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Catalog Data

Creator:
Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942  Search this
Photographer:
Boysen Studio  Search this
Diller, J. S.  Search this
Harrington, John Peabody, 1884-1961  Search this
Henshaw, Henry W. (Henry Wetherbee), 1850-1930  Search this
Meddaugh, O. E.  Search this
Names:
Muir, John, 1838-1914  Search this
Talbot, Zenaida Merriam (photographer)  Search this
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910  Search this
Extent:
5,000 Items (glass negatives, film negatives, lantern slides, and some prints)
Culture:
Apache  Search this
Athapascan Indians  Search this
Achomawi (Pit River)  Search this
Jicarilla Apache  Search this
Indians of North America -- Southwest, New  Search this
Atsugewi (Hat Creek)  Search this
Patwin  Search this
Karuk (Karok)  Search this
Klamath  Search this
Hopi Pueblo  Search this
Shasta  Search this
Shoshone  Search this
Pomo  Search this
Paiute  Search this
Koso (Panamint) Shoshone  Search this
Akimel O'odham (Pima)  Search this
Kutzadika'a (Mono Paiute)  Search this
Diné (Navajo)  Search this
Niimíipuu (Nez Perce)  Search this
Ohlone (Costano)  Search this
Indians of North America -- Great Basin  Search this
Payómkawichum (Luiseño)  Search this
Maidu  Search this
Mewuk (Miwok)  Search this
Modoc  Search this
Klikitat  Search this
Laguna Indians  Search this
Indians of North America -- California  Search this
Yana  Search this
Wintu  Search this
Yokuts  Search this
Yokayo Pomo  Search this
Pueblo  Search this
Tolowa  Search this
Taos Indians  Search this
Washo Indians  Search this
Wasco  Search this
Nisenan Indians  Search this
Indians of North America -- Subarctic  Search this
Indians of North America -- Plateau  Search this
Hupa  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Lantern slides
Photographs
Date:
circa 1902-1938
Scope and Contents note:
Photographs depicting Native American baskets and portraits of Native Americans with whom C. Hart Merriam worked, as well as scenic views and images of animals and plants, mostly in California. Many of the photographs were made by Merriam himself or his daughter Zenaida Merriam Talbot. In addition, Merriam collected photographs from other researchers and photographers, including J. S. Diller, John Peabody Harrington, Henry Wetherbee Henshaw, and O. E. Meddaugh. There are also images acquired from the Boysen Studio of Yosemite and photographs of Mark Twain, John Muir, basketmaker Maggie James, and Merriam's family.
Biographical/Historical note:
Clinton Hart Merriam (1855-1942) was a Columbia University-educated physician who worked as a naturalist, including as head of the Biological Survey for the US Department of Agriculture. He joined the Harriman Alaska Expedition as a zoologist in 1899. In 1910, he left the USDA and began to conduct research among California tribes. Financed by Mary W. Harriman and the E. H. Harriman Fund administered by the Smithsonian, he researched tribes' vocabularies, history, mythology, crafts (particularly basketmaking) until about 1936. His resarch was assisted by his daughter, Zenaida, who took photographs and painted glass slides for him. Merriam served as President of the Anthropological Society of Washington in 1920-1921.
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 74-27
General note:
Additional information supplied by Marvin Shodas.
Location of Other Archival Materials:
Merriam's notes held in the National Anthropological Archives in MS 1563 and in the Smithsonian Institution Archives in SIA Acc. 12-264.
Additional photographs by Merriam held in the National Museum of American Indian Archives in the Mary Harriman Rumsey Photograph Collection and the Harriman Alaska Expedition Photograph Collection.
Correspondence from Merriam held in the National Anthropological Archives in MS 4558, the Department of Anthropology records (Manuscript and Pamphlet file), Bureau of American Ethnology records, J.C. Pilling Papers, Ales Hrdlicka Papers, and Jesse Logan Nusbaum Papers.
The Bancroft Library at University of California, Berkeley holds the C. Hart Merriam Papers, C. Hart Merriam Collection of Native American Photographs (prints corresponding to negatives in this collection), and C. Hart Merriam pictorial collection.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Topic:
Baskets  Search this
Genre/Form:
Lantern slides
Photographs
Citation:
Photo lot 74-27, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.PhotoLot.74-27
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw3deff9e69-60c3-4ce5-83a4-22711ef14333
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-photolot-74-27