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Acee Blue Eagle papers

Creator:
Blue Eagle, Acee, 1907-1959  Search this
Names:
Abbott, Mae  Search this
Beaver, Fred  Search this
Bosin, Blackbear, 1921-1980  Search this
Campbell, Walter S.  Search this
Dale, Edward E.  Search this
Debo, Angie, 1890-1988  Search this
Dja, Devi  Search this
Echohawk, Brummett T., 1922-2006  Search this
Fairbanks, Charles H. (Charles Herron), 1913-1985  Search this
Feder, Norman  Search this
Field, Dorothy  Search this
Gilcrease, Thomas, 1890-1962  Search this
Houser, Allan, 1914-1994  Search this
Howe, Oscar, 1915-1983  Search this
Jackson, Oscar B.  Search this
Lemos, Pedro de  Search this
Marriott, Alice  Search this
Martinez, Julian, -1943  Search this
Martínez, María Montoya  Search this
McCombs, Solomon, 1913-1980  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph, 1913-2016  Search this
Mirabel, Eva  Search this
Momaday, Al  Search this
Pond, Charles E.  Search this
Rowan, Edward B.  Search this
Shears, Glen E.  Search this
Sheets, Nan  Search this
Steinke, Bettina, 1913-1999  Search this
Sunrise, Riley  Search this
Te Ata  Search this
Whitehorse, Roland Noah, 1920-1998  Search this
Extent:
673 Paintings (visual works) (approximate)
30 Linear feet (55 document boxes and 8 oversize boxes)
Culture:
Muskogee (Creek)  Search this
Indians of North America -- Southeast  Search this
Indians of North America -- Great Plains  Search this
Chaticks Si Chaticks (Pawnee)  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Paintings (visual works)
Date:
1907 - 1975
Summary:
Acee Blue Eagle was a Pawnee-Creek artist, poet, dancer, teacher, and celebrity. The papers relate to both Blue Eagle's personal and professional life. Also included are some materials of Blue Eagle's friend Mae Abbott and a collection of art by other Indians.
Scope and Contents:
This collection reflects the life and work of Acee Blue Eagle, internationally famed Indian artist of Oklahoma. Identified for his brilliant paintings of tribal ceremonies, legend and dance, Blue Eagle's work is represented in numerous private collections and museums both in this country and abroad.

A portion of the papers contains correspondence. Fan mail written by school children to Chief Blue Eagle of the Chief Blue Eagle television program is included. Letters regarding Blue Eagle's participation in Indian festivals and events, art shows and exhibitions, speaking engagements on Indian life and culture are found in the collection. Personal correspondence is included; most frequent correspondents are Devi Dja, Mae Abbott, and Charles E. Pond. There are approximately 100 letters from Devi Dja, approximately 90 to or from Mae Abbott, and approximately 36 from Charles E. Pond. Some letters addressed to these individuals from other friends and acquaintances are also within this collection.

Photographs comprise a large portion of the Blue Eagle collection. Included are not only portraits of the artist himself and photographs of his art work, but a large number of prints of Blue Eagle in full costume and other Indians engaged in tribal ceremonies, identified by tribe, whenever possible. Photographs of Mae Abbott, Devi Dja and the latter's Balinese dance troupe are identified. A file of negatives is arranged in the same subject order as the prints. Newspaper and magazine clippings regarding Blue Eagle's work and activities are also included in the collection. These clippings have not been arranged. In addition, Mae Abbott's recipes and notes for her cookbook, wood blocks, greeting cards and other miscellaneous publications can be found in the collection. These items have been sorted but not arranged.

