Carobeth Laird papers
Finding aid prepared by Julianna Gil, Student Processing Assistant.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2018
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Carobeth Laird papers
Date (inclusive): 1927-1991
Collection Number: MS 109
Creator:
Laird, Carobeth, 1895-1983
Extent:
8.04 linear feet
(11 boxes, 2 flat file folders)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: This collection contains manuscripts, press clippings, and other material regarding the research of Carobeth Laird, a noted
anthropologist, linguistics specialist, and ethnographer who studied the Chemehuevi people of southeastern California and
western Arizona. Materials regarding her first husband, American linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington, are also
included.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Carobeth Laird papers (MS 109). Special Collections & University Archives, University
of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Provenance unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Julianna Gil, Student Processing Assistant, 2018.
Processing of the Carobeth Laird papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian.
Biographical Note
Carobeth Laird was an accomplished anthropologist, linguistics specialist, and ethnographer who studied the Chemehuevi people
of southeastern California and western Arizona.
Laird was born in Coleman, Texas on 20 July, 1895 and married noted linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington in 1916.
Together they conducted field work and ethnographic research on Native American tribes. Laird's experiences through six years
of marriage to John Harrington led to her book
Encounter with an Angry God, published in 1975.
After the dissolution of her marriage to Harrington, Carobeth married George Laird, her principal informant while studying
the Chemehuevi tribe. Laird's work focused particularly on the language and mythology of the Chemehuevi, culminating in two
books:
The Chemehuevis (1976) and
Mirror and Pattern (1984).
In her later years Laird lived in a nursing home and wrote a memoir, titled
Limbo (1979), based on her experiences there and her view of time.
Carobeth Laird passed away on the fifth of August, 1983.
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection contains manuscripts, press clippings, and other material regarding the research of Carobeth Laird a noted
anthropologist, linguistics specialist, and ethnographer who studied the Chemehuevi people of southeastern California and
western Arizona. Material regarding her first husband, American linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington, is also
included.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series as follows:
- Series 1: Literary works, 1970-1991; undated
- Series 2: Lynn Laredo, 1976-1987
- Series 3: Personal, 1927-1987
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Harrington, John Peabody
Chemehuevi Indians
Ethnology
Genres and Forms of Materials
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Series 1. Literary works
1970-1991, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consists of several literary works written by Carobeth Laird. The series includes manuscripts, galley proofs,
publicity and correspondence, and graphic designs for the book's cover art.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged into 7 sub-series as follows:
- Sub-Series 1.1
Encounter with an Angry God, 1973-1984
- Sub-Series 1.2
Limbo, 1978-1981; undated
- Sub-Series 1.3
Mirror and Pattern, 1972-1984
- Sub-Series 1.4
The Chemehuevis, 1970-1980; undated
- Sub-Series 1.5 Short stories, 1973-1983; undated
- Sub-Series 1.6
To Live a Thousand Years, undated
- Sub-Series 1.7 Untitled manuscript, 1991
Sub-Series 1.1.
Encounter with an Angry God
1973-1984
Box 1, Folder 1
Reproductions of materials from the Malki Museum Press
1977
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence regarding movie rights
1975-1981
Box 1, Folder 4, Flat-File-Folder 1
Box 1, Folder 5, Flat-File-Folder 2
Box 1, Folder 6
Cover art and copies of pages
1975
Box 1, Folder 8
Original art and manuscript
undated
Box 2, Folder 1
Literary Magazines featuring
Encounter with an Angry God
1975-1976
Box 2, Folder 2
Proposal for Carobeth Laird interview with UCR about
Encounter with an Angry God
1975
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence regarding development and publication
1975-1984
Box 2, Folder 4
Newspaper articles about
Encounter with an Angry God
1975-1977
Sub-Series 1.2.
Limbo
1978-1981; undated
Box 2, Folder 7
Correspondence regarding
Limbo
1978-1981
Box 2, Folder 8
Manuscript pages 112-200, includes revision notes
undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Manuscript pages I-XIII, and I-III
undated
Sub-Series 1.3.
Mirror and Pattern
1972-1984
Box 2, Folder 11
Correspondence regarding
Mirror and Pattern draft
1972-1983
Sub-Series 1.4.
