Series of sketches drawn from life by Florence Nupok, a full blood St Lawrence Island Eskimo woman. 93 sketches (numbers are listed on each drawing).
With the introduction of schools and missions the tendencyis toward making these garments from material obtainable at the store.
This series of sketches was made by Florence Nupok, a full blooded St Lawrence Island married Eskimo woman, aged about 19, during the winter of 1927-8 at her camp at N. East Cape. I purchased the sketches because they were drawn from life and because they show so nicely the usual every day life of the St Lawrence Island Eskimo. The sketches are worth the money expended for them and I doubt that an other set is in existence made by a native on the spot as these were. It is almost impossible for a white person to do any sketching in the houses or homes of these natives as they will not stand for it under any condition, unless one is fortunate enough to be taken into their tribe. I shall of course try to obtain photographs where ever possible. I shall ask Nupok again to continue this work for me, and I think she will. I trust that the idea meets with your approval. In a few years all St Lawrence Island Eskimos will live in frame houses -- five were built last year -- four this year (1928) and the old customs will go the long trail and be forgotten. Modern kitchen ranges, stoves, coal oil heaters, and so on are replacing the famous and serviceable seal oil lamps, enamel pans, dishes, the old driftwood bowls and platters; aluminum tea kettles are replacing the good old Russian "Samovars", etc. Clothing is about the only thing that they cling to and for a very good reason, which is that the white man's clothing is not yet good enough to keep out the terrible winter's cold and for that reason, I too, adopt the native clothes, the only kind which is good enough to keep one warm. I shall list the sketches by numbers and will give the remarks...
Biographical / Historical:
Made during the winter (1927-1928) at her camp at North East Cape.
Florence Nupok is now Florence Malewotkuk, according to Dorothy Ray, 1968.
Series of sketches drawn from life by Florence Nupok, a full blood St Lawrence Island Eskimo woman. 93 sketches (numbers are listed on each drawing).
The woman's snowshirt is made of brightly colored calico or similar material.
This series of sketches was made by Florence Nupok, a full blooded St Lawrence Island married Eskimo woman, aged about 19, during the winter of 1927-8 at her camp at N. East Cape. I purchased the sketches because they were drawn from life and because they show so nicely the usual every day life of the St Lawrence Island Eskimo. The sketches are worth the money expended for them and I doubt that an other set is in existence made by a native on the spot as these were. It is almost impossible for a white person to do any sketching in the houses or homes of these natives as they will not stand for it under any condition, unless one is fortunate enough to be taken into their tribe. I shall of course try to obtain photographs where ever possible. I shall ask Nupok again to continue this work for me, and I think she will. I trust that the idea meets with your approval. In a few years all St Lawrence Island Eskimos will live in frame houses -- five were built last year -- four this year (1928) and the old customs will go the long trail and be forgotten. Modern kitchen ranges, stoves, coal oil heaters, and so on are replacing the famous and serviceable seal oil lamps, enamel pans, dishes, the old driftwood bowls and platters; aluminum tea kettles are replacing the good old Russian "Samovars", etc. Clothing is about the only thing that they cling to and for a very good reason, which is that the white man's clothing is not yet good enough to keep out the terrible winter's cold and for that reason, I too, adopt the native clothes, the only kind which is good enough to keep one warm. I shall list the sketches by numbers and will give the remarks...
Biographical / Historical:
Made during the winter (1927-1928) at her camp at North East Cape.
Florence Nupok is now Florence Malewotkuk, according to Dorothy Ray, 1968.
Series of sketches drawn from life by Florence Nupok, a full blood St Lawrence Island Eskimo woman. 93 sketches (numbers are listed on each drawing).
The woman's snowshirt is made of bright colored calico or similar material. The girl wears a dress under the snowshirt. However, from the fur collar around the neck we know that under the snowshirt she is wearing a reindeer fawnskin parka. When in the home the dresses made from store goods are not removed as were former clothes since it would take too long. Since it is customary to sit and lie on the floor many of the clothes are not always as clean as they might be. Only when members of the family retire in the evening or expect to be in the agra for a long time do they remove all their clothing. Usually the breech cloth is worn by school girls under bloomers which are similar to the kind used by modern white women but which are made from colorful material such as mattress ticking. These are worn showing below the dresses.
