Finding Aid to the Edward S. Curtis Collection MS.647
Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2012 October 29
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Edward S. Curtis Collection
Creator:
Sniffen, Matthew K.
Creator:
Curtis, Edward S.
Creator:
Myers, W. E.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.647
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(1 box, 1 oversized folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1910, 1986
Abstract: Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) spent many years photographing, writing about, and recording the songs of Native Americans. This
collection contains original manuscripts and photocopies of manuscripts by Edward Curtis regarding his studies and his photo
book series
North American Indian. Original manuscripts include a lecture on Native American religion, an annotated list of items in Curtis' artifact collection
and a synopsis of the list as it could be used in the
North American Indian series, and a circa 1910 annotated catalogue of photographs for the
North American Indian publication, including descriptions of photographs that do not appear in the publication. The collection also includes photocopies
made in 1986 of materials from 1911-1962.
Language of Material:
English
.
Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) spent many years photographing, writing about, and recording the songs of Native Americans. His
work was finally realized in 20 encyclopedic volumes entitled
The North American Indian, published between 1907 and 1930.
This collection contains original manuscripts and photocopies of manuscripts by Edward Curtis regarding his studies and his
photo book series
North American Indian. Original manuscripts include a lecture on Native American religion, an annotated list of items in Curtis' artifact collection
and a synopsis of the list as it could be used in the
North American Indian series, and a circa 1910 annotated catalogue of photographs for the
North American Indian publication, including descriptions of photographs that do not appear in the publication. Photocopied materials include a
grouping of copies of material spanning from 1911-1962 of correspondence, clippings, newspaper clippings, and copies of images;
copies of a collection of unpublished manuscripts and field notes, undated; photocopies of research and reference material
used by Curtis, including handwritten references to other reference material and typed notes within the text, some by Curtis'
main field assistant, W. E. Myers; and photocopies of a group of transcripts from 1924-1937 of field notes from Curtis' 1924
season living with Pueblo tribes, transcripts of interviews taken by others, including Matthew Sniffen, concerning religious
freedom, and correspondence between Curtis and Sniffen.
Edward S. Curtis Collection, circa 1910, 1986, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.647; [folder number]
[folder title][date].
Processing completed by Library staff after 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist,
2012 October 29, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Andrew Smith bought the original Curtis materials in this collection from people who purchased it from C. E. Laurait Company.
Original manuscript material purchased in memory of Ronald Brooks from Andrew Smith, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1986 March
24. The photocopied material from the collection of Andrew Smith was given to the Braun Library in exchange for photocopies
of the Library's Edward S. Curtis/Frederick Webb Hodge Correspondence.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Manuscripts
Photocopies
Correspondence
Clippings
Field notes
Transcripts
Indians of North America -- Portraits
Indians of North America -- Religion
Jicarilla Indians
Haida Indians
Northwest Coast Indians
Cochiti (N.M.)
Jemez Pueblo (N.M.)