Search Results

Creator:

Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this

Names:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival  Search this

Extent:

1 Cubic foot (approximate)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business records

Correspondence

Memorandums

Sound recordings

Audiocassettes

Contracts

Negatives

Video recordings

Slides (photographs)

Plans (drawings)

Videotapes

Audiotapes

Digital images

Notes

Photographic prints

Place:

Caribbean Area

Trinidad and Tobago

Puerto Rico

Date:

June 23-July 4, 1988

Summary:

The Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The materials collected here document the planning, production, and execution of the annual Festival, produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present) and its predecessor offices (1967-1999). An overview of the entire Festival records group is available here: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.

Scope and Contents note:

This collection documents the planning, production, and execution of the 1988 Festival of American Folklife. Materials may include photographs, audio recordings, motion picture film and video recordings, notes, production drawings, contracts, memoranda, correspondence, informational materials, publications, and ephemera. Such materials were created during the Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as in the featured communities, before or after the Festival itself.

Arrangement note:

Arranged in 6 series.

Missing Title

Series 1: Program Books, Festival Publications, and Ephemera

Series 2: American Folklore Society Centennial

Series 3: Festival Music Stage

Series 4: Ingenuity and Tradition: The Common Wealth of Massachusetts

Series 5: Migration to Metropolitan Washington: Making a New Place Home

Series 6: Music from the Peoples of the Soviet Union

Historical note:

The Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998.

The 1988 Festival of American Folklife was produced by the Smithsonian Office of Folklife Programs and cosponsored by the National Park Service.

For more information, see Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.

Introduction:

The 1988 Festival celebrated the centennial of the American Folklore Society, founded one hundred years earlier because of the need to document and study cultures that were seen as disappearing. Much of the Society's attention today, however, is engaged in the documentation and interpretation of emerging traditions and cultural expressions. Folklorists work in inner cities, conduct research on occupational groups, analyze processes of traditionalization and cooperate with other professionals in devising natural conservation and historical preservation strategies, which also promote cultural continuity, equity and integrity. Visitors to the 1988 Festival could learn about what it is that folklorists do and what impacts they have on the communities with which they work.

The other living exhibitions that made up this year's Festival also provided ample illustrations of this same view of the traditional. The Massachusetts program told a paradigmatic American story. Gay Head Wampanoag, Yankee settlers, Afro American migrants, and immigrants from Italy, Greece, Poland, the Cape Verde Islands, Puerto Rico, and Southeast Asia have not only preserved their traditions; through ingenious acts of individual and community creativity they have adapted them and endowed them with new meanings, as circumstances have changed. The Metropolitan Washington program pointed to the heightened consciousness of cultural issues associated with the migration experience. The program asked how immigrants from El Salvador, Ethiopia, China, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as domestic Anglo and Afro American groups historically migrating from nearby states, discard, reinvent, and reconstitute their traditions as they actively make a new place home. A varied contingent of musicians and performers from several republics of the Soviet Union demonstrated how truly ancient traditions nurtured in various pastoral, tribal, and religious environments have not merely survived but actually flourished in contemporary Soviet life. Also at the Festival were American musicians who, as part of a groundbreaking cultural exchange with the Soviet Union, would later travel to Moscow to participate in the International Folklore Festival in August 1988 and be reunited with the Soviet musicians participating in the Smithsonian's Festival.

The 1988 Festival took place for two five-day weeks (June 23-27 and June 30-July 4) between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive and between 10th Street and 14th Street, south of the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History (see site plan).

The 1988 Program Book included schedules and participant lists for each program; the Program Book essays provided a larger context for the Festival presentations, extending beyond the traditions actually presented at the 1988 Festival.

The Festival was co-presented by the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service and organized by the Office of Folklife Programs.

Office of Folklife Programs

Richard Kurin, Acting Director; Diana Parker, Festival Director; Anthony Seeger, Curator, Folkways Records; Thomas Vennum, Jr., Senior Ethnomusicologist; Peter Seitel, Senior Folklorist; Marjorie Hunt, Phyllis M. May-Machunda, Heliana Portes de Roux, Frank Proschan, Nicholas R. Spitzer, Folklorists; Jeffrey Place, Assistant Archivist

National Park Service

William Penn Mott, Jr., Director; Manus J. Fish, Jr., Regional Director, National Capital Region

Forms Part Of:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife forms part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival records .

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: Papers

1967 Festival of American Folklife records - [Ongoing]

Related Archival Materials note:

Within the Rinzler Archives, related materials may be found in various collections such as the Ralph Rinzler papers and recordings, the Lily Spandorf drawings, the Diana Davies photographs, the Robert Yellin photographs, and the Curatorial Research, Programs, and Projects collection. Additional relevant materials may also be found in the Smithsonian Institution Archives concerning the Division of Performing Arts (1966-1983), Folklife Program (1977-1980), Office of Folklife Programs (1980-1991), Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies (1991-1999), Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present), and collaborating Smithsonian units, as well as in the administrative papers of key figures such as the Secretary and respective deputies. Users are encouraged to consult relevant finding aids and to contact Archives staff for further information.

