Descriptive Summary
Biography
Scope and Content of Collection
Restrictions
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Digital Content
Descriptive Summary
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: David and Dorothy Counts Collection on West New Britain
Creator:
Counts, David R.
Creator:
Counts, Dorothy Ayers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0576
Physical Description:
9 Linear feet
(13 archives boxes, 1 record carton, 2 card file boxes, and one flat box)
Physical Description:
.78 GB
of digital files
Date (inclusive): 1966-2006 (bulk 1966-1985)
Abstract: Journals, research materials, photographs, sound recordings, films and digital files created by David and Dorothy Counts,
a husband-and-wife ethnographic team. The collection focuses on West New Britain, Papua New Guinea, particuarly myths and
oral histories.
Languages:
English
.
Biography
David and Dorothy Counts both attended Southern Illinois University; David studied anthropology, and Dorothy studied political
science and anthropology. From 1966 through 1967 the Counts conducted their doctoral research in the Kondoka village in West
New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. They received their doctorate degrees in 1968, and moved to Ontario, Canada. David
taught as a faculty member at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and Dorothy taught at the University of Waterloo in
the Department of Anthropology.
From 1975 through 1976 the Counts returned to New Britain, where they studied the Kaliai myths. In March of 1980, Dorothy
published an article in
The Journal of the Polynesian Society entitled "Akro and Gagandewa: A Melanesian Myth," based on her research in New Britain at the time.
In 1985 they returned to New Britain to conduct research for three months, from July 22nd through September 24th, in the village
of Kandoka. Dorothy studied census cards from New Britain, as well as the cause of death for the villagers of Kandoka. She
also researched domestic violence and how it affected the family structure, as well as the apparent epidemic of female suicides
in New Britain, which she noted was closely linked to spousal abuse.
In 1999 Dorothy Counts took a position as a research officer and team leader for the Secretrait of the Pacific Community,
which sponsored a multi-site study on the effects of violence towards women on the health and safety of the family. In December
of 1999, the Counts moved to the Okanagan Valley and taught anthropology at the Okanagan University College. In 2005 the Counts
became study group leaders and taught a course on Pacific Island cultures at the Society for Learning in Retirement in Okanagan.
Scope and Content of Collection
The David and Dorothy Counts Collection reflects the Counts' ethnographic trips to West New Britain, Papua New Guinea in 1966-1967,
1975-1976 and 1985. The collection includes detailed field journals (original notepads, and later typed transcriptions) kept
by both David and Dorothy Counts; drafts of their writings and research; their collection of myths and oral histories from
informants; a small amount of correspondence; and hundreds of indexed color slides. Audiovisual materials include: 33 rolls
of 8mm film with candid shots from the Kandoka village; 16mm film from 1975 and 1976 documenting the Kaliai myths; and dozens
of tape recordings on reel and audiocassette.
Arranged in seven series: 1) JOURNALS; 2) MYTHS & ORAL TRADITIONS; 3) CORRESPONDENCE, RESEARCH & WRITINGS; 4) IMAGES, 5) SOUND
RECORDINGS; 6) FILMS; and 7) DIGITAL FILES.
Restrictions
Original media formats are restricted; viewing/listening copies may be available for researchers.
Preferred Citation
David and Dorothy Counts Collection on West New Britain, MSS 576. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2002, 2013, 2015.
Digital Content
This collection contains digital files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kaliai (Papua New Guinea people)
Tales -- Papua New Guinea -- New Britian Island
Counts, David R. -- Archives
Counts, Dorothy Ayers -- Archives