To a considerable degree, the James H. Howard papers consist of manuscript copies of articles, book, speeches, and reviews that document his professional work in anthropology, ethnology, ethnohistory, archeology, linguistics, musicology, and folklore between 1950 and 1982. Among these are a few unpublished items. Notes are relatively scant, there being somewhat appreciable materials for the Chippewa, Choctaw, Creek, Dakota, Omaha, Ponca, Seminole, and Shawnee. The chief field materials represented in the collection are sound recordings and photographs, but many of the latter are yet to be unidentified. A series of color photographs of Indian artifacts in folders are mostly identified and represent the extensive American Indian Cultural collection of costumes and artifacts that Howard acquired and created. Other documents include copies of papers and other research materials of colleagues. There is very little original material related to archeological work in the collection and that which is present concerns contract work for the Lone State Steel Company.
Scope and Contents:
The James Henri Howard papers document his research and professional activities from 1949-1982 and primarily deal with his work as an anthropologist, archeologist, and ethnologist, studying Native American languages & cultures. The collection consists of Series 1 correspondence; Series 2 writings and research, which consists of subject files (language and culture research materials), manuscripts, research proposals, Indian claim case materials, Howard's publications, publications of others, and bibliographical materials; Series 3 sound recordings of Native American music and dance; Series 4 photographs; and Series 5 drawings and artwork.
Howard was also a linguist, musicologist, and folklorist, as well as an informed and able practitioner in the fields of dance and handicrafts. His notable books include Choctaw Music and Dance; Oklahoma Seminoles: Medicines, Magic, and Religion; and Shawnee! The Ceremonialism of a Native American Tribe and its Cultural Background.
Some materials are oversize, specifically these three Winter Count items: 1. a Dakota Winter Count made of cloth in 1953 at the request of James H. Howard, 2. a drawing of British Museum Winter Count on 4 sheets of paper, and 3. Photographs of a Winter Count.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged in 5 series: Series 1. Correspondence, 1960-1982, undated; Series 2. Writings and Research, 1824-1992; Series 3. Sound Recordings, 1960-1979; Series 4. Photographs, 1879-1985; Series 5. Drawings and Artwork, 1928-1982.
Chronology:
1925 -- James Henri Howard was born on September 10 in Redfield, South Dakota.
1949 -- Received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska.
1950 -- Received his Master of Arts from the University of Nebraska and began a prolific record of publishing.
1950-1953 -- Began his first professional employment as an archaeologist and preparator at the North Dakota State Historical Museum in Bismarck.
1955-1957 -- Was a museum lecturer at the Kansas City (Missouri) Museum.
1957 -- James H. Howard received his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Joined the staff of the Smithsonian's River Basin Surveys in the summer.
1957-1963 -- Taught anthropology at the University of North Dakota.
1962 -- Chief archeologist at the Fortress of Louisberg Archeological Project in Nova Scotia.
1963-1968 -- Taught anthropology at the University of South Dakota; State Archeologist of South Dakota; Director of the W. H. Over Dakota Museum.
1963-1966 -- Director of the Institute of Indian Studies, University of South Dakota.
1968-1982 -- Associate professor of anthropology at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater (became a full professor in 1971).
1979 -- Consulted for exhibitions at the Western Heritage Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.
1982 -- Died October 1 after a brief illness.
Biographical/Historical note:
James H. Howard was trained in anthropology at the University of Nebraska (B.A., 1949; M.A., 1950) and the University of Michigan (Ph.D., 1957). In 1950-1953, he served as archeologist and preparator at the North Dakota State Historical Museum; and, in 1955-1957, he was on the staff of the Kansas City (Missouri) Museum. During the summer of 1957, he joined the staff of the Smithsonian's River Basin Surveys. Between 1957 and 1963, he taught anthropology at the Universtity of North Dakota. Between 1963 and 1968, he served in several capacities with the University of South Dakota including assistant and associate professor, director of the Institute of Indian Studies (1963-1966), and Director of the W.H. Over Museum (1963-1968). In 1968, he joined the Department of Sociology at Oklahoma State University, where he achieved the rank of professor in 1970. In 1979, he was a consultant for exhibitions at the Western Heritage Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.
Howard's abiding interest were the people of North America, whom he studied both as an ethnologist and archeologist. Between 1949 and 1982, he worked with the Ponca, Omaha, Yankton and Yaktonai Dakota, Yamasee, Plains Ojibwa (or Bungi), Delaware, Seneca-Cayuga, Prairie Potatwatomi of Kansas, Mississipi and Oklahoma Choctaw, Oklahoma Seminole, and Pawnee. His interest in these people varied from group to group. With some he carried out general culture studies; with other, special studies of such phenomena as ceremonies, art, dance, and music. For some, he was interest in environmental adaptation and land use, the latter particularly for the Pawnee, Yankton Dakota, Plains Ojibwa, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, and Ponca, for which he served as consultant and expert witness in suits brought before the United Stated Indian Claims Commisssion. A long-time museum man, Howard was also interested in items of Indian dress, articles associated with ceremonies, and other artifacts. He was "a thoroughgoing participant-observer and was a member of the Ponca Hethuska Society, a sharer in ceremonial activities of many Plains tribes, and a first-rate 'powwow man'." (American Anthropologist 1986, 88:692).
