Ann Chowning Papers

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla 92093-0175

spcoll@ucsd.edu

URL: http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/index.html

Descriptive Summary

Languages: English

Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla 92093-0175

Title: Ann Chowning Papers

Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0242

Physical Description: 2.4 Linear feet (6 archives boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1957-1994

Abstract: Papers of Ann Chowning, American anthropologist, related to her fieldwork in Papua New Guinea among the Molima people of Milne Bay Province on Fergusson Island in 1957-1958 and 1975-1976, the Sengseng people of West New Britain Province in 1962-1966 and 1980-1981, and the Kove people of West New Britain Province in 1966-1968 and 1975-1976. Included are typescripts of field notes organized according to George Murdock's Human Relations Area Files arrangement, language notes largely comprising Sengseng vocabulary lists, essays by Chowning, and 35mm color slides documenting daily life, customs, song performances, and dance of people in West New Britain Province. The slides are complimentary to those found in Jane Goodale Papers (MSS 643) and cover those times when Chowning conducted joint fieldwork with her friend and co-fieldworker Jane Goodale in 1963-1964.

Scope and Content of the Collection

The Ann Chowning papers relate to some of Chowning's work in Papua New Guinea. The files included with this accession mainly pertain to her fieldwork among the Molima (Milne Bay Province, Fergusson Island, 1957-1958 and 1975-1976), the Sengseng (West New Britain, 1962-1966, and 1980-1981), and the Kove (West New Britain, 1966-1968 and 1975-1976) peoples. Materials contain Murdock's human relations area files, language notes, essays, and slides. The writings by Chowning are based on her long-term fieldwork conducted in West New Britain Province from 1954 through 1992. A significant part of this collection is slide materials from nearly 240 rolls taken while in West New Britain in 1963-1964. The slides cover those occasions when Chowning was doing joint fieldwork with Jane Goodale, her friend and co-fieldworker, who was working at that time among the Kaulong people in Umbi of West New Britain.

The collection is arranged in four series: 1) HUMAN RELATIONS AREA FILES, 2) LANGUAGE NOTES, 3) WRITINGS BY CHOWNING, and 4) SLIDES.

SERIES 1: HUMAN RELATIONS AREA FILES

The HUMAN RELATIONS AREA FILES series contains typescript notes and photocopies of typescript notes extracted from field notes and compiled by Chowning according to subject categories described in George Murdock's classification system for cultural anthropology. Chowning brought together all pages dealing with a particular aspect of culture and compiled them preserving the chronological order in which they appear in her field notes. Compiled notes are extracted from field notes written while Chowning was among the Molima people of Milne Bay Province in 1957-1958 and 1975-1976, the Sengseng people in West New Britain Province in 1962-1966 and 1980-1981, and the Kove people of West New Britain in 1966-1968 and 1975-1976. The files are arranged in three subseries: A) Molima Materials, B) Sengseng Materials, and C) Kove Materials. Each subseries is arranged in numerical order according to numbers assigned to subject categories used in Murdock's classification system.

SERIES 2: LANGUAGE NOTES

The LANGUAGE NOTES series documents Chowning's study of Sengseng language in the field and contains handwritten and typewritten notes with vocabulary lists extracted from notebooks. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.

SERIES 3: WRITINGS BY CHOWNING

The WRITINGS BY CHOWNING contains published and unpublished writings arranged in two subseries: A) General Writings and B) Grant Reports. The General Writings subseries contains typescripts and reprints of articles on various aspects of Melanesian culture, as well as typescripts of papers given at various conferences and meetings. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by title. The Grant Reports subseries consists of progress reports written to various granting agencies, including the National Science Foundation, and is arranged chronologically.

SERIES 4: SLIDES

The SLIDES series contains 35mm color slides and documents the joint fieldwork of Chowning and her co-fieldworker Jane Goodale in 1963-1964 while in New Britain. The slides were largely made when Chowning visited her friend in Umbi or on occasions when they traveled together from their field sites to nearby communities for the observation of rituals and celebrations. The slides are complementary to those found in Jane Goodale Papers (MSS 643) and document daily life, costumes, rituals, song performances, and dance. The series is arranged numerically using roll numbers assigned by Chowning.

