Photographs documenting life in Bali and Java. These include images of people, street scenes, agriculture, scenic views, and ancient sites. Many of the lantern slides are copies of prints in the collection and some were hand-colored by Dorothy Rankin.
Biographical/Historical note:
Emanuel George Zies (1884-1981) was a chemist for the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, where he pursued research in geochemical volcanology starting in 1913. He participated in the Carnegie Institution-National Geographic Society 1919 expedition to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in southern Alaska and he studied volcanoes in Indonesia and Central America in the 1920s and 1930s.
The personal papers of Robert "Bob" and Louise Koke consist of 2.4 cubic feet and document the couple's years traveling and living in Asia before, during, and after World War II. The bulk of the material is from 1935 through 1949 and consists of correspondence, a travel diary, financial documents, and photographs. The papers concern their initial travels through Asia, their time running a hotel in Bali, Bob's military service in Sri Lanka and India during World War II, and their experiences in Shanghai after the war and before the Communist takeover of China, with a small number additional materials from the period following their return to the United States.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Robert and Louise Koke measure 2.4 cubic feet and date from 1933 to 1992, with the bulk of the material dating from between 1935 and 1949. The collection consists of correspondence, financial documents, Louise's travel diary from 1935-1936, and photographic material from their travels.
The correspondence is mainly between Bob and/or Louise Koke and Bob's family, including his parents, John and Neltha Koke, and sister, Dorothy, or a mixture of the three. Almost all letters are from Bob and/or Louise to Bob's family; the family's responses are not included. Their correspondence is almost exclusively from Bob and Louise's time in Asia, although there are some from when they were in the USA. They spent time in Japan, China, Singapore, and Indonesia, and Bob was in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during World War II. Finally, they spent the years immediately following the war in Shanghai. Their departure from Asia marks the end of the bulk of the correspondence. The rest of the letters are to or from a mixture of correspondents outside the family. A few poems and short stories written by Louise are also among the correspondence.
Financial documents pertaining to Bob and Louise's purchases abroad and their dealings selling Balinese goods to MGM make up the financial documents series.
Louise's travel diary documents a portion of their travels in 1935-1936, from their arrival in Japan to partway through their time in China.
Photographic material includes photographs taken by Bob in Japan, China, and Indonesia. Most appear to have been taken between 1935 and 1949. They depict local sites, people, and cultural events.
Biographical / Historical:
Robert "Bob" Koke was born in 1910 in Pasadena, California to Neltha and John Koke. He worked in the Production Department at MGM and was a tennis professional. Louise was born Louise Gignoux on May 25, 1897 in New York City. She was a painter. Robert and Louise Koke travelled to Asia in late 1935, touring Japan before visiting China, Singapore, and Bali. The Kokes arrived in Bali in 1936 and decided to stay. They opened Kuta Beach Hotel with Muriel "Manx" Pearson and spent the next five years growing their hotel, living among and observing the local population and their traditions. The Kokes fled Bali on the last boat out of the island in 1941 due to the threat of Japanese invasion.
Shortly thereafter, Bob joined US Army Intelligence and was sent to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he trained agents in Indonesian languages and culture to go undercover in the Japanese-controlled country. He remained with the military after the war and joined the CIA in 1947 when it was founded. He and Louise were based in Shanghai from 1946 until 1949, when they were forced to leave due to the Communist takeover of the country. Upon their return to the United States, following a brief sojourn in Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) and Japan, Bob continued to work with the CIA until his retirement in the mid-1970s. Louise died in 1992, Bob in 1996.
During his travels, Bob took numerous photographs of local sites, people, and their traditions. His photos of Balinese traditional culture before the island was overrun by tourists are of particular interest. He and Louise also kept up consistent contact with his parents during their time abroad, noting their perspective on aspects of local Balinese traditions, their way of life in Bali, the many and varied guests they had, and local and international happenings of the time.
Provenance:
Gift of BASAbali.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
Rights:
Permission to reproduce and publish an item from the Archives is coordinated through the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery's Rights and Reproductions department. Please contact the Archives in order to initiate this process.
