Guide to the Indigenous Materials at the American Philosophical Society

Description: This collection pertains principally to the Cherokees of North Carolina and Oklahoma and to their language, ethnography, folklore, archeology, history, music, etc. Includes Indian studies and correspondence by Gillespie, notes on Indian dances and linguistics, bibliographies, publications of the Archaeological Society of Brigham Young University, and newspaper clippings. Also comprised of materials on: Apache, Calusa, Chippewa, Choctaw, Delaware, Eskimo, Fox, Haudenosaunee, Karankawa, Gwich'in, Mattaponi, Muskogee, Navajo, Onondaga, Sauk, Seminole, Seneca, Shawnee, Sioux, Slave, Timucua, Tuscarora, Tutelo, Wyandot, and Zuni. Contains: Gillespie, "A grammar of western dialect of Cherokee language of the Iroquoian family," 1949-1954 (131 pages); "Miscellaneous material on the Cherokee Indians and language"; "Miscellaneous items pertaining to the American Indian."

Collection:Miscellaneous items pertaining to the American Indian (Mss.497.3.G41)

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Mohawk materials, George S. Snyderman Papers

Culture:

Mohawk includes: Kanienʼkehá꞉ka

Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe

Language:English

Date:Undated

Contributor:Snyderman, George S., 1908-2000 | Fadden, Ray

Subject:Music | Clothing and dress | Religion | Ethnography

Type:Still Image | Text

Genre:Photographs | Charts | Illustrations | Correspondence

Description: The Mohawk materials in Snyderman include charts of illustrations by Ray Fadden from the Akwesasne Mohawk Counselor organization. Images include utensils, musical instruments, clothes, and masks in Series I and an image of a collar in Series V.

Collection:George S. Snyderman Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.51)

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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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Nuu-chah-nulth materials, Susan Golla papers

Culture:

Tseshaht

Nuu-chah-nulth includes: Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Westcoast

Hupacasath includes: Hupač̓asatḥ, Opetchesaht

Language:English | Nuu-chah-nulth

Date:1960-1990

Subject:British Columbia--History | Ethnography | Linguistics | Boarding schools

Type:Sound recording | Still Image | Text

Extent:10.5 linear feet; 34 hours

Description: The Susan Golla Papers include research notes, subject files, field notes, copies of archival documents (photocopies; microfilm), audio recordings, 35 mm slides, and printed materials. The entirety of the collection concerns the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Vancouver Island, primarily the Hupacasath and Tseshaht of the Port Alberni region where Golla conducted her fieldwork in the 1970s. Series 1 contains correspondence. Series 2 contains 28 field notebooks from 1967, 1976-1979, and 1990-1991. This series also contains notes relating to work with the Tseshaht elder Mabel Taylor on translation of "The Legendary of Tseshaht," an untranslated story from Edward Sapir's field notebooks, originally told by Tom Sayachapis and recorded by Edward Sapir in November 1910. Series 5 includes an incomplete set of Ha-Shilth-Sa, the newspaper of record for the Nuu-chah-nulth communities of Vancouver Island, from 1976-1989. Series 6 includes 334 color slides of Hupacasath and Tseshaht ceremonies, 1976-1979. Includes images of singing, dancing, and bartering of wealth with gifts of food and goods at weddings and other community events. Prints also display regalia, traditional musical instruments, and the carving and raising of a pole. Series 7 includes interviews with Tseshaht elders Mabel Taylor, Margaret Shewish, Hughie Watts, on Nuu-chah-nulth language, food prepration, and Sayachapis. Additional tapes are of sessions working with Mabel Taylor on the translation of "The Legendary History of the Tseshaht." NOTE: Some portions of the field notes may be restricted due to privacy concerns surrounding personal information.

Collection:Susan Golla papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.89)

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Ojibwa ethnographic and linguistic field notes, 1903-1905

Culture:

Ojibwe includes: Ojibwa, Chippewa, Ojibway

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:English | Ojibwe

Date:circa 1903-1905

Contributor:Jones, William, 1871-1909

Type:Still Image | Text

Genre:Field notes | Photographs | Stories

Extent:ca 250 pages, 42 photographs

Description: "Ethnographic and linguistic field notes on the Ojibwa Indians," some 250 pages and 42 photographs regarding government, mythology, festivals, customs, games, etc. Also includes comments on the vocabulary, some items with English glosses; lists of bands and locations; photographs of people, activities, dwellings, canoes, etc.

