The National Congress of America Indians (NCAI), which describes itself as the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaskan Native organization in the United States, was founded on November 16, 1944, in Denver, CO and is still active today. NCAI was founded to serve as a link between individual tribal councils and the United States government but also aimed to educate the general public about Indians, preserve Indian cultural values, protect treaty rights with the United States, and promote Indian welfare. This collection of National Congress of America Indians Audio and Film Recordings contains materials created by and for NCAI to maintain a record of organizational proceedings and events between 1952 and 1997. Recorded in various formats, the bulk of this collection is on 1/4" open reel to reel tapes and sound cassettes. The events represented in this collection include annual and mid-year conventions, executive council meetings, congressional hearings, intertribal institutes and a variety of workshops and meetings regarding economic, civil and educational issues facing indian country.
Scope and Contents:
This collection of National Congress of America Indians Audio and Film Recordings contains materials created by and for NCAI to maintain a record of organizational proceedings and events between 1952 and 1997. Recorded in various formats, the bulk of this collection is on 1/4" open reel to reel tapes and sound cassettes. The collection also contains smaller numbers of EIAJ open reel videotapes, U-Matic, VHS and Hi-8 videocassettes and well as dictaphone belts and audio cartridges. The first series in this collection contains audio recordings from NCAI annual and mid-year convetions held in different locations all over the United States. The second series includes events hosted by NCAI or attended by NCAI representatives. These include executive council meetings, congressional hearings, intertribal institutes and a variety of workshops and meetings regarding economic, civil and educational issues facing indian country. Several larger events include the Arizona Intertribal Institute (1955), The National Indian Policy Conference (1974), LEAA Conference (1978), Environmental Protection Hearings and Seminars (1988) and the Senate Indian Affairs Special Investigations Subcommittee meetings (1989). A conference held in 1993 also documents the early history of NCAI with speakers such as Helen Peterson, John Rainer and Erma Hicks Walz.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into three series and chronologically within each series. Series 1: Annual and Mid-Year Conventions, 1953-1989, Series 2: Chronological Events, 1952-1997, and Series 3: Commercial Audio/Video, 1972-1989.
Biographical / Historical:
The National Congress of America Indians, which describes itself as the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaskan Native organization in the United States, was founded on November 16, 1944, in Denver, CO. NCAI was intended to serve as a link between individual tribal councils and the United States government, by defining and helping to crystallize Indian thought on the administration of Indian affairs. The Congress also aimed to educate the general public about Indians, preserve Indian cultural values, protect treaty rights with the United States, and promote Indian welfare.
At the first convention, delegates representing fifty tribes ratified the constitution and by-laws, drafted resolutions determining the direction of NCAI policy, and elected the organizations' first officers, with Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) as president. The officers, as well as eight elected council members, formed the Executive Council. The Council chose the Executive Director; Ruth Muskrat Bronson (Cherokee) was the organization's first director, from 1944-1948. "Persons of Indian blood" could join the organization either as individuals or as groups. In 1955, however, the constitution was revised to restrict group membership to recognized tribes, committees, or bands, and to make the Executive Council chosen by tribal representatives. These changes gave control of the organization to governing bodies of organized tribes, rather than individuals. A further amendment that year created a five-member Executive Committee, headed by the president, which had all the powers of the Executive Council between council meetings.
Conventions have been held annually in the fall since the formation of the NCAI in 1944. Since 1977, mid-year conferences have been held in May or June of each year, to allow more frequent and thorough discussion of issues. The resolutions passed at these conventions are the basis for all policy of the Executive Committee and Executive Director between meetings. The conventions are also used for informational sessions and meetings of standing and special committees of NCAI. One or two-day workshops may also be held on special topics or Congressional issues of particular concern.
NCAI created a tax-exempt arm in 1949 to accept charitable contributions and apply for grants, the NCAI Fund, which soon changed its name to ARROW, Inc. By 1957, however, ARROW had split off to become an independent organization, and NCAI started a new arm, again called the NCAI Fund. In the coming decades, the NCAI Fund would obtain grants from sources including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Veteran Affairs, Indian Health Service, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Ford Foundation, humanities councils and others, which they used for conferences, workshops, publications, and other projects.
