Hover Photograph Collection
Finding aid created by Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS
Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives
2023
Third Floor, Room 303
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, California 95521-8299
(707) 826-3419
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https://specialcollections.humboldt.edu/
Title: Hover Photograph Collection
Dates: 1900-1920
Collection Number: E78 C15 H6 (1999.12)
Creator/Collector:
Elsie E. Hover
Extent: 47 photographic prints, 1 digital print, 48 photographic negatives
Online items available
Repository:
Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives
Arcata, California 95521-8299
Abstract: The Hover Collection contains 48 images depicting early 1900s life along the Klamath River in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties,
California within the Karuk Indian homeland region. The images present activities of ceremonial significance as well as everyday
Native American life, plus portraits, landscapes, and basket collections.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Humboldt State University Library. To obtain permission to reproduce, please contact
the Special Collections Librarian.
[Identification of item]. Hover Photograph Collection. Collection Number: E78 C15 H6 (1999.12). Cal Poly Humboldt, Library
Special Collections and Archives
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.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Karok baskets
Karuk Indians