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Miss Indian America archive
M0810
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Miss Indian America archive
source:
Brayer, Herbert Oliver
Identifier/Call Number: M0810
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(5 boxes: 3 archival boxes and 2 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1945-1984
Date (bulk): 1950s
Abstract: The Miss Indian America archive contains materials pertaining to the Miss Indian America pageant held during All American
Indian Days in Sheridan, Wyoming from 1954 to 1984. This pageant was envisioned as an alternative to the Miss America pageant.
Contestants in both pageants were young, unmarried women who represented their land of orign. Miss America contestants represented
their home states and Miss Indian America contestants represented their tribe. The pageants were very similar and contestants
in both demonstrated their talents onstage. Miss Indian America contestants did not wear swimsuits but instead wore traditional
tribal dresses. The winner of the Miss Indian America pageant embarked on a speaking tour in order to gain awareness for a
charity of her choice and also met with the winner of the Miss America pageant. The Miss Indian America pageant was one of
the main events of the American Indian Days which celebrated tribal traditions and events over the course of three days.
[identification of item], Miss Indian America archive (M0810). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted
to a digital use copy.
This collection was purchased by Stanford University, Special Collections in 1995.
The Miss Indian America archive consists of five boxes of materials. Included are photographs of both the Miss Indian America
pageant and the All American Indian Days events which took place in Sheridan, Wyoming. The contestants' applications and
multiple judges' notes are also included in the collection. Herbert O. Brayer, the creator of this collection was heavily
involved in the pageant's organization, and the collection includes his writings, correspondence and newspaper clippings about
his research on the Old West. Also included are tourism brochures, event schedules and programs of the All American Indian
Days. Of note is a record of Indian tribal songs, prints by Randy Steffan and informational brochures designed for Native
American children.
Along with materials about the Miss Indian America pageant are clippings, programs and photographs from the Miss America pageant
from 1954- 1956.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
In the 1950s Sheridan, Wyoming resembled Jim Crow-era South with tensions between the Native American population and the white
residents. In 1952, a young Crow Indian girl named Lucy Yellow Mule was selected as the Sheridan-WYO- Rodeo Queen leading
to a movement to improve the relationships among the community members of Sheridan. Sheridan also won two awards the "Silver
Anvil" National Honor Award and the George Washington Honor Medal Freedom Foundaton of Valley Forge Pennsylvania for promoting
better understanding and tolerance between races. From these two awards, All American Indian Days was established. The event
was intended to preserve Indian rituals, tribal games, clothing, art, language and stories.
The Miss Indian America Pageant began in 1954 as part of the All American Indian Days and was held each year in Sheridan,
Wyoming. In 1984, the pageant moved to Bismarck, North Dakota where it was held until the mid- 1990s. The pageant was intended
to select someone who would be a good public relations representative for the Native American community. Miss Indian America
must be someone "dedicated to the cultural well-being of tribe, she must have a comprehensive knowledge of her people and
be dedicated to their advancement. She must have the appearance, personality and poise to represent her people in the white
community." The winner of the pageant spent a year traveling around the United States speaking about her tribe and Native
American issues.
The contestants were unmarried women between the ages of 16 and 25. They were asked to wear traditional costumes including
headdresses and feathers even if these accessories were not part of contestant's tribal outfit and present a talent. Each
contestant also gave a personal gift to her sponsor. Most of the judges were white throughout the pageant's history.
Seavey, C. (2012, October 29). All- American Days are Gone. Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved from http://trib.com/news/local/casper/answergirl/all-american-indian-days.
Zhorow, I. (2013, July 12). Years Later, Miss Indian America Pageant Winners Reunite. WRUR.org. Retrieved from http://wrur.org/post/years-later-miss-indian-america-pageant-winners-reunite.
Kozol, W. (2005). Miss Indian America: Regulatory Gazes and the Politics of Affiliation. Feminist Studies, 31. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20459007.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Shoshone
Miss America Pageant, Atlantic City, N.J. -- History.
Native Americans of North America
Yurok Indians -- Music.
Cheyenne Indians
Hupa Indians
Wyoming
Gros Ventre Indians (Montana)
Piegan Indians
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
Nez Perce Indians -- History
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon
Pawnee Indians
Crow Indians
Women.
Ute Indians
Navajo Indians -- Photographs.
Pueblo Indians -- Photographs.
Cayuse Indians
Kiowa Indians
Brayer, Herbert Oliver