Within the collection are also over 600 pieces of artwork. A good number are by Blue Eagle while most are by other Native artists. Artists whose are work are represented in the collection include Fred Beaver, Harrison Begay, Archie Blackowl, Woodrow Crumbo, Allan Houser, Ruthe Blalock Jones, Quicy Tahoma, Pablita Verde, and members of the Kiowa Five (Spencer Asah, James Auchiah, Stephen Mopope, Monroe Tsatoke).
Arrangement note:
The collection is arranged into six series: 1) Personal; 2) Collections; 3) Artwork; 4) Television; 5) Correspondence; 6) Photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
Acee Blue Eagle was an artist, poet, dancer, teacher, and celebrity. Born Alex C. McIntosh in 1907, Blue Eagle attended Indian schools in Anadarko, Nuyaka, and Euchee, Oklahoma, and the Haskell and Chilocco Indian schools. Advanced study came at Bacone Indian College and the University of Oklahoma. At the latter, he studied with Oscar B. Jacobson. Privately he studied with Winold Reiss. Discrepancies exist in the records regarding his early life: born in either Anadarko or Hitchita, Oklahoma; he's cited as both Pawnee-Creek and 5/8 Creek without any Pawnee blood; his mother is either Mattie Odom, the first wife of Solomon McIntosh or Ella Starr, McIntosh's second wife.

A prolific painter who, for the sake of authenticity, carried out research in libraries and museums, Blue Eagle was an outstanding American Indian artist of the 1930s-1950s. His paintings hung in many exhibits, including the Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts, 1932-1933; International Art Exhibition of Sport Subjects at Los Angeles, 1932; Chicago Century of Progress Exposition, 1934; a one-man show at the Young Galleries in Chicago; National Exhibition of Art at the Rockefeller Center in New York, 1936; a one-man show at the Washington, D.C., Arts Club, 1936; Museum of Modern Art, 1941; Northwest Art Exhibition at Spokane, Washington, 1944; a one-man show at the Gilcrease Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1953; An Exposition of American Indian Painters in New York, 1955; and a one-man show at the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, 1957. Between 1946 and 1965, over fifty galleries hung his paintings. Some pieces are among the permanent holdings of many institutions.

In 1934, Blue Eagle joined the Work Projects Administration (WPA) Public Works of Art Project, painting murals in public buildings. In 1935 at Oxford University, he participated in a program of the International Federation of Education and lectured on Indian art. A tour of Europe followed. He taught at Bacone Indian College from 1935-1938 where he founded the art program and became Director of Art. He also taught at the University of Kansas extension division in 1949 and Oklahoma State Technical College beginning in 1956. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Force; and, following the war, he spent a few years attempting to get into the movies. During 1946-1952, he was married to his second wife, a famous Balinese dancer, Devi Dja, and became involved in her career, an involvement that was briefly reflected in his art. However, Dja and Blue Eagle divorced and Blue Eagle lived with Mae Wadley Abbott for the last years of his life. During the 1950s, he had a television show for children on a Tulsa-Muskogee station. Acee Blue Eagle died on June 18, 1959 of a liver infection.

Sources Consulted

Martindale, Rob. Muskogee Paying Tribute to Blue Eagle. Biographical/Genealogical data, Box 1, Acee Blue Eagle Collection, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

West, Juanita W. 1967. Acee Blue Eagle: A.C. McIntosh. Biographical/Genealogical data, Box 1, Acee Blue Eagle Collection, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

1907 -- Born August 17, 1907 on the Wichita Reservation, north of Anadarko, Oklahoma

1928 -- Graduated Chilocco High School

1929-1934 -- Attended Bacone College, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Tech

1935 -- Toured United States and Europe giving lecture-exhibition program, "Life and Character of the American Indian"

1935-1938 -- Established and headed art department at Bacone College at Muskogee

1936 -- Exhibited at the National Exhibition of Art, Rockefeller Center, New York

1942-1945 -- World War II, U.S. Air Force (Army)

1947-49 -- Free-lance work in New York and Chicago

1951-52 -- Artist-in-residence at Oklahoma Tech

1950-54 -- Conducted TV program, Muskogee, OklahomaToured U.S. West Coast exhibiting and lecturing about ways to improve TV programs for children

1958 -- Named Indian-of-the-Year by the American Indian Expostion at Anadarko, Oklahoma

1959 -- Died June 18, 1959
Related Materials:
Other materials relating to Acee Blue Eagle at the National Anthropological Archives include correspondence in the Solomon McCombs papers, 1914-1972, and correspondence with Betty Meilink under Manuscript 2011-20.
Provenance:
Acee Blue Eagle's private papers and collection of paintings were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by Mrs. Mae Abbott of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on access.
Rights:
Literary property rights to unpublished material in the collection in the National Anthropological Archives has been given to the public.
Topic:
Indian art -- North America  Search this
Works of art  Search this
Citation:
Acee Blue Eagle Papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.1973-51
See more items in:
Acee Blue Eagle papers
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw30f5eef50-cb31-4d85-87ef-5ae9fedac6f7
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-1973-51
Online Media:

