Patricia A. Etter Papers 2009.M.1.Etter

Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
411 and 415 Bernard Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Business Number: (323) 222-0856
info@chssc.org


Contributing Institution: Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
Title: Patricia A. Etter Papers
Creator: Etter, Patricia A., 1932-2013
Identifier/Call Number: 2009.M.1.Etter
Physical Description: 0.83 Linear Feet 2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1973-1994
Date (bulk): 1976-1979
Abstract: The collection documents Etter's research about 19th century Chinese opium pipes and smoking at two sites: Donner Summit, California and Virginia City, Nevada.
Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for qualified researchers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Patricia A. Etter in May 2009.

Biographical / Historical

Patricia A. Etter had a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Arizona in 1986; a Bachelor of Arts from California State University in 1979; and an Associate of Arts degree from Santa Monica College in 1977. She also received a Certification in Archives Management from the National Archives and Records Association in 1987; and a recognition as an Outstanding Anthropology Alumnus from California State University from 1991-1992. She was recipient of two Coke Wood Awards from Westerners International for the best journal article (both published in Overland Journal). She was author of To California on The Southern Route: A History and Annotated Bibliography. She was also the editor of An American Odyssey; and California Odyssey: A Journey of Southern Trails. Etter briefly worked under Paul G. Chace and Associates in California. She later served as a Manuscripts Librarian at the University of Arizona. Between 1989 and 2006, she was the curator of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University (ASU); the center is a part of the American Indian Research Library. At ASU, she was a member of Emeritus College; was on the advisory board of the University Club; and was affiliated with ASU's sponsorship with the Pima County Public Library's Southwest Books of the Year program. In addition, Etter was on the Board of Directors of the Oregon California Trails Association and its Editorial Advisory Board; and was on the Editorial Board of the Western Historical Quarterly. Etter passed in 2013.

Preferred Citation

Patricia A. Etter papers. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, research materials, photographs, bibliographies, presentations, scrapbooks, published materials, and manuscripts dealing with the collection and study of opium pipes and opium smoking material. The two manuscripts included were used for William S. Evans' classes who was the Professor of Archaeology at Santa Monica College from 1976-1878. Material were collected at two sites: Donner Summit, California; and Virginia City, Nevada. Also included is a copy of "West Coast Chinese and Opium Smoking," Archeological Perspectives on Ethnicity in America. These materials document one of the first in-depth studies of opium pipes, accompanying paraphernalia and containers.

Processing Information

Arranged and described by Patricia A. Etter. Additional description by Gladys Garcia.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Chinese Americans
Opium
Chinese Americans -- History -- 19th century
Chinese Americans -- California -- History -- 19th century

box 1, folder 1

Correspondence 1976-1979

box 1, folder 2

Research notes undated

box 1, folder 3-5

Photocopies of opium articles undated

box 1, folder 6

Drawings of opium pipe bowls undated

Scope and Contents

Drawings of opium pipe bowl parts by Patricia Etter. Includes black and white negative for reproduction
box 1, folder 7

Photograph negatives undated

Scope and Contents

228 black and white negatives of opium bowl shards and tin opium bowl containers
box 1, folder 8

Chinese artifact descriptions: opium tin lids and other metal pieces 1975 undated

Scope and Contents

Chinese artifact descriptions of opium tin lids and other metal pieces collected from Donner Summit including 25 photographs matching numbered artifacts held by Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
box 1, folder 9

Kodachrome slides 1977-1979

Scope and Contents

83 Kodachrome slides - color and black and white - of various opium artifacts, pipe shards, opium smoker, an opium den, and more, from Virginia City and Donner Summit
box 1, folder 10

Chinese artifact descriptions: pipe bowls, Virginia City, Nevada undated

Scope and Contents

Descriptions and 14 photographs of Chinese artifacts from Virginia City, Nevada
box 1, folder 11