Restrictions:

Access by appointment only. Where a listening copy or viewing copy has been created, this is indicated in the respective inventory; additional materials may be accessible with sufficient advance notice and, in some cases, payment of a processing fee. Older papers are housed at a remote location and may require a minimum of three weeks' advance notice and payment of a retrieval fee. Certain formats such as multi-track audio recordings and EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) may not be accessible. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at 202-633-7322 or rinzlerarchives@si.edu for additional information.

Rights:

Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.

Topic:

World music  Search this

Food habits  Search this

Folk art  Search this

arts and crafts  Search this

Folk festivals  Search this

Folk music  Search this

Folklore  Search this

Genre/Form:

Business records

Correspondence

Memorandums

Sound recordings

Audiocassettes

Contracts

Negatives

Video recordings

Slides (photographs)

Plans (drawings)

Videotapes

Audiotapes

Digital images

Notes

Photographic prints

Citation:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.SFF.1988

See more items in:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk59e9f3773-cd55-493f-94e0-c53650d914c4

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-cfch-sff-1988

Creator:

Smithsonian Institution. Festival of American Folklife (1988)  Search this

Artist:

Elesa (Musical group)  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (videotape (VHS), 1/2 in.)

Type:

Archival materials

Local Numbers:

FP-1988-VTR--0105

General:

dvd copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. All Restrictions Apply.

Collection Rights:

Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.SFF.1988, Item FP-1988-VTR--0105

See more items in:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife / Series 6: Music from the Peoples of the Soviet Union / 6.4: Video

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk523848fd5-c0e1-4caa-8f14-2a13b5a0a1f9

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-sff-1988-ref2127

Creator:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Curatorial - Ceramics  Search this

Subject:

Cort, Louise Allison 1944-  Search this

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian Institution)  Search this

Freer Gallery of Art  Search this

Fogg Art Museum  Search this

Harvard University  Search this

Physical description:

20.26 cu. ft. unprocessed holdings

Type:

Manuscripts

Clippings

Color photographs

Color negatives

Color transparencies

Black-and-white photographs

Black-and-white negatives

Glass negatives

Brochures

Exhibition catalogs

Picture postcards

Newsletters

Transcripts

Compact discs

Architectural drawings

Floor plans

Maps

Electronic records

Serials (publications)

Digital versatile discs

Floppy disks

Videotapes

Electronic images

Drawings

Date:

1898

1898-2018

1898, 1916-1917, 1954, 1966, 1969-2018

Topic:

Art museums  Search this

Art museum curators  Search this

Art, Asian  Search this

Pottery  Search this

Pottery craft  Search this

Ceramics  Search this

Museum exhibits  Search this

Lecture and lecturing  Search this

Museums--Educationa Aspects  Search this

Local number:

SIA RS01014

Restrictions & Rights:

Materials less than 15 years old Restricted. Contact reference staff for details

See more items in:

Exhibition Records 1898, 1916-1917, 1954, 1966, 1969-2018 [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Curatorial - Ceramics]

Data Source:

Smithsonian Institution Archives

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_arc_227858

Collection Creator:

Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956  Search this

Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984  Search this

Container:

Box 7, Folder 14

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1964-1983, undated

Collection Restrictions:

The collection has been digitized and is available online via AAA's website.

Collection Rights:

The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Collection Citation:

Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers, circa 1914-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Sponsor:

Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

See more items in:

Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers

Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers / Series 2: Lee Krasner Papers / 2.1: Biographical Material

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw94b0d8ec7-f1fe-4d08-b41c-2ba3d8d636e1

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aaa-polljack-ref235

Collection Creator:

United Telegraph Workers.  Search this

Western Union Telegraph Company  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1925-1994

Scope and Contents:

This series consists of 16mm films, 3/4" videotape cassettes, 35mm film elements, and 1/2" VHS videotape cassettes. The bulk of the series is 16mm film.

Employee Training films includes films from the 1920s to the 1940s depicting how Western Union wanted its telegraph operators to do their jobs, how to work accurately and efficiently in order to maintain speed of operation, detailed operation of complex telegraphic equipment, and more recent sales and customer service employee incentive films.

Public Relations/Promotional Films, circa 1929-1980s, includes consumer awareness segments from NBC's "Today" show and WNBC-TV in New York featuring Betty Furness reporting on Mailgram, Telegram, and Money Transfer; and numerous films and videos which emphasize Western Union's wide variety of services, its modernity, and ability to keep up with the changing communications field. Heavily featured are films from the 1970s and 1980s on Westar, the first telecommunications satellite (launched in 1974), and its influence on Western Union service. Several films and videos depict early facsimile machines in the 1940s and 1950s, and two films depict underwater cable laying operations.

