Hover Photograph Collection, 1900-1920

Summary

Title:

Hover Photograph Collection

Dates:

1900-1920

Creators:

Elsie E. Hover

Abstract:

Extent:

47 photographic prints, 1 digital print, 48 photographic negatives

Language:

Preferred citation:

Hover Photograph Collection. Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives

Background

Scope and content:

The Hover Collection contains 48 images, held in one three-ring binder, depicting early 1900s life along the Klamath River in northern California in the Karuk Indian homeland region. The images show activities of ceremonial significance as well as those of everyday life. There are also portraits, landscapes, and images of Indian baskets. It is arranged in one series with all of the available information about each image included in the item level inventory in the Container List.

Biographical / historical:

Elsie Starritt Hover (1902-1972) taught in elementary schools in Humboldt County for thirty-two years. Throughout her career she incorporated information about the Indians of northwest California into class programs and presentations. She used her family's basket collection and photographs in these activities. Mrs. Hover is a descendent of Karuk Indian families and of Euro-Americans who came to northwest California as gold miners. As a young woman, Elsie Hover was befriended by Grace Nicholson. Ms. Nicholson financed Elsie's education at Humboldt State University where she graduated in 1925. More information about the Hover and Starritt families can be found in The Hover Collection of Karuk Baskets. Eureka, Ca.: Clarke Memorial Museum; 1985. The Hover Basket Collection can be seen at the Clarke Historical Museum (formerly the Clarke Memorial Museum) in Eureka, CA.

Acquisition information:

The photographs were donated to the Humboldt State University Library around 1970, at the same time that a portion of the Hover Basket Collection was loaned to the Library. The Hover Basket Collection is now at the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, CA.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Karok baskets
Karuk Indians

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Finding aid created by Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives staff.

Date Prepared:

1900-1920

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Humboldt State University Library. To obtain permission to reproduce, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Preferred citation:

Hover Photograph Collection. Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives

Location of this collection:

Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives

Third Floor, Room 303

1 Harpst Street

Arcata, CA 95521-8299, US

Contact:

(707) 826-3419

archives@humboldt.edu

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