In its early years, NCAI fought for the recognition of land claims of Alaska natives, the enfranchisement of Arizona and New Mexico Indians, the equitable settlement of tribal land claims, and the right of Indians to select their own attorneys. The NCAI lobbied vigorously for an Indian Claims Commission Bill, which became law in August 1946. NCAI's lobbying efforts on behalf of this act set the pattern for the organization's future role in legislative matters: keeping member tribes abreast of proposed legislation and ascertaining their views, and maintaining a presence in Congress through lobbying and testimony.
Beginning in 1954, the threat of termination pushed NCAI into a period of increased activity. Although some tribes were ready to terminate their relationship with the federal government, much of Indian Country felt threatened by the government's new stated policy. NCAI therefore organized an Emergency Conference of American Indians for February 1954 to protest this new termination policy. An agreement was forged at the conference between the NCAI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work together toward slowly liquidating the BIA. The termination period of the 1950s and 1960s, while challenging, saw NCAI increase in confidence and political acumen.
During the 1960s, a number of other activist Indian groups sprang up and began to dilute the singular influence which NCAI had commanded. Newer, more militant groups often considered themselves at odds with NCAI, which was increasingly perceived as conservative. As the number of Indian advocacy groups grew in the 1960s and 1970s, however, NCAI actively partnered with other organizations, particularly the National Tribal Chairmen's Association (NTCA) and Native American Rights Fund (NARF), on a variety of projects.
Charles E. "Chuck" Trimble (Oglala Dakota) served as Executive Director of NCAI in 1972 until 1977, when he resigned to lead the United Effort Trust, a project designed to fight white backlash to Indian rights. NCAI spent most of the next two years trying to find another permanent director. In 1979, Ronald P. Andrade (Luiseno-Diegueno) joined NCAI and unfortunately found a group that was demoralized and underfunded. He was able to return the organization to good health but left in 1982. Si Whitman (Nez Perce), his successor, remained at NCAI for less than a year.
Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne-Creek) became director of NCAI on May 1, 1984. Prior to taking this postions, she had served as Congressional Liaison for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior during the Carter administration and as legislative liaison for the Native American Rights Fund, as well as working for NCAI during the mid-1970s. Harjo was also an active and published poet, as well as a frequent speaker at events around the country. The National Congress of American Indians was particularly active on Capitol Hill while Harjo was director, advocating for government-to-government status, the Tribal Government Tax Status Act of 1983, repatriation legislation, and economic development programs, among other issues. Harjo was herself very involved in the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
The NCAI Fund was very successful in receiving grants during this period, although they were chronically short of operating funds. Some of their most active projects during this period were the Indian and Native Veterans Outreach Program (INVOP), Inter-generational Health Promotion and Education Program (IHPEP), Environmental Handbook and related educational seminars, Solar Bank, nuclear waste disposal and transportation information sessions, and voter registration.
For years, NCAI's operating expenses had been funded by the Ford Foundation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1985, the director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, opposing the use of Federal monies to support outside organizations, began to block the payment for services due to the NCAI. This created a financial crisis from which the NCAI did not recover during Harjo's tenure, and it became the major issue for which she was not rehired in October 1989.
Following the 1989 Annual Convention, Wayne Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux) became President of NCAI and A. Gay Kingman (Cheyenne River Sioux) was appointed Executive Director. Their first efforts were focused on recovering the financial well-being of the organization, which meant that less attention was devoted to issues in Congress. One of the successful projects NCAI pursued during the next two years was organization and presentation of the Indian pre-conference of the White House Conference on Library and Information Science, which was held in early 1991.
The National Congress of American Indians is still active today, continuing its work of lobbying, support for tribal governments, and advocacy for American Indian issues.