Television Commercials, circa 1974-1991, emphasize the ease of use of the company's services, the firms modernity and competitive edge in the telecommunications market; the return of the singing telegram in the 1980s; videoconferencing; satellite communications; and several recent Spanish language commercials.

Acquired Films, circa 1946-1989, includes several videotape copies of the 20th Century Fox production of WESTERN UNION [1941], films produced outside Western Union using Western Union footage or mention Western Union or its products, and depictions of various aspects of the history of telegraphy.

Films Documenting Corporate Activities, circa 1928-1994, contains films made at the building site of Western Union's old New York headquarters during construction; videotapes of various company executives addressing employees on the company's financial situation, restructuring plans, and consequences of the AT&T divestiture in the 1980s; short compilation videos looking back nostalgically at the history of Western Union through archival photographs and footage; films depicting office operations; and a parody of Gone with the Wind about the corporate buyout of Western Union in 1994.

The microfilm contains selected reels for Board of Directors Meetings, Executive Committee Minutes, and Subsidiaries. See Series 3: Executive Records, 1848-1987 for additional materials regarding these executive functions.

Arrangement:

The series is arranged in six subseries:

1. Employee Training Films, 1925-circa 1980s

2. Public Relations/Promotional Films, ca.1929-1993

3. Television Commercials, circa 1974-1991

4. Acquired Films, circa 1946-1989

5. Films Documenting Corporate Activities, circa 1928-1994

6. Microfilm, undated

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but Series 11 and films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made to view some of the audiovisual materials. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

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.

Collection Citation:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0205, Series 26

See more items in:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b78e0037-9688-4a4b-8460-539e046f9463

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0205-ref10201

Collection Creator:

United Telegraph Workers.  Search this

Western Union Telegraph Company  Search this

Extent:

1 Videocassettes (VHS)

Container:

Box 806, Item OV 205.60

Type:

Archival materials

Videocassettes (vhs)

Date:

circa 1980s

Scope and Contents note:

Advertisement for a videotaped theater performance preview service. No direct connection to Western Union.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but Series 11 and films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made to view some of the audiovisual materials. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

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.

Collection Citation:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records

Western Union Telegraph Company Records / Series 26: Audio Visual Materials / 26.4: Acquired Films

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b7b258cc-32ef-4602-b375-ba18e9038fa4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0205-ref10412

Published by:

MelPat Associates, American, 1965 - 1986  Search this

Created by:

C. Melvin Patrick, American, died 1985  Search this

Subject of:

WLIB, American, founded 1941  Search this

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, American, founded 1969  Search this

American Bridge Association, American, founded 1932  Search this

National Association of Black Social Workers, American, founded 1968  Search this

Interracial Council for Business Opportunity, American, founded 1963  Search this

One Hundred Black Men, Inc., American, founded 1963  Search this

National Association of Market Developers, American, founded 1953  Search this

Vulcan Society, American, founded 1940  Search this

National Urban League, American, founded 1910  Search this

Opportunities Industrialization Center of America, Inc., American, founded 1964  Search this

Prince Hall Freemasonry, founded 1784  Search this

National Urban Coalition, American, founded 1967  Search this

National Newspaper Publishers Association, American, founded 1827  Search this

Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., American, founded 1964  Search this

The Links, Incorporated, American, founded 1946  Search this

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American, founded 1909  Search this

Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., American, founded 1937  Search this

Carats, Inc., American, founded 1959  Search this

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., American, founded 1932  Search this

National Medical Association, American, founded 1895  Search this

National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc., American, founded 1919  Search this

Vernon Jordan, American, born 1935  Search this

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1906  Search this

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, American, founded 1914  Search this

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, American, founded 1920  Search this

National Dental Association, American, founded 1913  Search this

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., American, founded 1924  Search this

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, American, founded 1913  Search this

Connectional Lay Council, American, founded 1948  Search this

Chi Delta Mu Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1913  Search this

Shriners International, American, founded 1870  Search this

Daughters of Isis, American, founded 1910  Search this

Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., American, founded 1929  Search this

National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., American, founded 1935  Search this

Congressional Black Caucus, American, founded 1971  Search this

Morehouse Alumni Association, American, founded 1900  Search this

Morris Brown College, American, founded 1881  Search this

Dr. Ralph Bunche, American, 1903 - 1971  Search this

Lionel Hampton, American, 1908 - 2002  Search this

National Urban League Guild, American, founded 1946  Search this

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), International, founded 1844  Search this

Alliance for Women in Media, American, founded 1951  Search this

Eleanor Holmes Norton, American, born 1937  Search this

Vernon Jordan, American, born 1935  Search this

Medium:

ink on paper

Dimensions:

H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 7/16 × 1/2 in. (27.5 × 21.4 × 1.3 cm)

Type:

magazines (periodicals)

Place made:

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted:

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America

Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs, Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date:

1981

Topic:

African American  Search this

Advertising  Search this

Associations and institutions  Search this

Business  Search this

Communities  Search this

Fraternal organizations  Search this

Fraternities  Search this

Government  Search this

HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)  Search this

Journalism  Search this

Labor  Search this

Mass media  Search this

Men  Search this

Political organizations  Search this

Politics  Search this

Professional organizations  Search this

Religious groups  Search this

Social life and customs  Search this

Sororities  Search this

U.S. History, 1969-2001  Search this

Urban life  Search this

Women  Search this

Women's organizations  Search this

Credit Line:

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Anne B. Patrick and the family of Hilda E. Stokely

Object number:

2012.167.15

Restrictions & Rights:

Public domain

See more items in:

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification:

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5af48a13c-8c71-4105-9526-479c0bc3bb3e

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmaahc_2012.167.15

Creator:

Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this

Names:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival  Search this

Extent:

1 Cubic foot (approximate)

Culture:

Afro-Caribbean cults  Search this

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Slides (photographs)

Business records

Videotapes

Plans (drawings)

Negatives

Audiotapes

Contracts

Digital images

Audiocassettes

Correspondence

Sound recordings

Memorandums

Photographic prints

Notes

Video recordings

Plena

Place:

Caribbean Area

Haiti

Jamaica

Puerto Rico

Trinidad and Tobago

Date:

June 16-September 6, 1976

Summary:

The Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The materials collected here document the planning, production, and execution of the annual Festival, produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present) and its predecessor offices (1967-1999). An overview of the entire Festival records group is available here: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.

Scope and Contents note:

This collection documents the planning, production, and execution of the 1976 Festival of American Folklife. Materials may include photographs, audio recordings, motion picture film and video recordings, notes, production drawings, contracts, memoranda, correspondence, informational materials, publications, and ephemera. Such materials were created during the Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as in the featured communities, before or after the Festival itself.

Arrangement note:

Arranged in 9 series.

Series 1: Program Books, Festival Publications, and Ephemera

Series 2: African Diaspora

Series 3: Children's Program

Series 4: Family Folklore

Series 5: Festival Stage

Series 6: Native Americans

Series 7: Old Ways in the New World

Series 8: Regional America

Series 9: Working Americans

Historical note:

The Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998.

The 1976 Festival of American Folklife was produced by the Smithsonian Division of Performing Arts and cosponsored by the National Park Service.

For more information, see Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.

Introduction:

The Festival of American Folklife's first decade culminated with the Bicentennial Festival of American Folklife that took place for twelve weeks in the summer of 1976, from June 16 to September 6 (programs typically ran from Wednesday through Sunday each week). More than 5000 participants took part over the course of the summer. The 1976 Festival involved the participation of every region of the United States, 38 foreign governments, scores of American Indian tribes, and many labor organizations. Some 4.5 million people attended the Festival.

The Bicentennial Festival resulted from the collaboration of the Smithsonian with thousands of national and international scholars, community spokespeople, and cultural exemplars involved in the documentation, presentation, transmission, and conservation of cultural traditions. Preceding the Festival were several years of establishing cultural networks, training students, and providing opportunities for diverse peoples to interpret and present their traditions. The Bicentennial also saw the flowering of a touring program, begun in 1973, in which foreign groups at the Festival subsequently toured the United States. Scores of groups from the African Diaspora and Old Ways in the New World programs gave some 200 performances in 50 cities and towns across the U.S.

The 1976 Festival again took place in the western part of the National Mall to the south of the Reflecting Pool, between 17th and 23rd Streets (see site plan). It was co-organized by the Smithsonian Institution, Division of Performing Arts (James R. Morris, Director; Richard Lusher, Deputy Director) and the National Park Service (Gary Everhardt, Director). Ralph Rinzler was Director of the Festival, and Bess Lomax Hawes and Robert Byington were Deputy Directors of the Festival. Tom Vennum served as Ethnomusicologist, and Frank Proschan as Archivist. The Bicentennial Festival was sponsored by American Airlines and General Foods.

The 1976 Festival again featured seven thematic programs, complemented by a Festival Stage. African Diaspora featured different countries every two weeks. The Festival Stage brought together participants from other areas and - for the last four weeks - its own dedicated performers. Native Americans changed focus by region every week; similarly, Old Ways in the New World changed focus by country every week. Regional America (June 16-August 8) changed focus by region every week, and Working Americans changed focus by theme every two weeks, with an expanded program on Transportation the last four weeks (August 11-September 6).

The 1975 Program Book provided information on each of the programs. Biweekly, a Program Supplement provided schedules and participant information.

Forms Part Of:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife forms part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival records .