This series of sketches was made by Florence Nupok, a full blooded St Lawrence Island married Eskimo woman, aged about 19, during the winter of 1927-8 at her camp at N. East Cape. I purchased the sketches because they were drawn from life and because they show so nicely the usual every day life of the St Lawrence Island Eskimo. The sketches are worth the money expended for them and I doubt that an other set is in existence made by a native on the spot as these were. It is almost impossible for a white person to do any sketching in the houses or homes of these natives as they will not stand for it under any condition, unless one is fortunate enough to be taken into their tribe. I shall of course try to obtain photographs where ever possible. I shall ask Nupok again to continue this work for me, and I think she will. I trust that the idea meets with your approval. In a few years all St Lawrence Island Eskimos will live in frame houses -- five were built last year -- four this year (1928) and the old customs will go the long trail and be forgotten. Modern kitchen ranges, stoves, coal oil heaters, and so on are replacing the famous and serviceable seal oil lamps, enamel pans, dishes, the old driftwood bowls and platters; aluminum tea kettles are replacing the good old Russian "Samovars", etc. Clothing is about the only thing that they cling to and for a very good reason, which is that the white man's clothing is not yet good enough to keep out the terrible winter's cold and for that reason, I too, adopt the native clothes, the only kind which is good enough to keep one warm. I shall list the sketches by numbers and will give the remarks...
Biographical / Historical:
Made during the winter (1927-1928) at her camp at North East Cape.
Florence Nupok is now Florence Malewotkuk, according to Dorothy Ray, 1968.
Series of sketches drawn from life by Florence Nupok, a full blood St Lawrence Island Eskimo woman. 93 sketches (numbers are listed on each drawing).
The sleeves are bordered with dog fur while the collar also indicates that the reindeer fawnskin parka is worn underneath the snowshirt and directly over the school dress, probably with the hair worn outside.
This series of sketches was made by Florence Nupok, a full blooded St Lawrence Island married Eskimo woman, aged about 19, during the winter of 1927-8 at her camp at N. East Cape. I purchased the sketches because they were drawn from life and because they show so nicely the usual every day life of the St Lawrence Island Eskimo. The sketches are worth the money expended for them and I doubt that an other set is in existence made by a native on the spot as these were. It is almost impossible for a white person to do any sketching in the houses or homes of these natives as they will not stand for it under any condition, unless one is fortunate enough to be taken into their tribe. I shall of course try to obtain photographs where ever possible. I shall ask Nupok again to continue this work for me, and I think she will. I trust that the idea meets with your approval. In a few years all St Lawrence Island Eskimos will live in frame houses -- five were built last year -- four this year (1928) and the old customs will go the long trail and be forgotten. Modern kitchen ranges, stoves, coal oil heaters, and so on are replacing the famous and serviceable seal oil lamps, enamel pans, dishes, the old driftwood bowls and platters; aluminum tea kettles are replacing the good old Russian "Samovars", etc. Clothing is about the only thing that they cling to and for a very good reason, which is that the white man's clothing is not yet good enough to keep out the terrible winter's cold and for that reason, I too, adopt the native clothes, the only kind which is good enough to keep one warm. I shall list the sketches by numbers and will give the remarks...
Biographical / Historical:
Made during the winter (1927-1928) at her camp at North East Cape.
Florence Nupok is now Florence Malewotkuk, according to Dorothy Ray, 1968.
Local Numbers:
OPPS NEG.3106 D 93
Local Note:
Originally, snowshirts were primarily used to protect fur and feather parkas from blowing snow which would get under hair and feathers and after melting would cause them to come loose or "slip"; they were secondarily used for decorative purposes. The snowshirt is now worn at all times for the latter purpose. Women, particularly the younger ones, today would not feel "dressed up" without such a gaudy colored garment.