Biography

Ann Chowning, American anthropologist, received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral thesis was based on her 1954-1956 fieldwork with the Lakalai people of West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. She retired as professor of anthropology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Earlier she taught at Bryn Mawr and Barnard Colleges in Pennsylvania and at the University of Papua New Guinea, and was a senior research fellow at the Australian National University. She carried out long-term fieldwork in four distinct Papua New Guinea societies from 1954 through 1992. Studied groups included the Lakalai of West New Britain Province, the Molima of Milne Bay Province on Fergusson Island, the Sengseng of West New Britain Province, and the Kove of West New Britain Province. She studied economic and religious organization, beliefs, practices and relations. Chowning especially focused on Austronesian languages and their comparative aspects, on folklore and religion, and on patterns of insanity.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred Citation

Ann Chowning Papers, MSS 242. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 1995, 1996, 2011, 2013.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Milne Bay Province (Papua New Guinea) -- Social life and customs

West New Britain Province (Papua New Guinea) -- Social life and customs

Oceania -- Anthropology

Molima (Papua New Guinean people)

Anthropology -- Oceania

Kove (Papua New Guinean people)

Sengseng (Papua New Guinean people)

Anthropology -- Melanesia

Chowning, Ann -- Archives

HUMAN RELATIONS AREA FILES

Molima Materials

Molima. Fergusson Island. Milne Bay Province

Box 1, Folder 1

Subjects 103 through 512 (Photocopies) 1957 - 1958

Box 1, Folder 2

Subjects 522 through 597 (Photocopies) 1957 - 1958

Box 1, Folder 3

Subjects 600 through 750 (Photocopies) 1957 - 1975

Box 1, Folder 4

Subjects 760 through 789 (Photocopies) 1957 - 1975

Box 1, Folder 5

Subjects 792 through 886 (Photocopies) 1957 - 1958

Sengseng Materials

Box 1, Folder 6

Place Names (103) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1968

Box 1, Folder 7

Acculturation (177) - Contains typescript 1963 - 1966

Box 1, Folder 8

Language (19) - Contains photocopy 1980 - 1981

Box 1, Folder 9

Food Quest (22) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1964

Box 1, Folder 10

Domesticated Animals (231) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1964

Box 1, Folder 11

Tillage (241) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1964

Box 1, Folder 12

Adornment (30) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 1, Folder 13

Property (42) - Contains typescript 1958 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 1

Literary Texts (539) - Contains typescript 1964 - 1968

Box 2, Folder 2

Ingroup Antagonisms (578) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 3

Marriage (58) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 4

Residence (591) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 5

Kinship (60) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 6

Headmen (622) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 7

War (72) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 8

Sickness (75) - Contains typescript 1957 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 9

Sorcery (754) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 10

Death (76) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 11

Religious Beliefs (77) - Contains typescript 1963 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 12

Mythology (773) - Contains typescript 1963

Box 2, Folder 13

Spirits and Gods (776) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 14

Religious Practices (78) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1966

Box 2, Folder 15

Avoidance and Taboo (784) - Contains typescript 1980 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 16

Time (805) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1963

Box 2, Folder 17

Ethnozoology (825) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1963

Box 2, Folder 18

Sex (83) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1981

Box 2, Folder 19

Childbirth (844) - Contains typescript 1963 - 1964

Box 2, Folder 20

Infancy and Childhood (85) - Contains typescript 1962 - 1965

Kove Materials

Kove. West New Britain

Box 2, Folder 21

Subjects 103 through 591 (Photocopies) 1966 - 1976

Box 2, Folder 22

Subjects 600 through 760 (Photocopies) 1966 - 1976

Box 2, Folder 23

Subjects 772 through 844 (Photocopies) 1966 - 1976

LANGUAGE NOTES

Box 3, Folder 1

Miu - Language Notes, collected by Jane Goodale - Contains typescript

Sengseng - Language Notes

Box 3, Folder 2

Contains photocopy and handwritten notes

Box 3, Folder 3

Contains typescript

Box 3, Folder 4

Some Examples of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian Reflexes in Sengseng - Contains typescript