Collection:Ojibwa ethnographic and linguistic field notes, 1903-1905 (Mss.497.3.J71)

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Ojibwe materials, Alfred Irving Hallowell Papers

Culture:

Ojibwe includes: Ojibwa, Chippewa, Ojibway

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:English | Chippewa | Ojibwa, Northwestern

Date:1932-1949

Type:Text | Cartographic | Still Image

Description: The Ojibwe materials in the A. Irving Hallowell Papers are extensive. Hallowell focused on three regions of Ojibwe territory: Berens River in north, central Canada (Pikangikum, Pauingassi, Poplar River; Little Grand Rapids First Nations) and Lac du Flambeau in Wisconsin. Hallowell was particularly interested in psychological anthropology. Both the Berens River and Lac du Flambeau materials in Series V, for example, includes ethnographic information on taboos, incest regulations, Rorschach tests, dreams, and acculturation. Hallowell's interests in traditional knowledge are represented by descriptions of the practice of the Midewiwin religion; traditional stories about Wisakedjak and Tcakabec/Chakabesh, Memegwesiug, Windigos, and Thunderbirds. Of particular interest in the Lac du Flambeau materials are hundred of pages of family biographies in Series V and photographs with the names of community members in Series VI, Subseries B. Of particular interest in the Berens River materials are maps of traditional hunting grounds, a diagram of Ojibwe cosmology, an autobiography by Hallowell's collaborator Chief William Berens, 29 folders of "Saulteaux Indians--Myths and Tales" all in Series V. There are hundreds of photographs from the region, with many community members identified, and all digitized, in Series VI, Subseries A. The correspondence, in Series I, includes Robert Ritzenhaler's description of a shaking tent ceremony by Ojibwe in Wisconsin; a detailed account of Joseph Fiddler's trial for murdering a windigo in the folder labled Royal Canadian Mounted Police; papers sent by Morton Teicher detailing incidents of windigo in Canada (50+ pages); a letter from Frances Densmore describing a shaking tent ceremony; and several letters from Chief William Berens providing information about Ojibwe people in the photographs in Series VI.

Collection:Alfred Irving Hallowell Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.26)

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Ottawa materials, George S. Snyderman Papers

Culture:

Odawa includes: Ottawa

Potawatomi includes: Pottawotomi, Neshnabé, Bodéwadmi

Meskwaki includes: Mesquakie, Musquakie, Sac, Sauk, Fox, Sac-and-Fox

Kickapoo includes: Kikapú, Kiikaapoa

Iowa includes: Ioway, Báxoje, Bah-Kho-Je

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:English

Date:1948

Contributor:Snyderman, George S., 1908-2000 | Ettawageshik, Fred, 1896-1969 | Ettawageshik, Jane, 1915-1996

Subject:Geography | Ethnography

Type:Cartographic | Still Image | Text

Genre:Maps | Photographs

Description: The Ottawa materials in the Snyderman Papers include an undated map showing Native American settlemements in Illinois in Series II. Photographs in Series V include images of Chief Ettawageshik.

Collection:George S. Snyderman Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.51)

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Papers and drawings for Cherokee Indian materials

Culture:

Cherokee

Language:English

Date:1893-1948

Contributor:Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950 | Witthoft, John | Mooney, James, 1861-1921

Type:Still Image

Genre:Sketches | Photographs | Negatives

Extent:19 pages

Description: This collection consists of 28 sketches, 8 black and white silver gelatin photographs, and 2 negatives of North Carolina Cherokee artifacts from ca. 1893-1948. Presumably collected by Frank Speck with John Witthoft during the latter's graduate field work, the images reflect the social life and customs of the Cherokee including war clubs, garments, Deer & Bear masks, rattles and dance formations. Of the dances presented are the Pigeon, Partridge, Corn, Beaver, Green Corn, and Ball game. Of note, an 1893 photograph by Mooney depicting Cherokee men and women in native attire at a ceremony before a ball game. The sketches are noted in Murphy Smith's Historical American Sketches.