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: Papers

1967 Festival of American Folklife records - [Ongoing]

Related Archival Materials note:

Within the Rinzler Archives, related materials may be found in various collections such as the Ralph Rinzler papers and recordings, the Lily Spandorf drawings, the Diana Davies photographs, the Robert Yellin photographs, and the Curatorial Research, Programs, and Projects collection. Additional relevant materials may also be found in the Smithsonian Institution Archives concerning the Division of Performing Arts (1966-1983), Folklife Program (1977-1980), Office of Folklife Programs (1980-1991), Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies (1991-1999), Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present), and collaborating Smithsonian units, as well as in the administrative papers of key figures such as the Secretary and respective deputies. Users are encouraged to consult relevant finding aids and to contact Archives staff for further information.

Restrictions:

Access by appointment only. Where a listening copy or viewing copy has been created, this is indicated in the respective inventory; additional materials may be accessible with sufficient advance notice and, in some cases, payment of a processing fee. Older papers are housed at a remote location and may require a minimum of three weeks' advance notice and payment of a retrieval fee. Certain formats such as multi-track audio recordings and EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) may not be accessible. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at 202-633-7322 or rinzlerarchives@si.edu for additional information.

Rights:

Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.

Topic:

Folk music  Search this

arts and crafts  Search this

Folklore  Search this

Food habits  Search this

Folk festivals  Search this

World music  Search this

Folk art  Search this

occupational folklore  Search this

Orisha religion  Search this

Vodou -- Haiti -- Rituals.  Search this

Genre/Form:

Slides (photographs)

Business records

Videotapes

Plans (drawings)

Negatives

Audiotapes

Contracts

Digital images

Audiocassettes

Correspondence

Sound recordings

Memorandums

Photographic prints

Notes

Video recordings

plena

Citation:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.SFF.1976

See more items in:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5858643e8-749f-494f-b205-eca860d96375

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-cfch-sff-1976

Collection Creator:

Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this

Extent:

1 Videocassettes (U-matic)

Container:

Box AV_Box_003

Type:

Archival materials

Moving Images [971528180]

Videocassettes (u-matic)

Date:

1976

Scope and Contents:

Label Reads: Pre-Recorded Videotape, Smith Mattingly Productions, LTD

Collection Restrictions:

Access by appointment only. Where a listening copy or viewing copy has been created, this is indicated in the respective inventory; additional materials may be accessible with sufficient advance notice and, in some cases, payment of a processing fee. Older papers are housed at a remote location and may require a minimum of three weeks' advance notice and payment of a retrieval fee. Certain formats such as multi-track audio recordings and EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) may not be accessible. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at 202-633-7322 or rinzlerarchives@si.edu for additional information.

Collection Rights:

Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.SFF.1976, Item FP-1976-VTR-0002

See more items in:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife

Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife / Series 3: Children's Program / 3.4: Video

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5ad159a3d-434c-446f-a844-6dfc480961e6

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-sff-1976-ref21401

Extent:

3 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Field notes

Manuscripts

Black-and-white negatives

Black-and-white photographs

Black-and-white transparencies

Color transparencies

Color photographs

Color negatives

Audiotapes

Videotapes

Place:

Southampton Island (Nunavut)

White Island (Nunavut)

Baffin Island (Nunavut)

Barro Colorado Island (Panama)

Panama

Barro Colorado Nature Monument (Panama)

Date:

circa 1925-1995

Descriptive Entry:

This accession consists of the research materials of Neal Griffith Smith (1937-2012), an ornithologist and tropical biologist who received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1963 and then spent his entire career working for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Particularly well documented is Smith's graduate research on Arctic birds on White, Southampton, and Baffin Islands in the Northwest Territories (now known as Nunavut). Other research topics include urania (Uraniidae) hawks, vultures, and peripatus (Onychophora). Much of his research was performed on Barro Colorado Island and other areas of Panama. This accession also includes research materials and other documents that had originally been maintained by James Zetek, an entomologist and the first resident director of the Canal Zone Biological Area (also known as the Barro Colorado Nature Monument), and later maintained by Smith. Materials include field notes, journals, photographs, audiovisual materials, observation sheets, species lists, notes, correspondence, reference materials, and related materials.

Topic:

Ornithology  Search this

Entomology  Search this

Biology -- Tropics  Search this

Ornithologists  Search this

Entomologists  Search this

Biologists  Search this

Research  Search this

Birds -- Arctic regions  Search this

Uraniidae  Search this

Hawks  Search this

Vultures  Search this

Onychophora  Search this

Fieldwork  Search this

Genre/Form:

Field notes

Manuscripts

Black-and-white negatives

Black-and-white photographs

Black-and-white transparencies

Color transparencies

Color photographs

Color negatives

Audiotapes

Videotapes

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 17-057, Neal Griffith Smith Papers

Identifier:

Accession 17-057

See more items in:

Neal Griffith Smith Papers

Archival Repository:

Smithsonian Institution Archives

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-sia-fa17-057

Creator:

Lewis & Valentine Company  Search this

Donor:

Lewis, Hewlett Withington  Search this

Names:

Lewis & Valentine Company  Search this

Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, Pa.)  Search this

Rodin Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.)  Search this

Lewis, Harold Carman  Search this

Owner:

Auchincloss, Hugh D.  Search this

Du Pont, Eugene  Search this

Kahn, Otto Hermann, 1867-1934  Search this

Schwab, Charles M., 1862-1939  Search this

Stotesbury, Edward Townsend, 1849-1938  Search this

Woolworth, F. W.  Search this

du Pont, Pierre S.  Search this

Extent:

2.5 Cubic feet (documents, 366 photographs, 1 videotape.)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Videotapes

Brochures

Books

Lists

Correspondence

Trade catalogs

Photographs

Place:

New York (State) -- Greenvale

New York (State) -- Roslyn

Date:

1916-1971

Summary:

The Lewis & Valentine Company Collection contains records of the Lewis & Valentine Company dating from 1916 to 1971 including photographs, negatives, brochures, books, trade catalogs, company papers, letters from clients, customer lists and a history of the company written by Harold Carman Lewis. Photographs document the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, estates in Long Island, New York, and the properties of Hugh D. Auchincloss, Eugene du Pont, Walter P. Chrysler, Otto H. Kahn, F. W. Woolworth, Pierre S. du Pont (Longwood Gardens), Charles M. Schwab and Edward T. Stotesbury. This collection contains only a sampling of the records of Lewis & Valentine and should not be considered comprehensive.

Arrangement note:

The collection is arranged into 3 series:

Series 1: Documents Series 2: Photographs Series 3: Videotape

Biographical/Historical note:

Specializing in moving and replanting large trees, Lewis & Valentine was one of the most prominent landscape contracting companies in the eastern United States during the first half of the twentieth century. The Lewis & Valentine Company was formed by five brothers whose father had hoped that his sons would grow up to be lawyers. Instead, the Lewis brothers formed a landscape design, installation and nursery firm that specialized in developing "successful methods for transplanting full-grown trees." Their success was based on "doing well the task which is usually considered impossible."

The company was the inspiration of H.C. Lewis, the oldest of seven brothers, who believed that estate owners should have the luxury of immediate landscapes, rather than waiting decades for their landscapes to mature. The Lewis brothers started their business in the early 1900s. Shortly afterwards, a Mr. Valentine, roommate of Albert Addison Lewis at the Amherst Landscape School in Massachusetts, invested in the business. After three years Mr. Valentine moved on and the Lewis brothers bought back his interest, but continued to keep Valentine part of the company's name.

Lewis & Valentine was the largest firm in America devoted to transplainting mature trees in the years leading up to the Great Depression. It claimed to be "the most experienced and most versatile, backed by an intimate knowledge of horticulture and the development of fine estates." The company was noted as a leader in providing complete landscape services, from selling and guaranteeing the plants, to designing and installation, requiring that its staff be men "of good character and not afraid of hard work." This was evident in the firm's principle of no limitations to the size of trees that they were willing to deliver. The trees were often full-grown and ranged in age from twenty to a hundred years old. Many were so large that 20 or more tons of earth had to be moved during the relocation process.

During its first 25 years in business, Lewis & Valentine opened nineteen offices east of the Mississippi serving such notable clients as Charles A. Schwab and Pierre du Pont at his estate, Longwood. The business was set up as an organization of independent companies. Each was incorporated under the laws of the state in which it operated. The offices were located in Connecticut (Darien), Florida (Palm Beach), Illinois (Chicago), Maryland (Baltimore), Massachusetts (Boston and Hanover), Michigan (Detroit), Pennsylvania (Ardmore and Pittsburg), New Jersey (Ashbury Park and Morristown), New York (Buffalo, Roslyn-Long Island, Rye, Valley Stream-Long Island, New York City), North Carolina (Winston-Salem) and Ohio (Cleveland and Cincinnati). Although no longer owned by any members of the Lewis family, the company still exists and operates in Long Island under the name Lewis & Valentine Nurseries.

Provenance:

Gift from Hewlett Withington Lewis, former owner of Lewis & Valentine Nurseries.

Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Nurseries (Horticulture) -- United States  Search this

Gardens -- New York (State)  Search this

Tree moving  Search this

Landscape gardening -- New York (State)  Search this

Genre/Form:

Videotapes

Brochures

Books

Lists

Correspondence

Trade catalogs

Photographs

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Lewis & Valentine Company Records.

Identifier:

AAG.LVC

See more items in:

Lewis & Valentine company records

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6b87d85b6-90fe-4657-96f1-2b4c381715e0

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aag-lvc

Collection Creator:

Lewis & Valentine Company  Search this

Collection Donor:

Lewis, Hewlett Withington  Search this

Extent:

1 Folder

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Lewis & Valentine Company Records.

Identifier:

AAG.LVC, Series 3

See more items in:

Lewis & Valentine company records

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb695fe906a-6ff3-4f7d-b772-9f951247cbad

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-lvc-ref150

Collection Creator:

Lewis & Valentine Company  Search this

Collection Donor:

Lewis, Hewlett Withington  Search this

Extent:

VHS

Container:

Box 4, Folder 9

Type:

Archival materials

Moving Images

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Lewis & Valentine Company Records.

