Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Eddie Faye Gates, Tulsa OK, author, historian, community activist
Object number:
2014.117.71
Restrictions & Rights:
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
1 Item (Silver gelatin on paper,, 3-1/2" x 5-5/8".)
Container:
Box 10, Item 1.7.730
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Postcards
Picture postcards
Date:
Circa 1910
Scope and Contents:
Image 3" x 4-5/8". Photographic postcard showing a brass band in formation (marching?), playing at the Six Counties Firemen Convention, in an unidentified American city. No message or maker identification on verso.
Local Numbers:
AC0253-0000002 (AC Scan)
87-14075 (OIPP Neg. No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Extent:
1 Item (videocassette (VHS))
Type:
Archival materials
Place:
Santiago de Cuba (Cuba)
Caribbean Area
Cuba
Local Numbers:
FP-1989-1/2VHS-0005-b
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Santiago de Cuba (Cuba)
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Caribbean Area, Santiago de Cuba (Cuba).
General:
DVD copy
tape 3
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
The National Congress of America Indians (NCAI), which describes itself as the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaskan Native organization in the United States, was founded on November 16, 1944, in Denver, CO and is still active today. NCAI was founded to serve as a link between individual tribal councils and the United States government but also aimed to educate the general public about Indians, preserve Indian cultural values, protect treaty rights with the United States, and promote Indian welfare. This collection of National Congress of America Indians Audio and Film Recordings contains materials created by and for NCAI to maintain a record of organizational proceedings and events between 1952 and 1997. Recorded in various formats, the bulk of this collection is on 1/4" open reel to reel tapes and sound cassettes. The events represented in this collection include annual and mid-year conventions, executive council meetings, congressional hearings, intertribal institutes and a variety of workshops and meetings regarding economic, civil and educational issues facing indian country.
Scope and Contents:
This collection of National Congress of America Indians Audio and Film Recordings contains materials created by and for NCAI to maintain a record of organizational proceedings and events between 1952 and 1997. Recorded in various formats, the bulk of this collection is on 1/4" open reel to reel tapes and sound cassettes. The collection also contains smaller numbers of EIAJ open reel videotapes, U-Matic, VHS and Hi-8 videocassettes and well as dictaphone belts and audio cartridges. The first series in this collection contains audio recordings from NCAI annual and mid-year convetions held in different locations all over the United States. The second series includes events hosted by NCAI or attended by NCAI representatives. These include executive council meetings, congressional hearings, intertribal institutes and a variety of workshops and meetings regarding economic, civil and educational issues facing indian country. Several larger events include the Arizona Intertribal Institute (1955), The National Indian Policy Conference (1974), LEAA Conference (1978), Environmental Protection Hearings and Seminars (1988) and the Senate Indian Affairs Special Investigations Subcommittee meetings (1989). A conference held in 1993 also documents the early history of NCAI with speakers such as Helen Peterson, John Rainer and Erma Hicks Walz.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into three series and chronologically within each series. Series 1: Annual and Mid-Year Conventions, 1953-1989, Series 2: Chronological Events, 1952-1997, and Series 3: Commercial Audio/Video, 1972-1989.
Biographical / Historical:
The National Congress of America Indians, which describes itself as the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaskan Native organization in the United States, was founded on November 16, 1944, in Denver, CO. NCAI was intended to serve as a link between individual tribal councils and the United States government, by defining and helping to crystallize Indian thought on the administration of Indian affairs. The Congress also aimed to educate the general public about Indians, preserve Indian cultural values, protect treaty rights with the United States, and promote Indian welfare.
At the first convention, delegates representing fifty tribes ratified the constitution and by-laws, drafted resolutions determining the direction of NCAI policy, and elected the organizations' first officers, with Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) as president. The officers, as well as eight elected council members, formed the Executive Council. The Council chose the Executive Director; Ruth Muskrat Bronson (Cherokee) was the organization's first director, from 1944-1948. "Persons of Indian blood" could join the organization either as individuals or as groups. In 1955, however, the constitution was revised to restrict group membership to recognized tribes, committees, or bands, and to make the Executive Council chosen by tribal representatives. These changes gave control of the organization to governing bodies of organized tribes, rather than individuals. A further amendment that year created a five-member Executive Committee, headed by the president, which had all the powers of the Executive Council between council meetings.
Conventions have been held annually in the fall since the formation of the NCAI in 1944. Since 1977, mid-year conferences have been held in May or June of each year, to allow more frequent and thorough discussion of issues. The resolutions passed at these conventions are the basis for all policy of the Executive Committee and Executive Director between meetings. The conventions are also used for informational sessions and meetings of standing and special committees of NCAI. One or two-day workshops may also be held on special topics or Congressional issues of particular concern.