MS 7293 The Ewers-Wedel symposium

Speaker:
Viola, Herman J. (1938-)  Search this
Ubelaker, Douglas H.  Search this
Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005  Search this
Dempsey, Hugh A.  Search this
Parks, Douglas R.  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph, 1913-2016  Search this
Wedel, Mildred Mott  Search this
Hanson, James A.  Search this
Wessell, Thomas R.  Search this
Gunnerson, James H.  Search this
Gunnerson, D.  Search this
Hesse, Brian  Search this
Fowler, Loretta  Search this
Hotopp, John A.  Search this
Frison, George  Search this
Stanford, Dennis J.  Search this
Creator:
Forbis, Richard G.  Search this
Gradwohl, David Mayer  Search this
Extent:
14 Items (tapes )
Culture:
Apsáalooke (Crow/Absaroke)  Search this
Apache  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Lectures
Date:
April 24, 1980
Scope and Contents:
See the brochure for contents. Speakers include Douglas Henry Ubelaker, Herman J. Viola, Richard Fiske, William Fenton, H. Dempsey, Douglas Parks, Joe Medicine Crow, Mildred Wedel, James Hanson, T. Wessell, J. Gunnerson, D. Gunnerson, Brian Hesse, Loretta Fowler, J. Hotopp, George Frison, D. Gradwohl, and Dennis Stanford. All speakers materials were published except for Uberlaker's, Viola's, and Fiske's opening remarks, Joe Medicine Crow's "The Crow migration story", and D. Gunnerson's "Apachean migration and adaptation" (a slide lecture)
Local Numbers:
NAA MS 7293
Local Note:
Seven-inch tape records 1/2 track, 7.5 ips.
Topic:
Language and languages -- Documentation  Search this
Genre/Form:
Lectures
Citation:
Manuscript 7293, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.MS7293
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw375818c7e-b056-4a20-ba48-5be1d93ddb9f
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-ms7293

Herman J. Viola photographs of Joe Medicine Crow and his family

Creator:
Viola, Herman J. (1938-)  Search this
Names:
Medicine Crow, Joseph, 1913-2016  Search this
Extent:
11 Color prints
Culture:
Indians of North America -- Great Plains  Search this
Apsáalooke (Crow/Absaroke)  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Color prints
Date:
1988
Scope and Contents note:
Photographs of Crow Indians made by Herman Viola, a Smithsonian historian, on June 25, 1988. Depicted individuals include Joe Medicine Crow, his mother Amy White Man Runs Him, David Medicine Crow, and Chester Medicine Crow. Two of the photographs depict Herman Viola and some were made at a Baptist camp on the Crow Reservation.
Biographical/Historical note:
Dr. Herman J. Viola is a curator emeritus at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Earning his B.A. and M.A. from Marquette University and his Ph.D. from Indiana University, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Wittingberg University, Springfield, Ohio. A specialist on Native American history, the Civil War, and the exploration of the American West, he served as director of the National Anthropological Archives. Prior to joining the staff of the Smithsonian Institution in 1972, he was an archivist at the National Archives of the United States.
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 89-41
Location of Other Archival Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives holds Viola's papers from 1980-1981.
Additional photographs by Viola can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 74-17.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.

Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Topic:
Baptists  Search this
Citation:
Photo Lot 89-41, Herman J. Viola photographs of Joe Medicine Crow and his family, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.PhotoLot.89-41
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw35cd058a5-36bf-4f3e-b11f-21c4a2b544f8
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-photolot-89-41

From the heart of the Crow country : the Crow Indians' own stories / Joseph Medicine Crow ; foreword by Herman J. Viola

Author:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016  Search this
Physical description:
xxii, 138 p. : ill., map ; 20 cm
Type:
Folklore
Date:
2000
1992
[2000]
Topic:
History  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_734079

From the heart of the Crow country : the Crow Indians' own stories / Joseph Medicine Crow

Author:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016  Search this
Physical description:
xxii, 138 p. : ill. ; 22 cm
Type:
Folklore
Date:
1992
C1992
Topic:
History  Search this
Call number:
E99.C92M43 1992X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_436834

