Full video record of Afro-Brazilian traditions from Maranhão, Brazil. Documentation includes: chanting, drumming, and trance-possession dancing in the Tambor de Mina tradition in Sao Luis, the capital city of the northern Brazilian state of Maranhão. The rituals of this tradition exhibit some similarities with other more well-known Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda. 'Mina' traditions derive their distinctiveness from prominent Dahomean (Vodun) as well as Amerindian and European influences. Featured is extensive footage of the oldest and most traditionally African "houses" in Sao Luis (for example, the Dahomean or 'Gege' Casa das Minas, the Casa de NagÃ'o, and Casa da Turquia), as well as the numerous Tambor de Mina (both 'Mata' and Spiritist influenced) terreiros (ritual centers) in the city. The collection aptly documents the vibrant diversity of form and practice which exists among different terreiros including some in the interior of Sao Luis Island and in the interior Maranhão town of Codó. Documentation also includes footage of popular folk dances and celebrations such as the Bumba-Meu Boi tradition, Carnaval, 'Bloco-Afro' groups, and an imported version of Candomblé.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Recieved from Daniel T. Halperin in 1992.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Production film materials for TREE OF LIFE (2 versions TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, EAGLE'S CHILDREN, 1987 film footage of Afghanistan and film footage for a New Mexico Chile film.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Pacho Lane in 2004.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
1 Film reel (23 minutes, color sound; 400 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Sound films
Place:
Madagascar
Africa
Date:
1963
Scope and Contents:
Footage of a Famadihana (also known as "digging up the dead" ceremony) is an exhumation ceremony to honor ancestors. This famadihana was performed by the Malgache people of Madagascar. The body of an ancestor is exhumed, re-wrapped in burial cloths and re-buried. The extended family celebrates with a feast. The film has a sound track narration recorded by filmmaker, Sarajane Archdeacon.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 2001.6.1
Provenance:
Received from Sarajane Archdeacon in 2001.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Film of a famadihana, Human Studies Film Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Sponsor:
Preservation of this film was supported by the National Film Preservation Foundation.
Cataloging supported by Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee
Film and video of masked dance performances of East India and Hajari Bhand, a former court jester and street performer of Rajasthan. Collection includes sound recordings.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from John Emigh in 1984.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Collection consists of video and motion picture film shot by Summer Banner in the 1970s and 1980s in the South Pacific and of the Festival of Pacific Arts.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Summer Banner in 1998.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Film reels (black-and-white silent reversal; 1600 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Silent films
Place:
Australasia
East Asia
Oceania
Southeast Asia
Australia
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Fiji
Hawaii
Samoa
Date:
circa 1925
Scope and Contents:
Footage shot in Hong Kong (harbor, atop Victoria Peak); Shanghai; Fiji (daily life; hair plastered with lime; outdoor barbershop, Suva; market); Malaysia (snake temple near Penang; Kampong; mosque; temples; local people; boy with snake; fire walking; gold mine at Raub, Pahang); Siam (Thailand) (temple; cemetery; Sakais peoples; using Salais blow pipe; jungle; slash and burn clearing of jungle); Java (Indonesia) (Tosari Terraud rice fields; wedding; fair; gold mine; paddie fields; bull racing on Madura Island; wedding of children); Batavia (Jakarta), Java (Indonesia) (fish market; restaurant, government buildings; volcano in Tengger mountains; rice fields; Blauw waters); Singapore (street scenes; market square; sampans in harbor and at dock; rickshaws; street cars; funeral; palace and grounds of the Sultan of Jahore; mosque; Tami "coolie" collecting latex sap from a rubber tree; rubber factory; riding an elephant; botanical gardens; Chinese funeral); American Samoa (fishing on Tau, largest island in the Manu'a Group; Flowerpot Island; building a "hong" village chief and family; girls playing cricket; Siva Siva dance; ship arrival and departure from Pago Pago); Hawaii (ship scenes, Waikiki beach, Royal Hawaiian Hotel; Diamond Head); and Australia (Toronga Park; Sydney zoo with dancing ostrich; harbor). Footage also includes a shipboard "crossing the equator Neptune party."
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Number:
HSFA 1985.9.1
Provenance:
Received from Adrienne Hall Bodie in 1985.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Full video record documents performances of a variety of dance societies from the Kingdom of Bafut and the neighboring kingdom of Babanki (Kedjum Keku) in the northwest province of Cameroon. A prominent feature of Bafut political life, ownership of specific dances by sub-chiefs and important nobles is a constituting element of their political authority. The dances documented in this collection include various parts of the Bafut annual ritual cycle, command performances, and mortuary celebrations. Also included is documentation over a three-year period (1981-1983) of the Abin Lela Dance of the Flutes, the climactic moment of the annual ritual cycle. This annual dance in Bafut marks the death and rebirth of the year and serves as an essential act of Bafut constitutional politics. Dance footage is accompanied by selective recording of oral testimony.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 1988.8.1
Provenance:
This collection was deposited by Dr. Ronald Engard in 1988.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
"Studies in Nigerian Dance, no. 1 and 2" made ca. 1966 by Francis Speed. Collection includes associated texts.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Gordon Gibson in 1982.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Footage shot by Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton documenting life in the village of Long Bow, Shanxi Province, North Central China.