NCAI created a tax-exempt arm in 1949 to accept charitable contributions and apply for grants, the NCAI Fund, which soon changed its name to ARROW, Inc. By 1957, however, ARROW had split off to become an independent organization, and NCAI started a new arm, again called the NCAI Fund. In the coming decades, the NCAI Fund would obtain grants from sources including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Veteran Affairs, Indian Health Service, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Ford Foundation, humanities councils and others, which they used for conferences, workshops, publications, and other projects.
In its early years, NCAI fought for the recognition of land claims of Alaska natives, the enfranchisement of Arizona and New Mexico Indians, the equitable settlement of tribal land claims, and the right of Indians to select their own attorneys. The NCAI lobbied vigorously for an Indian Claims Commission Bill, which became law in August 1946. NCAI's lobbying efforts on behalf of this act set the pattern for the organization's future role in legislative matters: keeping member tribes abreast of proposed legislation and ascertaining their views, and maintaining a presence in Congress through lobbying and testimony.
Beginning in 1954, the threat of termination pushed NCAI into a period of increased activity. Although some tribes were ready to terminate their relationship with the federal government, much of Indian Country felt threatened by the government's new stated policy. NCAI therefore organized an Emergency Conference of American Indians for February 1954 to protest this new termination policy. An agreement was forged at the conference between the NCAI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work together toward slowly liquidating the BIA. The termination period of the 1950s and 1960s, while challenging, saw NCAI increase in confidence and political acumen.
During the 1960s, a number of other activist Indian groups sprang up and began to dilute the singular influence which NCAI had commanded. Newer, more militant groups often considered themselves at odds with NCAI, which was increasingly perceived as conservative. As the number of Indian advocacy groups grew in the 1960s and 1970s, however, NCAI actively partnered with other organizations, particularly the National Tribal Chairmen's Association (NTCA) and Native American Rights Fund (NARF), on a variety of projects.
Charles E. "Chuck" Trimble (Oglala Dakota) served as Executive Director of NCAI in 1972 until 1977, when he resigned to lead the United Effort Trust, a project designed to fight white backlash to Indian rights. NCAI spent most of the next two years trying to find another permanent director. In 1979, Ronald P. Andrade (Luiseno-Diegueno) joined NCAI and unfortunately found a group that was demoralized and underfunded. He was able to return the organization to good health but left in 1982. Si Whitman (Nez Perce), his successor, remained at NCAI for less than a year.
Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne-Creek) became director of NCAI on May 1, 1984. Prior to taking this postions, she had served as Congressional Liaison for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior during the Carter administration and as legislative liaison for the Native American Rights Fund, as well as working for NCAI during the mid-1970s. Harjo was also an active and published poet, as well as a frequent speaker at events around the country. The National Congress of American Indians was particularly active on Capitol Hill while Harjo was director, advocating for government-to-government status, the Tribal Government Tax Status Act of 1983, repatriation legislation, and economic development programs, among other issues. Harjo was herself very involved in the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
The NCAI Fund was very successful in receiving grants during this period, although they were chronically short of operating funds. Some of their most active projects during this period were the Indian and Native Veterans Outreach Program (INVOP), Inter-generational Health Promotion and Education Program (IHPEP), Environmental Handbook and related educational seminars, Solar Bank, nuclear waste disposal and transportation information sessions, and voter registration.
For years, NCAI's operating expenses had been funded by the Ford Foundation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1985, the director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, opposing the use of Federal monies to support outside organizations, began to block the payment for services due to the NCAI. This created a financial crisis from which the NCAI did not recover during Harjo's tenure, and it became the major issue for which she was not rehired in October 1989.
Following the 1989 Annual Convention, Wayne Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux) became President of NCAI and A. Gay Kingman (Cheyenne River Sioux) was appointed Executive Director. Their first efforts were focused on recovering the financial well-being of the organization, which meant that less attention was devoted to issues in Congress. One of the successful projects NCAI pursued during the next two years was organization and presentation of the Indian pre-conference of the White House Conference on Library and Information Science, which was held in early 1991.
The National Congress of American Indians is still active today, continuing its work of lobbying, support for tribal governments, and advocacy for American Indian issues.
Related Materials:
Other collections at the NMAI Archives Center that include information on the National Congress of American Indians include:
National Congress of American Indians records,1933-1990 (NMAI.AC.010)
Arrow, Inc., and the American Indian Tribal Court Judges records, 1949-1999 (NMAI.AC.013) James E. Curry papers, 1935-1955 (NMAI.AC.015) National Tribal Chairmen's Association records, 1971-1978 (NMAI.AC.014) Helen L. Peterson papers, 1944-1992 (NMAI.AC.016) Reuben Snake papers, 1971-1996 (NMAI.AC.012)
Provenance:
The National Congress of American Indians designated the National Anthropological Archives (NAA) as its official repository in 1976. It was transferred from NAA to the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center in 2006.
Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Due to its fragile nature, this collection is closed to researchers until it has been digitized.
Rights:
Permission to publish or broadbast materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Topic:
Indians of North America -- Civil rights Search this
Indians of North America -- Economic conditions -- 20th century Search this
Indians of North America -- Government relations Search this
Indians of North America -- Social conditions -- 20th century Search this
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); National Congress of American Indians Audio and Film Recordings, Box Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
National Conference on Cultural Property Protection Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Protection Services Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Electronic records
Web sites
Date:
2020
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection website as it existed on February 21, 2020. The National Conference on Cultural Property
Protection, founded by the Smithsonian Institution, Office of Protection Services, offers insight and proven solutions for new and seasoned professionals in the field of cultural
property protection. The website includes information about the upcoming in-person conference scheduled for September 21-23, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it would later
be reformatted as a virtual event held during the same time period. Materials are in electronic format.
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2035. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 3/2/2021 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2030. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 3/3/2021 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
9.5 cu. ft. (9 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Compact discs
Digital versatile discs
Electronic records
Floor plans
Color photographs
Date:
2008-2009
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records which document planning of special events at the Smithsonian Institution, such as conferences, meetings, lectures, exhibition openings,
receptions, and award presentations. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, and notes; proposals; budget summaries; event schedules; agreements; meeting agendas and
minutes; program information; lecture papers; press releases and clippings; guest lists; biographical information; photographs; floor plans for events; invitations; and brochures.
Some materials are in electronic format.
20.5 cu. ft. (20 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Clippings
Compact discs
Floppy disks
Electronic records
Black-and-white photographs
Color photographs
Black-and-white transparencies
Black-and-white negatives
Audiotapes
Date:
1889-2011
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the papers of David H. DeVorkin, Curator in the Space History Division at the National Air and Space Museum, 1981- , with earlier records
dating from when he was assistant professor of astronomy at Central Connecticut State College, as well as during the years he attended high school and college. DeVorkin specializes
in the origins and development of modern astrophysics and the space sciences, and is involved in professional societies that include the American Astronomical Society, the
History of Science Society, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The papers primarily document DeVorkin's scientific articles, lectures, planetarium programs, research,
professional society activities, and preparation of his own books such as "Science with a Vengeance: How the Military Created the US Space Sciences after World War II" and
"Henry Norris Russell: Dean of American Astronomers." Materials include correspondence, memoranda, and notes; articles; book reviews; clippings; agreements; lecture papers
and presentation material; press releases; meeting agendas; information about committees, conferences, symposiums, and workshops; manuscripts; audiotape recordings; photographs,
slides, and negatives; course outlines; proposals; and supporting documentation. Some materials are in electronic format.
Restrictions:
Until the death of the Donor, SIA will notify the Donor prior to, or within 7 days after, the materials have been accessed for research, Transferring office; 9/5/2007 Deed of Gift; Contact reference staff for details.
This accession consists of records that document the work of the Office of Public Affairs in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) from 1968 until 1988. Most of the records
were created by Sandra Westin and Michele Raphoon, but early files were created by Carol Cutler. The records describe all aspects of the Museum's publicity efforts, particularly
the planning and execution of events associated with exhibitions or portrait presentations, such as receptions, dinners, performances, symposia, and lectures. Included in
the files are correspondence and memoranda regarding event planning; forms requesting horticulture and building services; correspondence and agreements with talent and caterers;
invitations and guest lists; event programs; and contact sheets and photographs of the events. The records also contain correspondence with other museums and the media regarding
exhibitions or individual portraits; press kits; press releases and fact sheets; copies of catalogs and brochures; and news clippings and reviews. These files also document
the Portraits in Motion series from 1978 through 1985.
A Material World (Exhibition) (1988: Washington, D.C.) Search this
Information Age: People, Information and Technology (Exhibition) (1990-2006: Washington, D.C.) Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Doubleday Lecture Series. Search this
Search for Life: Genetic Technology in the Twentieth Century (Exhibition). (1987: Washington, D.C.) Search this
Western Views and Eastern Visions (Exhibition) (1980-1981: Washington, D.C.) Search this
Extent:
5 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Date:
1980-2010
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audio and video recordings of special events at the National Museum of American History documenting exhibitions; visits of American politicians
and foreign dignitaries; receptions; music and dance performances; dinners; meetings; commemorative and anniversary events; lectures, including speakers at the Doubleday Lecture
Series; fund raising; and conferences. Materials include audiotapes and videotapes.
