Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Sterling Robbins Papers
- Dates:
- 1962-1965
- Creators:
- Robbins, Sterling
- Abstract:
- The Sterling Robbins papers contain his research and observations of the indigenous Auyana people in the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea between 1963 and 1965.
- Extent:
- 6 Linear feet (13 archives boxes and one shoebox)
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
Sterling Robbins Papers. MSS 767. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Sterling Robbins papers contain his research and observations of the indigenous Auyana people in the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea between 1963 and 1965. His work there was part of the Micro-Evolution Project led by Professor James B. Watson at the University of Washington, and focused on documenting social movements and social structure of highland societies.
The collection includes handwritten field note journals with observations about Auyana valley villages and their inhabitants from approximately September 1963 to September 1965. Robbins created an extensive set of vocabulary cards with Awiyaana to English translations, and conducted a variety of interviews and psychological and cognitive tests.
The collection also includes a sizable audio-visual component with approximately 70 reel-to-reel tapes with recordings of songs, rituals, and autobiographies. Also included are several dozen 35mm film slides and photo prints with scenes of marriages, funerals, surgery, religion, cultural events, landscapes and portraits.
Arranged in three series: 1) LANGUAGE, 2) RESEARCH, and 3) AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Sterling G. Robbins was born in Dodge City, Kansas in 1936. Robbins attended the University of Washington for his graduate studies, earning a Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1970. His dissertation, "Warfare, marriage, and the distribution of goods in Auyana" met mixed reviews in the anthropology community and was later revised, expanded and published as Auyana: Those who Held onto Home (1982). After he earned his Ph.D. Robbins was associated with the University of California, Los Angeles in the early 1970s and after some time became associated with the University of Hawaii.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired 2014
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-04-29 14:23:42 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Original audiovisual formats are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.
- Terms of access:
-
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
- Preferred citation:
-
Sterling Robbins Papers. MSS 767. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
- Location of this collection:
-
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
- Contact:
- (858) 534-2533