Curtin Family Collection, 1922-1981

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Summary

Creators:
Curtin, L. S. M. (Leonora Scott Muse) and Paloheimo, Leonora Curtin
Abstract:
This collection includes materials by or collected by Leonora Muse Curtin (1879-1972) and Leonora Curtin Paloheimo (1903-1999), the daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of renowned Southwest and California painter Eva Scott Fenyes from 1922-1981. Materials include correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, sheet music, song lyrics, and publications on topics such as Native American bracelets, Native American weaving, Pima ethnobotany, and poetry.
Extent:
0.3 Linear Feet (1 box, 1 oversized folder)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Curtin Family Collection, 1922-1981, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.648; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes materials by or collected by Leonora Muse Curtin and Leonora Curtin Paloheimo from 1922-1981. Materials include correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, sheet music, song lyrics, and publications. Topics covered in these materials include Native American bracelets, Native American weaving, Pima ethnobotany, and poetry. Manuscripts include original artwork and notes for a manuscript entitled "Santos of New Mexico: a review of the literature and bibliography with a key to identify the painters" by E. Boyd, 1947; a manuscript for a publication entitled "New Mexican Folk Melodies from the Collection of Leonora Curtin" transcribed by J. W. Robb; and a manuscript entitled "The Story and Songs of Los Pastores (Agua Fria Version)," Collected, Condensed, and Translated by the Federal Writers' Project of New Mexico, presented by the Santa Fe Unit of the Federal Music Project of New Mexico, Sponsored by the New Mexico Writers' Guild on Christmas Day, 1938. Some song lyrics in this collection are in Spanish. The tall folder contains a clipping on El Rancho de las Golondrinas from 1973.

Biographical / historical:

Leonora S. Muse Curtin (1879-1972) was the daughter of renowned Southwest and California painter Eva Scott Fenyes. Curtin was a linguist and studied language and culture in India, Switzerland, Morocco, and among Native Americans of the Southwest. Curtin's daughter, also named Leonora Curtin (1903-1999) shared her mother's interest in the Southwest, and together the two designed and built an adobe-style home in La Cienega, New Mexico in 1931 and named it El Rancho de las Golondrinas. The younger Curtin married Yrjo Alfred Paloheimo and took his last name in 1946.

Processing information:

Processed 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).

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

Curtin Family Collection, 1922-1981, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.648; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Location of this collection:
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027, US
Contact:
(747) 201-8448
rroom@theautry.org
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