Collection also includes associated texts, sound recordings, production logs, and field notes.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton in 1988.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
12 Film reels (6 hours, color silent; 4,145 feet, S8 mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Silent films
Place:
Middle East
Iran
Date:
1974-1978
Scope and Contents:
Full film record of life among Turanian pastoralists in northeastern Iran. Documentation focuses on scenes revealing the gendered division of labor: herding and milking of goats by men, processing milk into kashk (tart) by women, and men engaged in the collection of firewood. Other domestic and agricultural activities shown are plowing and irrigation of fields, harvesting and drying of barley, animal slaughter, spinning goat hair, making grape molasses, and drying tobacco. Footage also includes ceremonial activities associated with Persian new year and pilgrimages to Islamic shrines.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical / Historical:
Filmmaker and anthropologist Mary Martin Conducted fieldwork in northeastern Iran in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania Turan Program from 1974 through 1978. She is currently Coordinator of the Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 1988.14.1
Provenance:
Received from Mary Martin in 1988.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Full film record shot in 1969-70 in Papua New Guinea Highlands and Sepik area for a project on the impact of media on traditional cultures. Footage includes a male initiation rite including incising the skin and rubbing dirt for scarification.
Supplementary materials include audio tapes of wild sound shot at the time of filming.
The collection also includes film and associated sound recordings for a film by Edmund Carpenter on Eskimo art, received in accessions 2018.07 and 2018.08.
Legacy Keywords: Initiation rituals ; Body decoration, adornment and mutilations ; Scarification (Body marking)
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 2004.4.1
Related Materials:
The Edmund Snow Carpenter papers are held by the National Anthropological Archives.
Provenance:
Received in multiple accessions from Adelaide De Menil and Edmund Carpenter in 2004 and 2018.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
5 Film reels (90 minutes, color sound; 1,600 feet; Super8, 8mm)
4 Video recordings (7 hours, color sound; VHS)
0.25 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Video recordings
Sound films
Place:
Oceania
Papua New Guinea
Mount Hagen (Papua New Guinea)
Africa
Algeria
Niger
Date:
1977 and 1988
Scope and Contents:
Films shot by anthropologist Thomas Seligman in Papua New Guinea, Algeria, and Nigeria in 1977 and 1988.
Collection contains supplementary materials.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Thomas Seligman in 2015.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Footage shot by Gordon D. Gibson from 1953-1973. Collection also includes associated texts, sound recordings, production logs, and field notes.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Related Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives holds the Gordon Davis Gibson papers, 1937-2007.
Provenance:
Received from Gordon Gibson in 1983.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Collection consists of outtakes from film by Karen Kramer, including THE SERPENT HANDLERS, TO SERVE THE GODS, HAITIAN SONG, LEGACY OF THE SPIRITS, CELEBRATION, MOCCO JUMBIE, CIGAR ROLLERS, RICE AND PEAS, CONEY ISLAND MERMAID. Collection also contains production videotapes for DAYS OF AWE, project video tapes for CHILDREN OF SHADOWS, and two film prints each of THE JOLO SERPENT HANDLERS, TO SERVE THE GODS, HAITIAN SONG, CELEBRATION and LEGACY OF THE SPIRITS.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Karen Kramer in 1992, 2003, and 2009.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Edited film and footage focused on Huichol religious ceremonies as practiced by the Huichol of San Andres Coamiata, Jalisco, Mexico.
Supplementary materials: associated texts, still film, annotations (recorded narratives), field notes.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Bulk of materials received from Steven Dreben 1989. Video of edited film received from Hollywood Home Entertainment in 1993. Reels of edited film received from Thomas Perry in 2007.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Video of Ifa Honoring Ceremony for drums in Department of Anthropology collections
Creator:
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Anthropology Search this
Extent:
Video recordings
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Video recordings
Date:
circa 2004
Scope and Contents:
Video record made by Amy Staples (HSFA Fellow) of Ifa Honoring Ceremony for Ifa drums held in the Anthro collections.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from National Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, Collections and Archives Program, in 2005.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Larry and Evelyn Taylor 2004.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Amateur film shot by Janet Stone of the investiture of paramount chief Kande Sao of Kalangba, Gpendembu Gowahun Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, c. 1963.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from American Film Institute (National Center for Film and Video Preservation) in 1996.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
The collection consists of edited footage taken by Aloha Baker. The collection also contains related manuscript and photograph materials.
Related Materials:
Other repositories with films, papers, photographs, and ephemera associated with Aloha Baker include Library of Congress, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and Detroit Public Library.
Provenance:
Received from Richard Diamond in 1976 and 1993.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Footage shot among the Okiek (Ogiek) of Kenya. Footage includes documentation of a number of girl's coming-of age ceremonies at various sites (Sapoitit [Chepto] and Nkaroni), pottery making, beehive tending, trap making, domestic and economic activities, and scenes of forest and gardens.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Number:
HSFA 1993.5.1
Provenance:
Received from Corinne Kratz in 1993.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
