Northern California Indian Association Newsletters and Bulletins, Early 20th Century

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Summary

Title:
Northern California Indian Association newsletters and bulletins
Dates:
Early 20th Century
Creators:
Northern California Indian Association
Abstract:
The Northern California Indian Association, formed in 1894, was a branch of the Women's National Indian Association, which formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1879. The Northern California Indian Association, based in San Jose, CA, campaigned for "the physical, moral, and educational advancement" of the California Indians. This collection consists of newsletters and bulletins from the Northern California Indian Association in the early 20th century. Many of the items focus on the Zayante Indian Conferences held annually in Mount Hermon, California beginning in 1906. There is also information about the Association's efforts to start an industrial school for Indians and a report from the Indian Board of Co-Operation.
Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet (2 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Northern California Indian Association Newsletters and Bulletins, Early 20th century, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.1311; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of newsletters and bulletins from the Northern California Indian Association in the early 20th century. Many of the items focus on the Zayante Indian Conferences held annually in Mount Hermon, California beginning in 1906. There is also information about the Association's efforts to start an industrial school for Indians. A report from the Indian Board of Co-Operation is also included. The document in Folder 2 was found along with Folder 1, though the creator and date of this document is unknown.

Biographical / historical:

The Northern California Indian Association, formed in 1894, was a branch of the Women's National Indian Association, which formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1879. The Northern California Indian Association, based in San Jose, California, campaigned for "the physical, moral, and educational advancement" of the California Indians. The organization considered itself non-denominational Christian.

In 1901, the national organization's name changed to the National Indian Association, though its membership remained mostly female. The following people were officers in the San Jose branch: Mrs. Josephine Gilchrist, Mrs. Mary Edwards, Mrs. Jessie Knight Jordan, Mrs. E.D. Van Denburgh, Miss Jennie Farwell, Mrs. Fred Smith, Mr. Charles E. Kelsey, Mrs. Edith Beasly, Miss Cornelia Taber, Mrs. Mary Bacon, and Mrs. Ed Williams.

George Wharton James (1858-1923) was born in Gainsborough, England. He became a preacher for the Methodist Church before coming to California in the 1880s. While in California, James abandoned the ministry and traveled throughout the United States. He was well known as a writer, explorer, book collector, artifact collector, and an Indian civil-rights activist. Like Charles F. Lummis, James was considered an eccentric of the American West. The two men had a notable rivalry though James served as editor of Lummis' Out West magazine beginning in 1912.

Reference: Wild, Peter. George Wharton James. Boise, Idaho: Boise State University, 1990.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Edith E. Farnsworth as part of the George Wharton James Library, 1928 November 28.
Custodial history:

This collection was part of the George Wharton James Collection donated to the Southwest Museum Library in 1928.

Processing information:

Initial processing and finding aid created by Natalie Sims, 2010. Final processing of collection and publication of finding aid made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Arrangement:

  • Folder 1: Northern California Indian Association, Zayante Indian Conferences
  • Folder 2: Liquor Problem Among the Indians

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-06-08 18:27:40 +0000 .

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:

Northern California Indian Association Newsletters and Bulletins, Early 20th century, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.1311; [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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