Related Materials:
Other collections at the NMAI Archives Center that include information on the National Congress of American Indians include:
National Congress of American Indians records,1933-1990 (NMAI.AC.010)
Arrow, Inc., and the American Indian Tribal Court Judges records, 1949-1999 (NMAI.AC.013) James E. Curry papers, 1935-1955 (NMAI.AC.015) National Tribal Chairmen's Association records, 1971-1978 (NMAI.AC.014) Helen L. Peterson papers, 1944-1992 (NMAI.AC.016) Reuben Snake papers, 1971-1996 (NMAI.AC.012)
Provenance:
The National Congress of American Indians designated the National Anthropological Archives (NAA) as its official repository in 1976. It was transferred from NAA to the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center in 2006.
Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Rights:
Permission to publish or broadbast materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Topic:
Indians of North America -- Civil rights Search this
Indians of North America -- Economic conditions -- 20th century Search this
Indians of North America -- Government relations Search this
Indians of North America -- Social conditions -- 20th century Search this
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); National Congress of American Indians Audio and Film Recordings, Box Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
This accession consists of correspondence, memoranda, and other planning documents pertaining to Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) biennial meetings and symposia.
Also included are some photographs and a collection of oral histories on video and audiocassette tapes. Membership files are also included in this accession.
Smithsonian Resident Associate Program. Office of the Director Search this
Extent:
13.5 cu. ft. (13 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1973-1984
Descriptive Entry:
These records document many aspects of the management and functions of the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program (RAP). Administrative records include budget files
and documentation of registration, travel, security, and parking issues. Program records contain files on symposia, seminars, receptions, classes, and performances offered
by RAP; events associated with exhibitions and commemorations; international activities; and publicity. In addition, the records describe the development of RAP publications
such as catalogs, calendars, posters, and prints. This record unit also includes files on cooperative projects with the National Science Foundation.
Photograph by Acme Photo. Men and women seated at several banquet tables in a large room draped in patriotic bunting at Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit.
Arrangement:
In Series 12, Box 3, Folder Rizk, Victor.
Local Numbers:
AC0078-0000085 (AC Scan)
86-6079 (OPS neg no)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
No access restrictions. Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
1 Item (Silver gelatin on paper,, 3-1/2" x 5-5/8".)
Container:
Box 10, Item 1.7.730
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Postcards
Picture postcards
Date:
Circa 1910
Scope and Contents:
Image 3" x 4-5/8". Photographic postcard showing a brass band in formation (marching?), playing at the Six Counties Firemen Convention, in an unidentified American city. No message or maker identification on verso.
Local Numbers:
AC0253-0000002 (AC Scan)
87-14075 (OIPP Neg. No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Interdisciplinary Studies Search this
Extent:
6 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Black-and-white photographs
Date:
circa 1978-1991
Descriptive Entry:
The records include correspondence, memoranda, announcements, publication contracts, photographs, grant information, lecture agreements, reports, brochures, research
materials, resumes, and publication information for the following symposia: Kin and Communities: The Peopling of America; Constitutional Roots, Rights, and Responsibilities;
World Food Prize; The Muses Flee Hitler; Man and Beast Revisited; Road after 1984: High Technology and Human Freedom; and The United States in the World. The records were
maintained by Wilton S. Dillon, Director of the Division of Seminars, 1969-1970; Director of the Office of Seminars, 1971-1974; Director of the Office of Symposia and Seminars,
1974-1987; and Director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, 1987-1989. The records were also maintained by Carla M. Borden an assistant, specialist, Deputy Director,
Associate Director, and Acting Director of the Office from 1976 to 1992.