As an archeologist, Howard worked at Like-a-Fishhook Village in North Dakota, Spawn Mound and other sites in South Dakota, Gavin Point in Nebraska and South Dakota, Weston and Hogshooter sites in Oklahoma, and the Fortess of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. He also conducted surveys for the Lone Star Steel Company in Haskall, Latimer, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties in Oklahoma.
Related Materials:
Howard's American Indian Cultural Collection of Costumes and Artifacts, that he acquired and created during his lifetime, is currently located at the Milwaukee Public Museum. In Boxes 19-21 of the James Henri Howard Papers, there are photographs with accompanying captions and descriptions in binders of his American Indian Cultural Collection of Costumes and Artifacts that his widow, Elfriede Heinze Howard, created in order to sell the collection to a museum.
Provenance:
These papers were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by James Henri Howard's wife,
Elfriede Heinz Howard, in 1988-1990, 1992, & 1994.
Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
Indians of North America -- Southern States Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound tape reels
Songs
Date:
probably 1979
Scope and Contents:
Singers: Adam Sampson, Ardis Mose, and Bienum Pickins. This recording has been published and is restricted.
MPM tape 6 includes: Choctaw Chickasaw Dance Songs from the Chocktaw-Chickasaw Heritage committee (Chairman: Buster Ned). Side One. 1. Jump Dance, by Adam Sampson; 2. Jump Dance, by Adam Sampson; 3. Tick or Walk Dance, by Adam Sampson; 4. Drunken Man Dance, by Ardis Mose. Side Two. 1. Garfish or Hard Fish Dance (Chickasaw Dance), by Bienum Pickins; 2. Drum or War Dance, by Ardis Mose; 3. Duck Dance, by Adam Simpson; 4. Snake Dance, by Adam Simpson.
Local Numbers:
Howard Sound Recording 6
Funding note:
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Collection Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
Indians of North America -- Southern States Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound tape reels
Date:
probably 1979
Scope and Contents:
Singers: Adam Sampson, Ardis Mose, and Bienum Pickins. This recording has been published and is restricted.
MPM tape 7 includes: Choctaw Chickasaw Dance Songs (volume two) from the Chocktaw-Chickasaw Heritage committee (Chairman: Buster Ned). Side One. 1. Jump Dance; 2. Doublehead Dance; 3. Stealing Partners; 4. Drunken Man Dance. Side Two. 1. Drunken Man Dance; 2. Drum or War Dance; 3. Drum or War Dance; 4. Memorial Song (Palata).
Local Numbers:
Howard Sound Recording 7
Funding note:
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Collection Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
Indians of North America -- Southern States Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound tape reels
Date:
circa 1965-1970
Scope and Contents:
Field recording by Claude Medford of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
MPM tape 10 includes: 1. Snake Dance (a capella); 2. House dance (violin, guitar, Choctaw version of quadrille); 3. House Dance (violin, guitar); 4. Jump Dance (a capella, men only); 5. Walk Dance (a capella, men and women); 6. Stealing Partners (a capella, men and women); 7. Jump Dance; 8. Drunken Man Dance, by Chouteu (a capella solo); 9. Turtle Dance (claves, men only); 10. Fast War Dance, by chanter (claves); 11. 'Four Step' War Dance, by chanter (claves); 12. Quail Dance (claves, men and women, counterpoint we ha yo yo by men only); 13. Friendship Dance (a capella); 14. Wedding Dance (claves, men and women); 15. Duck Dance (claves, men and women, quacking by dancers). Side Two. 1. Raccoon Dance (no claves, men and women); 2. Snake Dance (no claves, men and women). Note: This is tape 2 of 2 tapes. The other tape is unnumbered. See Howard Sound Recording 14.
Local Numbers:
Howard Sound Recording 10
Funding note:
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Collection Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
Indians of North America -- Southern States Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound tape reels
Date:
undated
Scope and Contents:
Field recording by Claude Medford of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Side One. 1. Mosquito dance or Raccoon dance (sung twice); 2. War dance (claves, bells); 3. Quail dance (claves, bells); 4. Duck dance (claves, bells); 5. Turtle dance (claves, bells); 6. Jump dance (bells); 7. Jump dance (bells); 8. Double Header (Hita Falams, bells); 9. Drunk Dance (bells); 10. Drunk Dance (bells); 11. Night Walk dance (a capella); 12. Snake dance (a capella). Side Two. 1. Creek Seminole type 'Crazy' or Stomp dance; 2. Creek Seminole type 'Crazy' or Stomp dance; 3. Creek Seminole type 'Crazy' or Stomp dance; 4. Creek Seminole type 'Crazy' or Stomp dance; 5. Creek Seminole type 'Crazy' or Stomp dance; 6. Creek Seminole Four-corner dance; 7. Four time stop dance; 8. Four time stop dance (claves, women singing); 9. Slow Jump dance; 10. Sunrise Walk dance (a capella); 11. Stealing Partners; 12. Jump dance (a capella); 13. Oval dance (no claves, male chanter solo); 14. Turtle dance (claves); 15. Mosquito dance (claves); 16. Duck dance (claves); 17. Raccoon dance (claves). Note: This is tape one of two tapes. See Howard Sound Recording 10.
