Finding aid to the Ronald A. Brooks Papers MS.231
Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2012 September 10
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Ronald A. Brooks Papers
Creator:
Brooks, Ronald Allen
Identifier/Call Number: MS.231
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(6 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1962-1986
Abstract: Ronald Allen Brooks (1937-circa 1986) was an anthropologist and exhibit designer, including a year of employment in the exhibits
department of the Southwest Museum in 1985. This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and photocopied articles
Brooks wrote or collected from 1932-1986, covering anthropological and linguistic topics, such as orangutans, Niska Indians
of the Nass River, Northwest Coast art and archaeology, Northwest Coast fishery history and eulachon or candlefish. This collection
includes copies and drafts of the paper "Box of Daylight: Myths of Invention" which Brooks presented at the Third Annual Meeting
of the Canadian Ethnology Society in Victoria, British Columbia in February of 1976.
Language of Material:
English
.
Ronald Allen Brooks was born 1937 February 9 in Los Angeles. He studied design and construction technology at Santa Monica
College and then studied anthropology at San Francisco State College, where he received his B.A. Brooks then received his
M.A. in anthropology from University of California, Davis. Brooks presented his paper "Box of Daylight: Myths of Invention"
at the Third Annual Meeting of Canadian Ethnology Society in Victoria, British Columbia in February 1976. Brooks also contributed
the definition for "Northwest Coast Art" to Harper and Row's 1976 publication
Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Brooks collected extensive research material for his proposed Ph.D. dissertation "Candlefish Run: A Natural Resource for
Nativistic Revival, Nass River, British Columbia." His dissertation however was never completed. Brooks combined interests
in art and anthropology with his technical skills to work as a museum exhibit curator/designer in the 1970s-1980s, including
a year of employment in the exhibits department of the Southwest Museum in 1985. Ron Brooks passed away in 1985 or 1986.
Processing and finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 September 10, made possible through
grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and photocopied articles from Ronald A. Brooks' anthropological
and linguistic studies from 1962-1986. Research materials include collected articles and class notes covering many topics
in archaeology and linguistics, such as orangutans, Niska Indians of the Nass River, Northwest Coast art and archaeology,
Northwest Coast fishery history and eulachon or candlefish.
Brooks' research files sometimes include annotated index cards, correspondence, diagrams, drawings, maps, notes, and photographs.
Research materials also include collected publications dating from 1939 and on, and include such publications as
Tsimshian Clan and Society by Viola E. Garfield and an undated copy of
Makah Stories by Bob Miller. Collected publications also include an autographed copy of Bill Holm's 1985 exhibit catalog, also named
Box of Daylight.
This collection includes papers regarding Brooks' participation in the Third Annual Meeting of Canadian Ethnology Society
in Victoria, British Columbia in February 1976, copies and drafts of the paper Brooks presented there, "Box of Daylight: Myths
of Invention," and correspondence and edits of this manuscript. This collection also includes all of Brooks' university correspondence
and paperwork from his attendance at various institutions, including applications and transcripts, as well as notes and exams
from lectures and classes. This collection also includes a 1985 resume for exhibition work, listing Dr. Patrick Houlihan as
a reference.
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.
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.
Ronald A. Brooks Papers, 1962-1986, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.231; [folder number] [folder
title][date].
Donation in the memory of Ronald A. Brooks from Mrs. and Dr. Milo B. Brooks, 1986 April 17.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Box of Daylight: Myths of InventionDesigners
Photographs
Tsimshian Clan and Society
Clippings
Correspondence
Orangutans
Manuscripts
Northwest Coast Indians -- Art
Fisheries
Linguistics
Niska Indians
Drawings
Makah Stories
Archaeology
Maps
Canadian Ethnology Society
Holm, Bill