See more items in:

Lewis & Valentine company records

Lewis & Valentine company records / Series 3: Videotape

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6e6cd82dc-0022-4255-9afd-b3ad9600300f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-lvc-ref151

Collection Creator:

Lippard, Lucy R.  Search this

Container:

Box 19, Folder 5

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1977-1988

Collection Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Collection Rights:

The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Collection Citation:

Lucy R. Lippard papers, 1930s-2007, bulk 1960s-1990s. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Sponsor:

Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

See more items in:

Lucy R. Lippard papers

Lucy R. Lippard papers / Series 2: Correspondence / 2.1: Correspondence by Name

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw95f02fe06-c71b-4dc4-a46a-d4790ab69956

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aaa-lipplucy-ref2036

Author:

Baker, Mary T.  Search this

Townsend, J. H.  Search this

Wright, M. M.  Search this

Object Type:

Smithsonian staff publication

Electronic document

Year:

1995

Topic:

Museum conservation methods  Search this

Museum techniques  Search this

Data source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:SILSRO_130355

Author:

Osborn, Karen J.  Search this

Holland, Nicholas D.  Search this

Kuhnz, Linda A.  Search this

Object Type:

Smithsonian staff publication

Electronic document

Year:

2012

Topic:

Invertebrates  Search this

Animals  Search this

Zoology  Search this

Natural History  Search this

See others in:

Invertebrate Zoology

Data source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:SILSRO_110474

Author:

Stauderman, Sarah  Search this

Object Type:

Smithsonian staff publication

Electronic document

Year:

2012

Data source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:SILSRO_112113

Author:

Tyler, Jennifer  Search this

Tunnicliffe, Verena  Search this

Munroe, Thomas A.  Search this

Object Type:

Smithsonian staff publication

Electronic document

Year:

2011

Topic:

Natural History  Search this

Vertebrates  Search this

Animals  Search this

Zoology  Search this

See others in:

Vertebrate Zoology

Data source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:SILSRO_107681

Author:

Eberhard, William G.  Search this

Huber, Bernard A.  Search this

Object Type:

Smithsonian staff publication

Electronic document

Year:

1997

Topic:

Tropics  Search this

Biology  Search this

Data source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:SILSRO_102965

Creator:

National Congress of American Indians  Search this

Names:

Arrow, Inc.  Search this

National Tribal Chairmen's Association  Search this

Native American Rights Fund  Search this

United Effort Trust  Search this

United States. American Indian Policy Review Commission  Search this

United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs  Search this

United States. Indian Claims Commission  Search this

Bronson, Ruth Muskrat  Search this

Curry, James E., 1907-1972  Search this

Deloria, Vine  Search this

Harjo, Suzan Shown  Search this

McNickle, D'Arcy, 1904-1977  Search this

Peterson, Helen L.  Search this

Snake, Reuben, 1937-1993  Search this

Tonasket, Mel  Search this

Trimble, Charles E.  Search this

Extent:

251 Linear feet (597 archival boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Videotapes

Correspondence

Administrative records

Financial records

Audiotapes

Clippings

Date:

1933-1990

bulk 1944-1989

Summary:

The National Congress of American Indian (NCAI), founded in 1944, is the oldest nation-wide American Indian advocacy organization in the United States. The NCAI records document the organization's work, particularly that of its office in Washington, DC, and the wide variety of issues faced by American Indians in the twentieth century. The collection is located in the Cultural Resource Center of the National Museum of the American Indian.

Scope and Contents:

The records of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) reflect the operations of its Washington, DC, headquarters and, in particular, the activities and responsibilities of its executive director. The papers primarily cover the period 1943 to 1990, although some documents pre-dating NCAI are present. The bulk of the material relates to legislation, lobbying, and NCAI's interactions with various governmental bodies. A large segment also concerns the annual conventions and executive council and executive committee meetings. Finally, the records also document the operations of the NCAI, including personnel, financial, and fundraising material. Materials found throughout the collection include letters, memoranda, handwritten notes, speeches, press releases, newspaper clippings, publications, minutes of meetings, transcripts, reports, agenda, programs, financial records, legislative materials, photographs, and sound recordings.