108 The Red Mountain Ash / Rosa Jouk, Lioudmilla Tchijouk, Maria Dorodko. Ukrainian language.
109 Round: Spring Dance / Tatiana Orlenin, Nadeshda Shogol.
110 Slow melody from Thrace / Ianka Rupkina. Bulgarian language.
111 Zauerl (sung in the Inn) / Ernst Pfa.ndler.
112 Three katajjait from Baffin Land / Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Quanak Martha Meekeega, Napache Samaejuk Pootogook, Napache Etidloie Toonoo.
113 Roiroa (women's song).
114 Buyeni: Kamwana kamwani (Somebody's little child)/ Kaya wiyo / Chewa dialect.
115 Nagara- Music of the Blue Nile Province / Lyre,Gourd.
116 Dikoboda sombe (Hut song).
117 Ulepa.
118 Ye zame andero (war chant).
119 Song for grinding millet.
Local Numbers:
UN-COMM-CD-08102-9
UNESCO.8104
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Paris, France Audivis 1972
General:
Commercial
Compact disc. Compilation of songs recorded worldwide, sung in their original languages. Previously released. Program notes in English and French (15 p.) inserted in container.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.
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.
Previously released material, p1971-1999. Program notes and song texts in English and French (19 p.) inserted in container. Compact disc.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.
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.
Co.te d'ivoire: Music of a guardian spirit (3:52) --Benin: Music in praise of Oru Suru (4:16) --Niger: Pakapaka (1:25) --Central African Republic: Nzombi (:55) --Eci ameya (1:44) -- Sudan: Al shammasha (1:57) --Yemen: Hakfat (3:41) -- Afghanistan: Chaharrbaiti (2;43) --Badakhshan: Uyman tartur, oyimcha, takanja dandun nars (1:10) --Uzbekistan: Hafif-i saga.h (4:42) --Kurdish music: Mawai wa ragsa (4:13) -- India: Svara mandala (3:04) --Laos: Lot fay tay lang (3:07) -- Viet nam: Improvised prelud in the modal nuance Bac of the Bac mode followed by the two short pieces Binh ban van and Kim tien (3:21) --Cambodia: Bāt phléng khiong & saray andèt (3:04) --Java: Tarawangsa (4:48) --Bali: Gambang suling (4:49) --Solomon Islands: Faa ta gwouna (1:48) -- Brazil: Aije (1:54).
Track Information:
101 Côte d'ivoire: Music of a guardian spirit / Bells,Rattle (Musical instrument).
102 Benin: Music in praise of Oru Suru / Trumpet,Drum,Kakaki.
114 Viet nam: Improvised prelud in the modal nuance Bac of the Bac mode followed by the two short pieces Binh ban van and Kim tien / Bao, Va.n Khe. Tra.rn.. Dan tranh,Zither,Dan ty ba.
116 Java: Tarawangsa / Pak Supria, Pak Amat.. Kacapi (Lute),Tarawangsa (Fiddle).
117 Bali: Gambang suling / Lebah. Flute,Gong.
118 Solomon Islands: Faa ta gwouna / Panpipes.
119 Brazil: Aije.
Local Numbers:
UNESCO.8105
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Paris, France Audivis 1971
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Brazil, Solomon Islands, Bali (Indonesia : Province), Indonesia, Java (Indonesia), Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, BadakhshaÕon (Afghanistan), Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Central African Republic, Niger, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire.
General:
Commercial
Compact disc. Compilation of music recorded worldwide, songs sung in their original languages. Previously released. Program notes in English and French (14 p.) inserted in container.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. SI Permission.
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.
Court music of the Puri of Peliatan. Sekar Jepun (6:43) --Baris (5:15) --Gambang Suling (6:50) --Pendet (4:41) -- Tari terompong (6:47). --Court music of the banjar of Belaluan Sadmerta. Palewakia (3:59) --Legong kraton (25:12)
Track Information:
101 Court music of the Puri of Peliatan. Sekar Jepun / Gong.
102 Baris / Gong.
103 Gambang Suling / Gong.
104 Pendet / Gong.
105 Tari terompong / Gong.
106 Court music of the banjar of Belaluan Sadmerta. Palewakia / Gong.
107 Legong kraton / Gong.
Local Numbers:
UNESCO.8059
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Paris, France Audivis 1971
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Indonesia, Bali (Indonesia : Province).
General:
Commercial
Sacred and dance music. Compact disc. Previously released as analog disc, 1971 (Philips: 6586 008). Program notes by Jacques Brunet, in English and French (7 p.) inserted in container
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. SI Permission.
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.
