño | Luiseño | Kitanemuk

Contributor:Hill, Kenneth C. | Johnston, Frank | Bright, William, 1928-2006

Subject:Linguistics | Place names | California--History | Coyote tales

Type:Text

Genre:Drafts | Books | Vocabularies

Extent:0.5 linear feet

Description: William Bright's Serrano materials mostly consist of correspondence with Kenneth C. Hill, including a Coyote story, lists and discussions of place names and etymologies, and phonology (Series 1). There is also a book on Serrano history and culture (Series 2) and a lexical slip file comparing many Takic languages (Series 5).

Collection:William O. Bright Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.142)

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Shawnee materials, Frank Siebert Papers

Culture:

Shawnee

Mohican includes: Mahican, Muhhekunneuw

Lenape includes: Lenni-Lenape, Delaware

Date:1935-1987

Contributor:Pearson, Bruce L., 1932- | Siebert, Frank T. (Frank Thomas), 1912-1998 | Voegelin, C. F. (Charles Frederick), 1906-1986 | Ballard, W. L. | Wheeler-Voegelin, Erminie, 1903-1988

Subject:Linguistics | Economics | Place names | Ethnography

Type:Text

Genre:Notes | Essays | Bibliographies | Vocabularies | Grammars

Description: The Shawnee material in the Siebert Papers consist primarily of ethnographic and linguistic materials. Siebert's research can be found in Series V. Research done by C.F. Voeglin and Erminie Wheeler-Voeglin is located in Series IV and VII.

Collection:Frank Siebert Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.97)