The Leonard Mason papers mainly include material on the Swampy Cree and the Dunne-za (Beaver) from Mason's early anthropological research. Mason's research during the late 1930s to early 1940s among these communities is primarily focused on acculturation and material culture, but also includes a thorough bibliography of research on Swampy Cree culture. This collection consists of prints, slides, negatives, fieldnotes, manuscripts, receipts, and correspondence.
Scope and Contents:
The Leonard Mason papers reflect a portion of Mason's early anthropological work among the Swampy Cree and the Dunne-za (Beaver). From 1938 to 1940, while studying at the University of Minnesota, Mason researched among the Swampy Cree at the Hudson Bay Company's Oxford House in Manitoba, Canada. Following this research, Mason studied the Dunne-za of Alberta, Canada, while earning his PhD from Yale University. Most of this collection relates to Mason's research concerning his work among the Swampy Cree in the late 1930s. Mason's research is documented in this collection through prints, slides, negatives, fieldnotes, manuscripts, receipts, and correspondence.
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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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.
Biographical note:
Leonard Edward Mason (1913-2005) was an anthropologist who was active from the mid to late 20th century, best known for his research among the Swampy Cree and the peoples of Micronesia. Mason received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1935 and 1941 respectively. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Mason researched the Swampy Cree at the Hudson Bay Company's Oxford House in Manitoba, Canada. Before earning his PhD in Anthropology from Yale University in 1950, Mason held multiple governmental positions including the resident analyst at the Office of Residence and Intelligence at the United States State Department. While a graduate student at Yale University, Mason began his research in Micronesia among the Marshallese of the Marshall Islands.
After leaving Yale University, Leonard Mason became a faculty member at the University of Hawaii as first associate professor and later, professor. While there, Mason studied Pacific Island ethnology, with special interests in social and cultural change, resettled populations, and applied anthropology and research in Micronesia. Mason became an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii in 1969.
Restrictions:
The Leonard Mason papers are open for research.
Access to the Leonard Mason papers requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Citation:
Leomard Mason papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation Search this
Collection Director:
Heye, George G. (George Gustav), 1874-1957 Search this
Container:
Box 404, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1927 - 1930
Collection 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).
Collection Rights:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadcast materials from the collection must be requested from the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Collection Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation Records, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation Search this
Collection Director:
Heye, George G. (George Gustav), 1874-1957 Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Biographical / Historical:
Born in Buffalo, New York, but raised on Staten Island, Alanson Buck Skinner (1886-1925) became interested in Indians during his boyhood. While still in high school, Skinner found his way to the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, and became known to F. W. Putnam and George H. Pepper. Skinner assisted in two Museum-sponsored collecting expeditions before he even graduated from high school: a 1902 excavation of a shell heap on Long Island sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History and led by Arthur C. Parker; and a 1904 ethnological expedition to Cattaraugus, in western New York, led by Mark R. Harrington for the Peabody Museum. In 1907, shortly after graduating from high school, Skinner became an assistant in the anthropology department in the American Museum of Natural History. In 1908 the American Museum of Natural History sent Skinner to James Bay, located between northern Ontario and Quebec, Canada, to conduct ethnographic field research and collect among the eastern Cree. In 1909 he was sent back to James Bay (returning via Wisconsin) to work among the Saulteaux. While still at the American Museum of Natural History, Skinner was enrolled at Columbia University. He studied under Franz Boas, Marshall Saville and Adolf Bandolier. He also studied anthropology at Harvard University on a fellowship for one year, from 1911-1912.
Skinner resigned his position at the American Museum of Natural History to join the staff of the Museum of the American Indian--Heye Foundation in 1916. While at the Museum of the American Indian--Heye Foundation, Skinner worked among the Menomini, Ojibwa, Oneida, Winnebago, Eastern Dakota, Bungi, Plains Cree, and Seminole. In 1920, Skinner took a position as assistant curator in anthropology at the Milwaukee Public Museum. He was promoted to curator in 1922 and succeeded Samuel A. Barrett as department head. (Barrett was made director of the museum.) In June of 1924, Skinner returned to the Museum of the American Indian--Heye Foundation and worked there until his death in August 1925. Skinner died in an automobile accident in North Dakota. He was on a field collecting expedition with his long time friend, Amos One Road. He was 38 years old
Collection 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).
Collection Rights:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadcast materials from the collection must be requested from the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Collection Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation Records, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Irving A. Hallowell: Notes on the Material Culture of the Island Lake Saulteaux
Collection Creator:
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation Search this
Collection Director:
Heye, George G. (George Gustav), 1874-1957 Search this
Container:
Box 229, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
undated
Collection 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).
Collection Rights:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadcast materials from the collection must be requested from the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Collection Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation Records, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
