Images of Brazilian Indians, including Karaja, Tapirape, Awetí (Aueto), Wayana (Oyana) and Ka'apor. Images include outdoor/ indoor portraits and daily and ceremonial activities.
Arrangement note:
Negatives: organized in envelopes; arranged by negative number
Slides: organized in binders; arranged by slide number
Prints: organized in folders; arranged by print number
Biographical/Historical note:
Boris Malkin was a naturalist and ethnographer born in Vitebsk, Belarus. Malking spent his childhood in Warsaw, Poland, where he showed an early interest in the natural world and exploration. In 1938, he emigrated to the United States, where he developed a relationship with the American Museum of Natual History through his interest in entomology. In 1941, Malkin received a scholarship to attend the University of Oregon in Eugene, but academics were put on hold when he was drafted into the Army, where he fought with Air Force units in the Pacific theater. After the war, Malkin continued his education at University College, London. In 1948, with funding from the California Academy of Science, he undertook a trip to Africa with the aim of collecting insects for the Academy. Malkin returned to the United States, spending time at the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota, where he was a lecturer in anthropology. Very soon after, Malkin resigned his position at the university to pursue intensive field work, devoting his time to collecting natural specimens as well as items documenting the material culture of the Indians of South and Central America.
Restrictions:
Access is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment.
Borys Malkin slides, negatives and other material, circa 1960-1962, National Museum of the American Indian Archives, Smithsonian Institution (negative, slide and catalog number).