Topic:
Interdisciplinary approach in education Search this
Statue of Liberty revisited: making a universal symbol (Monograph)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Interdisciplinary Studies Search this
Extent:
12 cu. ft. (12 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Books
Brochures
Clippings
Manuscripts
Black-and-white photographs
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Date:
1987-1993
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records created by Neil G. Kotler as Special Assistant to the Director, Special Assistant, and Program Specialist of the Office of Interdisciplinary
Studies (OIS). They document Kotler's work on programs sponsored by OIS, particularly his coordination of four international colloquia on food, nutrition, and agriculture
that were held annually at the Smithsonian Institution from 1987 to 1990 in conjunction with the awarding of the World Food Prize. Materials include the correspondence and
memoranda of Neil G. Kotler and Wilton S. Dillon; event schedules and programs for the colloquia and awards ceremonies; the published proceedings of each colloquium; calls
for papers and manuscripts of papers; correspondence, curricula vitae, and background information concerning participants and prize winners; internal memoranda and budgets;
and contact sheets of award ceremony and reception photographs.The records also document other symposia and projects sponsored by OIS, and consist of programs, papers, participant
files, correspondence and memoranda regarding event planning, and background information on program topics. The symposia include: "Afro-Americans and the Evolution of a Living
Constitution," "Les Droits de l'Homme and Scientific Progress," "Constitutional Roots, Rights, and Responsibilities," "Science Education: A Challenge for Excellence in America's
Future," and a series of research seminars for Smithsonian Institution (SI) staff held from October 1990 to December 1991. Other projects that are documented here are "The
Statue of Liberty Revisited" book project and two video programs produced by OIS in association with the Close Up Foundation.
National Museum of American History. Division of Information Technology and Society Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Pamphlets
Compact discs
Electronic records
Color photographs
Date:
1988-2009
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the records of Michelle Anne Delaney, Associate Curator of photography, which document her curatorial and professional activities in the
Division of Information Technology and Society, and, prior to 1995, the Division of Photographic History. Other staff represented in the records include curators Eugene Ostroff
and Mary K. Grassick, as well as museum technician Sandra A. Babbidge. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, and notes; proposals; symposium, committee, and special
program information; publications; collections management and research grant information; photographs; an agreement; and pamphlets. Some materials are in electronic format.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 19-233, National Museum of American History. Division of Information Technology and Society, Curatorial Records
This accession consists of records that document the first through the eighth International Theriological Congress meetings. Locations for meetings include Moscow (1974),
Brno (1978), Helsinki (1982), Edmonton (1985), Rome (1989), Sydney (1993), Acapulco (1997), and Sun City, South Africa (2001). Also included is the unsuccessful proposal for
Beijing to host the 1993 meeting. In addition, there is one folder of Steering Committee records.
Records documenting the ninth meeting in Sapporo, Japan, in 2005 (Accession 06-049) have been interfiled into this collection. This is the first meeting since the name
change to the International Mammalogical Congress. Beginning with the congress in 2005, the International Theriological Congress will be known as the International Mammalogical
Congress. The name change was decided at the 2001 congress in Sun City, South Africa. Originally, the word "theriological" was adopted at the first congress in Moscow (1974)
because it was the term used by the Russians and other Eastern European countries when referring to the study of mammals. The term "mammalogical" was adopted at the 2001 congress
because it is more universally recognized name for the discipline.
Materials include correspondence, program book, overhead transparencies, agendas, itineraries, brochures, invitations, and other related materials.
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Search this
Names:
Political Machines: Innovations in Campaigns and Elections (November 2-3, 2012) Search this
Extent:
1 Gigabyte
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Mp3
Born digital
Date:
2012-11-02-2012-11-03
Scope and Contents:
Records of a symposium held by the National Museum of American History's Lemelson Center, November 2-3, 2012. The symposium featured speakers and panel discussions. Participants were Arthur Molella, David Schwartz, Joyce Bedi, Darrell M. West, Jon Grinspan, Zephyr Teachout, Eric S. Hintz, Sarah E. Igo, Joh Cohen, William L. Bird, David Beker, Thad E. Hall and Jeffrey L. Brodie.