Arrangement:

The National Congress of American Indians records are arranged in 21 series:

Series 1 -- : NCAI Conventions and Mid-Year Conferences

Series 2 -- : Executive Council and Executive Committee Files

Subseries 2.1: Executive Council

Subseries 2.2: Executive Committee

Subseries 2.3: Executive Committee: Benefit Awards

Series 3 -- : Correspondence Files

Subseries 3.1: Name Files

Subseries 3.2: Chronological Files

Subseries 3.3: Miscellaneous Files

Series 4 -- : Tribal Files

Subseries 4.1: Individual Tribes, Bands and Reservations

Subseries 4.2: Intertribal Organizations

Subseries 4.3: Special Issues

Subseries 4.4: Miscellaneous Tribal Files

Series 5 -- : Records of Indian Interest Organizations

Subseries 5.1: Other Indian Organizations

Subseries 5.2: Non-Indian Support Groups

Subseries 5.3: General Indian Interest Groups

Series 6 -- : NCAI Committees and Special Issue Files

Subseries 6.1: Alaskan Natives

Subseries 6.2: Policy Conference

Subseries 6.3: Religious Freedom and Related Cultural Concerns

Subseries 6.4: Hunting and Fishing Rights

Subseries 6.5: Natural Resources and Indian Water Rights

Subseries 6.6: Nuclear Waste

Subseries 6.7: Solar Bank

Subseries 6.8: AIMS [American Indian Media Surveillance] Committee

Subseries 6.9: HCR 108 and Federal Termination Policies

Subseries 6.10: Emergency Conference of 1954

Subseries 6.11: Jurisdiction --NCAI Commission and Federal Legislation

Subseries 6.12: Law Enforcement

Subseries 6.13: Litigation Committee

Subseries 6.14: Annual Litigation Conference

Subseries 6.15: Trail of Broken Treaties Impact Survey Team

Subseries 6.16: Block Grants

Subseries 6.17: Health and Welfare

Subseries 6.18: Self-Determination and Education

Subseries 6.19: National Conference on Federal Recognition

Subseries 6.20: Economic and Reservation Development

Series -- 7: United Effort Trust (UET)

Subseries 7.1: NCAI and NTCA Joint Committee

Subseries 7.2: Issues

Subseries 7.3: Legislation

Subseries 7.4: News Releases

Subseries 7.5: Indian Organizations

Subseries 7.6: Inter-Tribal Organizations

Subseries 7.7: Non-Indian Organizations

Subseries 7.8: Tribes

Series 8 -- : Attorneys and Legal Interest Groups

Subseries 8.1: Attorneys

Subseries 8.2: Legal Interest Groups

Subseries 8.3: Legal Services

Series 9 -- : Federal Indian Policy and Legislation Files

Subseries 9.1: American Indian Policy Review Task Force

Series 10 -- : Bureau of Indian Affairs

Series 11 -- : State and Local Government Organizations

Series 12 -- : Census

Series 13 -- : General Alpha-Subject Files

Series 14 -- : Records of Charles E. "Chuck" Trimble

Series 15 -- : Records of Suzan S. Harjo

Subseries 15.1: Indian Claims: Eastern Land Claims

Subseries 15.2: Indian Claims: Statute of Limitations

Subseries 15.3: Conference on -- The Indian Reorganization Act - An Assessment and Prospectus Fifty Years Later

Subseries 15.4: Inter-American Indian Institute (IAII)

Subseries 15.5: Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)

Subseries 15.6: Institute of the American West (IAW)

Subseries 15.7: Common Cause

Subseries 15.8: Office Files

Series 16 -- : Fund Raising

Subseries 16.1: Gifts, Bequests, and Contributions

Subseries 16.2: Foundations

Subseries 16.3: General --Arrow and NCAI Fund

Series 17 -- : Business and Financial Records Files

Subseries 17.1: Personnel

Series 18 -- : "Give-Away" Files

Series 19 -- : Publications

Subseries 19.1: -- News/Sentinels -- and -- Sentinel Bulletin

Subseries 19.2: Other Publications

Series 20 -- : Photographs

Series 21 -- : Audio and Film Recordings

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:

Arrow, Inc., and the American Indian Tribal Court Judges records, 1949-1999 (NMAI.MS.013) James E. Curry papers, 1935-1955 (NMAI.MS.015) National Tribal Chairmen's Association records, 1971-1978 (NMAI.MS.014) Helen L. Peterson papers, 1944-1992 (NMAI.MS.016) Reuben Snake papers, 1971-1996 (NMAI.MS.012)

Provenance:

The National Congress of American Indians designated the National Anthropological Archives (NAA) as its official repository in 1976. This collection was received by NAA in four accessions between 1976 and 1991. 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:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. 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 -- Government relations -- 1934-  Search this

Indians of North America -- Politics and government  Search this

Indians of North America -- Social conditions -- 20th century  Search this

Indians of North America -- Legal status, laws, etc.  Search this

Indian termination policy  Search this

Alaska Natives -- Land tenure  Search this

Indians of North America -- Civil rights  Search this

Indians of North America -- Economic conditions -- 20th century  Search this

Radioactive wastes -- United States -- Management  Search this

Trail of Broken Treaties, 1972  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Videotapes

Correspondence

Administrative records

Financial records

Audiotapes

Clippings

Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Collection Title, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NMAI.AC.010

See more items in:

National Congress of American Indians records

Archival Repository:

National Museum of the American Indian

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv4710475fc-a6c0-427e-ad01-f83634f2caa5

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmai-ac-010