Chinese artifact descriptions: pipe bowls, Donner Summit, California undated

Scope and Contents

Descriptions and 20 photographs and various notes and from Donner Summit, California
box 1, folder 12

Opium paraphernalia: Stockton Police Department undated

Scope and Contents

Etter photo of opium paraphernalia from Stockton Police Department
box 1, folder 13

Photographs 1973-1979

Scope and Contents

36 black and white photographs of opium pipes, bowls and paraphernalia by Etter, including photos of opium dens, Chinese, and Chinese smoking opium
box 2, folder 1

Archaeological Perspectives 1980

Scope and Contents

Contains journal Archaeological Perspectives on Ethnicity in America and photocopied article of "The West Coast Chinese and Opium Smoking" by Patricia A. Etter
box 2, folder 2

Archaeological Perspectives: Correspondence 1982-1984

Scope and Contents

Correspondence with Baywood Publishing regarding royalties
box 2, folder 3

Archaeological Perspectives: Promotion 1978-1980

Scope and Contents

Promotional material for Archaeological Perspectives
box 2, folder 4

Archaeological Perspectives: Copyright undated

Scope and Contents

Copyright agreement between Baywood Publishing and Patricia A. Etter
box 2, folder 5

Archaeological Perspectives: Galleys 1979

Scope and Contents

Galley proofs from Baywood Publishing
box 2, folder 6

Archaeological Perspectives: Reviews 1981-1982 undated

box 2, folder 7

Correspondence with Robert Schuyler 1978

box 2, folder 8

Presentations and Programs 1978

Scope and Contents

Presentation scripts and programs: Society of Historical Archaeology, San Antonio Texas, 1978, and Society for California Archaeology, Yosemite, California, 1978
box 2, folder 9

Book: Black Opium by Claude Farrere 1974

Scope and Contents

Black Opium by Claude Farrere, published by Ludlow/Hip Pocket and/or Press, San Francisco, 1974
box 2, folder 10

Catalog: Overseas Chinese Ceramics by Paul G. Chace undated

box 2, folder 11

Report: "Overseas Chinese Research Group" by Paul G. Chace 1994

box 2, folder 12

Article: Tom Chinn, "Chinese in America." Argonaut: San Francisco Westerners (June 1987): 1-4 1987

box 2, folder 13

Manuscript: Chinese Bibliography, by Patricia A. Etter 1979

box 2, folder 14

Wegars, Chinese Bibliography 1985

Scope and Contents

Reprint from Northwest Antropological Research Notes: Patricia Wegars, An Annotated Bibliography of Opium and Opium Smoking Paraphernalia, University of Idaho
box 2, folder 15

Book: The Opium War. Peking: Foreign Languages Press 1976

Scope and Contents

Signed to Patricia Etter from Cousin Betty Pace of London, Ontario
box 2, folder 16

Thomas W. Chinn, History of the Chinese in California 1973

Scope and Contents

Thomas W. Chinn, History of the Chinese in California: A Syllabus. San Francisco: Chinese Historical Society of America
box 2, folder 17

Mino and Wilson, Kiln Sites 1973

Scope and Contents

Yutaka Mino and Patricia Wilson, An Index to Chinese Ceramic Kiln Sites from the Six Dynasties to the Present. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum
box 2, folder 18

Manuscript: Central Pacific 1976-1977

Scope and Contents

Manuscript: Patricia A. Etter, The Central Pacific: The Chinese Construction Crew and Opium Smoking, Santa Monica, June 9, 1976. Also includes section on revision and ammendments, 1977. Many pages in loose leaf book.
box 2, folder 19

Manuscript: Comparison of Pipe Bowls 1977

Physical Location: Missing

Scope and Contents

Manuscript: Patricia A. Etter, A Comparison of Opium Pipe Bowls from Donner Summit, California & Virginia City, Nevada, January 1977. Includes diagrams, photographs, statistics and references.
box 2, folder 20

Opium bibliography undated

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Added to collection in 2010