Native spirit and the Sun Dance way [videorecording] / presented by World Wisdom

Title:
Sun Dance way
Author:
Fitzgerald, Michael Oren 1949-  Search this
Casey, Jennifer  Search this
Yellowtail, Thomas  Search this
Cardinal, Tantoo  Search this
Tootoosis, Gordon  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016-  Search this
Pease, Janine  Search this
Trosper, James  Search this
Arlee, John  Search this
Talamantez, Inés  Search this
Looking Horse, Arvol  Search this
World Wisdom, Inc  Search this
Subject:
Yellowtail, Thomas Biography  Search this
Physical description:
2 videodiscs (195 min.) : sd. col. ; 4 3/4 in
Type:
Videorecordings
Place:
North America
Date:
2007
C2007
Topic:
Sun dance--History  Search this
Religion  Search this
Indian cosmology  Search this
Rites and ceremonies  Search this
Vision quests  Search this
Spiritual formation  Search this
Documentary films  Search this
Call number:
E99.C92 N274 2007
video 000801
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_829962

Counting coup : becoming a Crow chief on the Reservation and beyond / by Joseph Medicine Crow, with Herman Viola

Author:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016-  Search this
Viola, Herman J  Search this
Subject:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016-  Search this
Physical description:
128 p., [4] p. of plates : col. ill., col. map ; 22 cm
Type:
Biography
Juvenile literature
Place:
Montana
Date:
2006
C2006
Topic:
Kings and rulers  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_802455

Apsaalooke : art and tradition

Author:
Medicine Crow, Ramona 1970-  Search this
Veal, Asha  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016-  Search this
Molloy Tribal Art  Search this
Spanish & Indian Trading Company  Search this
Flury & Company  Search this
Subject:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-  Search this
Physical description:
30 p. : ill. (some col.), ports. (some col.) ; 28 cm
Type:
Exhibitions
Interviews
Date:
2006
C2006
Topic:
Crow beadwork  Search this
Crow art  Search this
Material culture  Search this
Crow women--Social life and customs  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_840743

The Crow Indians : 100 years of acculturation : teacher information package : course, Native American Studies 480 / instructors, Joe Medicine Crow, Charles Bradley, Jr

Author:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016  Search this
Bradley, Charles  Search this
Physical description:
94 leaves in various foliations : ill., maps ; 29 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Montana
Date:
1976
1976]
Topic:
History  Search this
Call number:
E99.C92 M48 1976
E99.C92M48 1976
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_329209

Brave Wolf and the Thunderbird : tales of the people / story by Joe Medicine Crow ; illustrations by Linda R. Martin

Author:
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016  Search this
Martin, Linda R  Search this
Physical description:
31 p. : ill. ; 25 x 25 cm
Type:
Folklore
Place:
Montana
Date:
1998
Topic:
Tales  Search this
Thunderbird (Legendary character)--Legends  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_540776

White-Man-Runs-Him : Crow Scout with Custer / by Dennis W. Harcey and Brian R. Croone with Joe Medicine Crow

Author:
Harcey, Dennis W  Search this
Croone, Brian R  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016-  Search this
Subject:
White Man Runs Him ca. 1855-1925  Search this
United States Army Cavalry, 7th  Search this
Physical description:
236 p. : ill., map ; 23 cm
Type:
Biography
Place:
Great Plains
Date:
1995
C1995
Topic:
Scouts (Reconnaissance)--Biography  Search this
History  Search this
Call number:
CT275.W5842 H3 1995
E99.C92 W45 1995
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_503592

White-Man-Runs-Him : Crow Scout with Custer / by Dennis W. Harcey and Brian R. Croone with Joe Medicine Crow

Author:
Harcey, Dennis W  Search this
Croone, Brian R  Search this
Medicine Crow, Joseph 1913-2016  Search this
Subject:
White Man Runs Him approximately 1855-1925  Search this
United States Army Cavalry, 7th  Search this
Physical description:
221 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm
Type:
Biography
History
Place:
Great Plains
Date:
1993
©1993
Topic:
Scouts (Reconnaissance)  Search this
History  Search this
Call number:
CT275.W5842 H3 1993
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_513647

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