WRITINGS BY CHOWNING

General Writings

Box 3, Folder 5

List of publications relating to Chowning's work in Melanesia - Contains typescript

Box 3, Folder 6

Acculturation and the Role of Spirits in the Passismanua. American Anthropological Association meeting paper 1964

Box 3, Folder 7

Adolescence in Four Papua New Guinea Societies 1994

Box 3, Folder 8

Antagonistic Siblings and Wandering Creators undated

Box 3, Folder 9

Austranesian Languages of New Britain - Contains typescript 1969

Box 3, Folder 10

Changes in Staple Crops in West New Britain undated

Box 3, Folder 11

Changes in West New Britain Trading Systems in the 20th Century. Published in Mankind, Vol. 11, No. 3. Contains typescript 1978

Box 3, Folder 12

Choice of Kin Roles in Lakalai 1966

Box 3, Folder 13

The Contaminating Woman. Written with Jane C. Goodale undated

Box 3, Folder 14

Culture and Biology Among the Sengseng of New Britain - Contains typescript undated

Box 3, Folder 15

The Elections in Kombe, West Britain undated

Box 3, Folder 16

Family Fertility Among the Kove. Published in Reproductive Decision Making and the Value of Children. Contains typescript 1988

Box 3, Folder 17

Honoring the Firstborn: Changes in the Nature and Focus of Ceremonies in Two West Britain Societies 1987

Box 3, Folder 18

Introduction to the Peoples and Cultures of Melanesia. Published in Addison-Wesley Module in Anthropology, No. 38. Contains a copy of the publication 1973

Box 3, Folder 19

Journey of the Soul: Dreams, Divination, and Dying. Conference paper undated

Box 3, Folder 20

'A Kept Woman of the Administration': A Personal View of Relations Between One Ethnographer and Administration Personnel, 1954-1975. Assocation for Social Anthropology in Oceania meeting paper undated

Box 3, Folder 21

Kove Political Organization, conference paper 1970

Box 3, Folder 22

Lakalai Kinship. Published in Anthropological Forum, Vol. 1, No. 3-4. Contains reprint 1965 - 1966

Box 3, Folder 23

Lakalai Religion and World View and the Concept of "Seaboard Religion." Australian National University seminar ca. 1970

Box 3, Folder 24

Leadership in Melanesia. Published in The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 14, Part 1 and 2. Contains reprint 1979

Box 3, Folder 25

Living with the Dead undated

Box 3, Folder 26

The Massim as a Culture Area. First International Kula Conference paper ca. 1978

Box 3, Folder 27

Maturing as a Lakalai Woman, 1954-1992. Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania meeting paper 1994

Box 3, Folder 28

The Molima of Fergusson Island 1958

Box 3, Folder 29

Pleasures, Pains, and Surprises of Returns to the Field. Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania meeting paper undated

Box 3, Folder 30

Rapid Lexical Change and Aberrant Melanesian Languages: Sengseng and Its Neighbours. Published in Pacific Linguistics, C-88. Contains typescript 1985

Box 3, Folder 31

Real Melanesia: An Appraisal of Parsonson's Theories. December. Published in Mankind, Vol. 6, No. 12. Contains reprint 1968

Box 3, Folder 32

Recent Grandparenting in Three PNG Societies. Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania meeting paper undated

Box 4, Folder 1

The Sengseng of New Britain undated

Box 4, Folder 2

Tradition and Change in One Woman's Life: Biato of Lakalai. American Anthropological Association meeting paper undated

Box 4, Folder 3

Witchcraft Among the Molima of Fergusson Island. Philadelphia Anthropological Society meeting ca. 1959

Grant Reports

Box 4, Folder 4

National Science Foundation progress report 1958

Box 4, Folder 5

National Science Foundation - The Ethnography of New Britain. Two reports, written with Jane C. Goodale 1964, 1965