Local Numbers:
Howard Sound Recording 14
Funding note:
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Collection Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
Indians of North America -- Southern States Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound tape reels
Place:
Bogue Chitto (Lincoln County, Miss.)
Philadelphia (Miss.)
Date:
1965
Scope and Contents:
Singers: Prentis Jackson, Ida May Frazier, Henry Joe, and Ouie Joe; Recorded at the Bogue Chitto School, near Philadelphia, Miss.
1. Raccoon dance, by Prentis Jackson and Ida May Frazier; 2. Tick or Walk Dance, by Prentis Jackson and Ida May Frazier; 3. Stealing Partners Dance, by Prentis Jackson and Ida May Frazier; 4. Jump Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 5. Tick or Walk Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 6. Drunken Man Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 7. Drunken Man Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 8. War Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 9. Starting Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 10. Jump Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 11. Snake Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 12. Tick or Walk Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe; 13. Turtle Dance, by Henry Joe and Ouie Joe. This is labeled tape 2. It probably goes with Howard Sound Recording 9.
Local Numbers:
Howard Sound Recording 15
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded at Bogue Chitto School near Philadelphia, Mississippi
Funding note:
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Collection Restrictions:
The James Henri Howard papers are open for research.
Access to the James Henri Howard papers requires an appointment.
The Albert Clanton Spaulding Papers consist of correspondence, field project data, manuscripts, and teaching notes documenting his work at the University of Michigan, University of California Santa Barbara, the National Science Foundation, and field work at the Arzberger Site and Agattu.
Scope and Contents:
The Albert Clanton Spaulding Papers consist of correspondence, field project data, manuscripts, and teaching notes documenting his work at the University of Michigan, University of California Santa Barbara, the National Science Foundation, and field work at the Arzberger Site and Agattu. Although it has been noted that there are significant and inexplicable lucunae in Spaulding's papers, they nevertheless touch on most phases of his professional life. There is, however, relatively little field material.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Arrangement:
1. Correspondence, 1948-1982; 2. manuscript of Spaulding writings; 3. material concerning students; 4. site reports and field project data; 4. material regarding conferences and committees; 6. material related to work as National Science Foundation archeology program director; 7. student notebooks and dissertation; 8. material regarding the Arzberger site; 9. administrative material regarding the University of Michigan; 10. academic papers collected by Spaulding, teaching aids, and lecture notes; 11. Philip C. Phillips and Gordon R. Willey file; 12. James A. Ford file; 13. correspondence regarding publications; 14. miscellany; 15. photographs
Biographical note:
Albert C. Spaulding was trained at Montana State University (B.A. in economics, 1935), the University of Michigan (M.A. in ahthropology, 1937), and Columbia University (Ph.D., 1946). In 1946-1947, he taught at the University of Kansas and was an assistant curator at the university's Museum of Anthropology. From 1947-1961, he taught at the University of Michigan and was curator of that university's Museum of Anthropology. In 1959-1961, Spaulding was first program director for the History and Philosophy of Science Program of the National Science Foundation and the NAS program director for anthropology. In 1963-1966, he was professor and chairman of the anthropology department at the University of Oregon. In 1967-1971, he became dean of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California at Santa Barbara and continued at that institution as professor of anthropology until 1983. Spaulding served the Society for Amercian Archeology as associate editor, secretary, vice president, and president. In 1964, he was vice president for Section H of American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Although Spaulding carried out several significant field projects, he is best rememberd for his theoretical and methodological concerns. In relating his first archeological field work, he declared: "My fundamental interest at the time (and now) was clarification of the basic concepts of archeology, which led me into explicit definitions of archaeological problems in terms of relationship between or among well-defined variables." Spaulding produced many articles and book reviews in which he dealt with such problems. Some of the best-known appeared in the pages of American Antiquity in 1953 and 1954 when be debated James A. Ford in general terms concerning teh most productive methods of archeology in general and the nature of archeological types and methods of defining them in particular. Because of his espousal of rigor in method, Spaulding is considered on of the main forerunners of the "new archeology" of the 1960s. For his work, he received the SAA distinguished Service Award in 1981.
Restrictions:
The Albert Clanton Spaulding papers are open for research.
Access to the Albert Clanton Spaulding papers requires an appointment.