The Chemehuevis
1970-1980; undated
Box 3, Folder 3
Articles regarding
The Chemehuevis
1976-1978
Box 3, Folder 4
Xeroxes: pages 191-324
circa 1976
Box 3, Folder 5
Xeroxes: pages 69-105
circa 1976
Box 3, Folder 6
Chapters 3-5 with corrections
1975
Box 3, Folder 7
Appendix and endnotes with corrections
undated
Box 3, Folder 8
Manuscript and proofs of introduction
undated
Box 3, Folder 9
Typescript proofs with corrections
undated
Box 3, Folder 10
Early copies of glossary and a brief note on language
1975
Sub-Series 1.5. Short stories
1973-1983; undated
Box 3, Folder 11
The Journal of California Anthropology
undated
Box 3, Folder 12
"Medicine Dance" for the Chemehuevi Newsletters
undated
Box 3, Folder 13
"Chrome Dome and the Lion" short story
undated
Box 3, Folder 14
"Myth, Ritual, Ethnic, Dogma" essay
undated
Box 3, Folder 15
Proofs for "When Animals were People"
1983
Box 3, Folder 16
"The Linguist" draft, pages 1-2 and 147-194, and correspondence
1973; undated
Box 3, Folder 17
"Introduction: To Live a Thousand Years" original copy
undated
Box 3, Folder 18
"Two Chemehuevi Teaching Myths" and "The Buffalo in Chemehuevi Folklore"
undated
Box 3, Folder 19
"Duck Magic" myth and "Intimations of Unity" article
undated
Box 3, Folder 20
Other works and general publishing
1975-1976; undated
Sub-Series 1.6.
To Live a Thousand Years
undated
Box 4, Folder 1
Carobeth Laird's second binder on pages 181-309
undated
Sub-Series 1.7. Untitled manuscript
1991
Box 4, Folder 2 A, B, & C
Parts I, II, and III (Anotated)
1991
Series 2. Lynn Laredo
1976-1987
Series Scope and Contents
The series contains notes, research material, and interview tapes related to Lynn Laredo's work on Carobeth's documentary.
The series also includes personal notes and materials that pertained to her development and early research for the Carobeth
documentary.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged into two sub-series as follows:
- Subseries 2.1. Carobeth Laird documentary, 1979-1987
- Subseries 2.2. Personal materials, 1976-1985; undated
Sub-Series 2.1. Carobeth Laird documentary
1979-1987
Box 4, Folder 3
Notes regarding documentary
1982-1985
Box 4, Folder 4
Lynn Laredo notes
1981-1987; undated
Box 4, Folder 5
Lynn Laredo research material
1976-1983; undated
Box 4, Folder 6
Fact sheets about Carobeth Laird and her documentary
1982
Box 4, Folder 7
Receipts for materials used for the documentary
1979
Box 4, Folder 8
Correspondence regarding permission for audiovisual tapes
1983
Box 5, Folder 1
Correspondence regarding funds for documentary
1981-1982
Box 5, Folder 2
Release forms for documentary
1982
Box 7
Interview tapes
1982
Scope and Content
This file contains six cassette tapes:
1. "7-30-82 Meeting on focus re Carobeth, Lynn, John, Judy, Rennie, Dree Allison, Keely"
2. "Lyyn & Judy discuss Carobeth 5-4-82"
3. "Lynn & Judy discuss Carobeth 5-4-82"
4. "LAIRD"
5. "LAIRD; no pulses"
6. "Interviewer Ruth Miesser-B; Laird; 5-6-82"
Box 9
Lynn Laredo interview of Carobeth Laird
1983; undated
Scope and Content
Two KCS20BR video tapes under Unit IV title; third Unit IV tape is a Memorex T-120 model.
Sub-Series 2.2. Personal materials
1976-1985; undated
Box 5, Folder 3
Outline of visual tribute to Carobeth Laird
undated
Box 5, Folder 4
Notes on documentary logistics
1983-1984; undated
Box 5, Folder 5
Outline of slides for Carobeth Laird project
1982-1985
Box 5, Folder 6
Advanced copies and distribution list
1976; undated
Box 5, Folder 7
John Rafter items
1982-1983
Scope and Contents
This file contains fylers, correspondence, photographs, and notes related to John Rafter, who worked along with Carobeth Laird
in his research on analyzing a tortoise intaglio site located north of Highway 15, between Barstow and Yermo.