Box 4, Folder 6

Report on research in Sengseng, West Britain, Papua New Guinea, November 1980-February 1981 ca. 1981

Box 4, Folder 7

Victoria University of Wellington research grant ca. 1987

SLIDES

Box 4, Folder 8

Roll YB-1 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 9

Roll Y-YA-YB-2 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 10

Roll Y-YA-YB-3 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 11

Roll Y-YA-YB-4 July-September 1963

Box 4, Folder 12

Roll Y-YA-YB-5 July-September 1963

Box 4, Folder 13

Roll YA-YB-8 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 14

Roll YB-9 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 15

Roll Y-12 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 16

Roll Y-13 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 17

Roll Y-15-16 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 18

Roll Y-17 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 19

Roll Y-18 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 20

Roll Y-19 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 21

Roll Y-YA-20 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 22

Roll Y-21 September 1963

Box 4, Folder 23

Roll Y-22 October 1963

Box 4, Folder 24

Roll Y-23 November 1963

Box 4, Folder 25

Roll Y-24 October-November 1963

Box 4, Folder 26

Roll Y-25 November 1963

Box 4, Folder 27

Roll Y-26 October 1963

Box 4, Folder 28

Roll Y-27 November 1963

Box 4, Folder 29

Roll Y-28 November 1963

Box 4, Folder 30

Roll Y-29 October 1963

Box 4, Folder 31

Roll Y-30 November 1963

Box 4, Folder 32

Roll Y31 - Y35 October-November 1963

Box 4, Folder 33

Roll Y36 - Y40 October-December 1963

Box 4, Folder 34

Roll Y41 - Y45 December 1963

Box 4, Folder 35

Roll Y46 - Y47 December 1963

Box 4, Folder 36

Roll Y50 - Y56 December 1963

Box 4, Folder 37

Roll Y57 - Y60 December 1963

Box 4, Folder 38

Roll Y61 - Y65 December-January 1963 - 1964

Box 4, Folder 39

Roll Y66 - Y69 January 1964

Box 4, Folder 40

Roll 72 - 75 January-February 1964

Box 5, Folder 1

Roll 77 - 80 February 1964

Box 5, Folder 2

Roll 81 - 85 February-March 1964

Box 5, Folder 3

Roll 78 - 89 February-April 1964

Box 5, Folder 4

Roll 90 - 98 March 1964

Box 5, Folder 5

Roll 99 - 104 March-April 1964

Box 5, Folder 6

Roll 105 - 110 March-April 1964

Box 5, Folder 7

Roll 111 - 115 April 1964

Box 5, Folder 8

Roll 116 - 120 April 1964

Box 5, Folder 9

Roll 121 - 126 April 1964

Box 5, Folder 10

Roll 127 - 130 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 11

Roll 131 - 136 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 12

Roll 137 - 141 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 13

Roll 142 - 146 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 14

Roll 147 - 150 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 15

Roll 151 - 154 June 1964

Box 5, Folder 16

Roll 155 - 157 July 1964

Box 5, Folder 17

Roll 158 - 161 July 1964

Box 5, Folder 18

Roll 162 - 165 July 1964

Box 5, Folder 19

Roll 166 - 169 July 1964

Box 5, Folder 20

Roll 170 - 174 July 1964

Box 5, Folder 21

Roll 176 - 180 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 1

Roll 181 - 184 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 2

Roll 185 - 186 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 3

Roll 187 - 190 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 4

Roll 191 - 195 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 5

Roll 196 - 199 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 6

Roll 200 - 203 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 7

Roll 204 - 207 July 1964

Box 6, Folder 8

Roll 208 - 210 July-August 1964

Box 6, Folder 9

Roll 211 - 215 August 1964

Box 6, Folder 10

Roll 216 - 221 August 1964

Box 6, Folder 11

Roll 222 - 225 August 1964

Box 6, Folder 12

Roll 226 - 230 August 1964

Box 6, Folder 13

Roll 231 - 235 August 1964

Box 6, Folder 14

Roll 237 - 240 August 1964