Collection:Papers and drawings for Cherokee Indian materials (Mss.970.3.W78)

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Pima Bajo materials, John Alden Mason Papers

Culture:

Yaqui includes: Hiaki, Yoeme

Tepehuán includes: Tepehuanes, Tepehuano

Pima Bajo includes: Lower Pima, Mountain Pima, O'ob

Navajo includes: Diné, Navaho

Date:1953-1965

Contributor:Brugge, David M. | Mason, John Alden, 1885-1967

Type:Still Image | Text

Extent:12 items

Description: Materials relating to Pima Bajo language and culture. Most items are attributed to David M. Brugge, though some include notes or comments by John Alden Mason. Materials include 10 pages of Lower Pima [Pima Bajo] notes, part of Brugge's contribution to an article co-authored with Mason; 85 pages of notes, drafts, letters, etc. relating to the same article, including bibliographic items and a linguistic map of northwestern Mexico; a file of correspondence, draft reports on, and expenses for a 1953 Nevome [aka Lower Pima, Pima Bajo] or Lower Pima Expedition, a research trip to Sonora, Mexico (correspondents include Dale S. King, James McConnell, Edward H. Spicer, Fernando Pesqueira, David Lopez Molina, Robert J. Weitlaner, John E. Heimnick, and Robert J. Drake); 13 pages of Nevome [Pima Bajo] Vocabularies, with notes from three informants at Santa Ana rancheria near Onavas, Sonora; 2 pages of Nevome [Pima Bajo] grammatical notes, primarily a listing of locative particles and adverbs, from an unspecified source; circa 1,000 cards of Pima Bajo linguistics notes (alphabetically arranged), most with English translation and some keyed to informant, along with three letters between Brugge and Mason discussing the language and Brugge's work; 25 pages of notes on Yaqui and Northern Tepehuan recordings to be sent to Indiana University, including the contents of Southern Tepehuan recordings (in hand of John Alden Mason), two Pima Bajo texts, Spanish translations for four texts, and a phonetic key for Pima Bajo; and Brugge's "History of the Pima Bajo of the mountains" (1960) a ten-page essay discussing information from historical and archaeological sources regarding the Pima in the villages of Yecora and Maicoba, Sonora, and Yepachic and Moris, Chihuahua. Three items, all written from Gallup, New Mexico, are described as "Brugge-Annon trip to Sonora-Log, itinerary, list of photos, journal. Letter to John Alden Mason." Dated February 1956, #4670 gives identification for two photographs showing pottery and baskets and for two showing terrain near Rancho Los Tepalcates; #4671 (March 1956) gives information about baskets shown in four photos (two photos lacking); and #4672 (June 1958) concerns mistreatment of Maicoba Pimas by whites, i.e., the taking of land, cattle, church offerings, etc. A Brugge-Annon trip is also mentioned in #4668, Brugge's correspondence with Mason 1955-1960, which totals 175 pages and concerns Brugge's work on Pima Bajo and Navajo; problems arising from mistreatment of Maicoba Pimas by whites; log, itinerary, list of photographs, and journal of Brugge-Annon trip to Sonora; correspondence with the Wenner-Grenn Foundation and Paul Fejos; and an essay on distribution, religion, fiestas, social structure, economy, houses and furnishings, handicrafts, etc., of the Pima Bajo.

Collection:John Alden Mason Papers (Mss.B.M384)

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Potawatomi materials, C. F. Voegelin Papers

Culture:

Potawatomi includes: Pottawotomi, Neshnabé, Bodéwadmi

Anishinaabe includes: Anishinaabeg, Anishinabe, Nishnaabe, Anishinabek

Language:English | Potawatomi

Date:circa 1925-1967

Contributor:Voegelin, C. F. (Charles Frederick), 1906-1986 | Lilly, Eli, 1885-1977 | Isaac, Smallman | George, William | Soney, William

Type:Still Image | Text

Genre:Notes | Notebooks | Vocabularies | Stories | Photographs

Extent:6 folders

Description: The C. F. Voegelin Papers contain notes, notebooks, stories, photographs, and other linguistic and ethnographic materials relating to Potawatomi (Pottowatomi) language and culture. These are located in both Subcollection I and Subcollection II of the Voegelin Papers. Materials in Subcollection I include relevant correspondence with Eli Lilly (regarding the discovery of inscribed stones and their possible meaning; see photographs referenced below) in Series I. Correspondence; a folder of Ojibwa [Ojibwe] and Pottowatomi [Potawatomi] comparative vocabularies in Series V. Research Notes, Subseries V-A: Language Notes; a folder of three undated "Pottowatomi" notebooks containing texts (with some English translation) and mentioning consultants Smallman Isaac, William George, and William Soney in Series VI. Notebooks; and two images of stones inscribed with Potawatomi petroglyphs, from Elkhart, Indiana, in Series VII. Photographs. These images have been digitized and are available through the APS's Digital Library. In Subcollection II, there are Potawatomi stories in the Eastern Woodland category in Series III. Works by Voegelin, Subseries II: American Indian Tales for Children.

Collection:C. F. Voegelin Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.68)