Box 5, Folder 8
News and correspondence regarding ancient "Sun Daggers"
1982-1983
Box 5, Folder 9
Lynn Laredo material
1977-1983
Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence that was related to Carobeth Laird, as well as a certificate of appreciation.
Box 5, Folder 10
Phone and address lists
undated
Series 3. Personal
1927-1987
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains personal materials related to events in Carobeth Laird's life. Such events include her memorial service,
her ex-husband John Peabody Harrington, and award certificates.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged into five sub-series as follows:
- Subseries 3.1. Memorial, 1983
- Subseries 3.2. Awards and recognition, 1982-1983
- Subseries 3.3. Publicity, 1975-1984
- Subseries 3.4. Life events, 1973-1987
- Subseries 3.5. John Peabody Harrington, 1927-1978; undated
Sub-Series 3.1. Memorial
1983
Box 5, Folder 11
Flyers and materials for the memorial at Bernardo Winery
1983
Box 5, Folder 12
Tributes to Carobeth Laird in newspapers
1983
Box 5, Folder 14
Memorial Symposium for Carobeth Laird at California State University, Hayward
1984
Box 6, Folder 1
Photographs from Carobeth Laird's funeral mass/reception
undated
Box 6, Folder 2
Carobeth Laird's notice of death
1983
Box 6, Folder 3
Newspaper articles on Carobeth Laid's death
1983
Box 9
Carobeth Memorial Celebration video cassettes
undated
Scope and Content
This file contains no. 2, 3, and 4 out of 5 Sony KCS20 video cassettes.
Box 9
Laird Symposium video cassettes
1984; undated
Scope and Content
This file contains 4 out of 4 Sony KCS20 video cassettes, one of them titled "'Pointing Here and There' 7 Minute Demo."
Box 11
Carobeth Memorial video cassettes
1983
Scope and Content
This file contains 7 Sony KCS20 BR video cassettes; cassettes no. 5 and 1 are dublicated.
Sub-Series 3.2. Awards and recognition
1982-1983
Box 6, Folder 4
Bulletins and newsletters about her honorary doctorate
1983
Box 6, Folder 5
Newspaper articles about Carobeth's honorary doctorate
1983
Box 6, Folder 6
Information for Northern Arizona University doctorate consideration
undated
Box 6, Folder 7
Menu from NAU Honorary Doctorate Ceremony
undated
Box 6, Folder 8
Carobeth Laird recognition in Pasadena, CA
1982
Sub-Series 3.3. Publicity
1975-1984
Box 6, Folder 9
Publicity for Carobeth book readings
1975-1982
Box 6, Folder 10
Malki Museum Press celebration
1975-1976
Box 6, Folder 11
Malki Museum Press winter publication list
1984
Sub-Series 3.4. Life events
1973-1987
Box 6, Folder 12
Georgia Laird Culp correspondence
1983-1987
Box 6, Folder 13
Newspaper articles about events in Carobeth Laid's life
1976-1983
Box 6, Folder 14
Photographs of Carobeth Laird
undated
Box 6, Folder 15
Harry Lawton correspondence
1973-1986
Box 7
Carobeth Laird lecture at Southwestern Anthropological Assn. Annual Meeting
1982
Scope and Content
This file contains tapes 1, 3, and 4 out of 4; all three tapes are Scotch 3 millimeter, 209 audio recording.
Box 7
Untitled Carobeth Laid audio recording
undated
Scope and Content
This file contains a 5" 1.0 millimeter audio recording tape.
Box 8
Small picture slides of Carobeth Laird
undated
Box 10
Harry Lawton interview of Carobeth video cassettes
1982
Scope and Content
This file contains three Sony KCA60 video cassettes, titled:
1. "Harry Lawton interviewing Carobeth Laird"
2. "Malki Museum Fiesta"
3. "Carobeth interview finish"
Box 10
Malki Museum Fiesta video cassettes
1982
Scope and Content
This file contains 7 out of 7 Sony KCS20 video cassettes.
Box 11
Counsel Rocks (I & II)
1982
Scope and Content
This file contains three Sony KCS20 BR video cassettes, from Unit III A & B.
Sub-Series 3.5. John Peabody Harrington
1927-1978; undated
Box 6, Folder 16
Articles and photograph of John Peabody Harrington
1927-1978
Box 6, Folder 17
Biographical summaries on John P. Harrington
1961-1970; undated