Collection made for the the National Museum of American History by Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Please contact the Archives Center for information on how to access.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
This accession consists of records that document the activities, history, membership, meetings, and publications of the American Arachnological Society (AAS). People
represented include Vincent D. Roth and Allen Dean. Of particular note are the materials related to the Spider Genera of North America Revision Team and the culmination of
their work in the AAS publication, Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, meeting programs and proceedings,
meeting minutes, images, video recordings, posters, articles, and clippings. Some materials are in electronic format.
Rights:
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2034; Transferring office; 07/18/1986 Deed of Gift; Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Provost Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1991-1997
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the records of Neil G. Kotler, Program Specialist, that document his involvement in the preparation and planning for the sesquicentennial
celebration of the Smithsonian Institution. The records primarily include correspondence and memoranda pertaining to 150th Anniversary Program Committee activities, Steering
Committee funding proposals, Scholarly Leadership Project panels, and the Young Collectors on the Mall program. Materials also include records that document symposiums, education
and public programs, and electronic media outreach.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
9 cu. ft. (9 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Black-and-white photographs
Manuscripts
Audiotapes
Date:
1973-1979
Descriptive Entry:
The records, kept by Wilton S. Dillon, consist of correspondence, memoranda, background research material, invitations, brochures, resumes, photographs, grant information,
publication contracts, symposia schedules, and other administrative records for the following events: the Nature of Scientific Discovery symposium celebrating the 500th anniversary
of the birth of Copernicus, the Outlook for Space symposium, the United States in the World symposium, the Kin and Community: the Peopling of America symposium, and a number
of activities celebrating the centennial of the birth of Albert Einstein.
Historical Note:
During the period 1973 to 1979, Wilton S. Dillon was director of the Office of Symposia and Seminars.
Topic:
Interdisciplinary approach in education Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Videotapes
Date:
1987
Descriptive Entry:
These records consist of videotapes documenting the 200th Anniversary of the Constitution of the United States. They were made in conjunction with the symposium "Constitutional
Roots, Rights, and Responsibilities."
Topic:
Interdisciplinary approach in education Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
6 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Manuscripts
Black-and-white photographs
Date:
circa 1971-1984
Descriptive Entry:
This collection includes correspondence, memoranda, brochures, announcements, background materials, audiotapes, videotapes, grant contracts, program reports, reading
files, schedules, photographs, and expense reports concerning the following symposia: Kin and Communities: The Peopling of America; Family Policy Forum; Festival of India;
Man and Beast Revisited; Road after 1984: High Technology and Human Freedom, and The Nature of Scientific Discovery. This record unit also contains information about the High
School Scholars at the Smithsonian program.
Topic:
Interdisciplinary approach in education Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
4 cu. ft. (4 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1978-1986
Descriptive Entry:
These records include correspondence, memoranda, purchase orders, budget reports, addresses, invitations, brochures, lectures, fundraising information, announcements,
lecturer files, and program plans for the following symposia: "The Muses Flee Hitler;" "Man and Beast Revisited;" "Festival of India;" and "Road after 1984: High Technology
and Human Freedom."
Topic:
Interdisciplinary approach in education Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
11 cu. ft. (11 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Clippings
Brochures
Date:
1973-2004
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records created and maintained by Wilton Dillon, Director, documenting the planning and execution of symposia and seminars sponsored by the
Smithsonian Institution. Some records also document the general history of the Office of Symposia and Seminars. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, planning documents,
flyers, papers, biographical information on presenters, participant lists, schedules, handouts, proposals, clippings, press packets, calls for papers, budgets, photographs,
and related materials.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Symposia and Seminars Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Pamphlets
Date:
1969-1987
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of publications associated with symposia and seminars sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. Symposia and seminars documented in this accession
include "Constitutional Roots, Rights, and Responsibilities;" "Outlook for Space;" "How Humans Adapt: A Biocultural Odyssey;" "The Muses Flee Hitler;" "Kin and Communities:
The Peopling of America;" "Canvas of Culture: Rediscovery of the Past as Adaptation for the Future;" and "The United States in the World." Materials include programs, pamphlets,
reports, calendars, and press reviews.
