Stephen Leavitt Collection

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla 92093-0175

spcoll@ucsd.edu

URL: http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/index.html

Note

Slides added to the collection in 2022.

Descriptive Summary

Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla 92093-0175

Title: Stephen Leavitt Collection

Creator: Leavitt, Stephen C., 1959-

Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0027

Physical Description: 4.0 Linear feet (5 archives boxes and 11 card file boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1984 - 1989

Abstract: Ethnographic fieldnotes, audio cassette recordings (1984-1986), and slides created by Stephen Leavitt, American anthropologist and researcher in Melanesian culture. Included are fieldnotes, tape recorded interviews, interview transcripts, census materials, and Arapesh language materials related to the ethnography of the Bumbita Arapesh people of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Languages: English .

Restrictions

The collection may only be used with the written permission of Stephen Leavitt. Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 1993.

Preferred Citation

Stephen Leavitt Collection, MSS 27. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Biography

Stephen Christopher Leavitt (1959- ), American anthropologist, graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1981. He attended the University of California, San Diego, where he earned his doctorate in anthropology in 1989. His dissertation, entitled Cargo, Christ, and Nostalgia for the Dead: Themes of Intimacy and Abandonment in Bumbita Arapesh Social Experience, was based on fieldwork in Papua New Guinea from 1984-1986, for which he received a Fulbright Research Grant. While in the field, Leavitt worked closely with Professor Donald F. Tuzin, whose own work centered on the neighboring Ilahita Arapesh. In 1989, Leavitt received a Rockefeller Fellowship in the Humanities, which supported his residence at the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawaii. Since then, he has taught at Washington University (St. Louis) and, currently, at Union College (Schenectady). His work has been published in Ethos; Ethnology; Social Science and Medicine; and The Journal of Psychohistory. Leavitt is married to anthropologist Karen Brison, who also conducted fieldwork in the East Sepik Province with the Gawanga people.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Stephen Leavitt Collection documents ethnographic research conducted among the Bumbita Arapesh people of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, which formed the core of Leavitt's doctoral dissertation in anthropology at UC San Diego.

Arranged in three series: 1) FIELDNOTES & IMAGES, 2) TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS, and 3) RECORDINGS.

Digital Content

Sound recordings from this collection have been digitized. Please request sound recordings directly from the finding aid for access facilitated through the Library's virtual reading room service.

Items available online

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Papua New Guinea -- Social life and customs

Ethnology -- Papua New Guinea -- East Sepik Province

Anthropology -- Melanesia

Anthropology -- Oceania

Leavitt, Stephen C., 1959- -- Archives

FIELDNOTES & IMAGES

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) FIELDNOTES: Photocopies of notebooks, arranged in chronological order. Several notebooks focus on specific topics, including children on children, parents on children, and causes of death. Also included are census and genealogical materials for several villages and files on the Bumbita Arapesh language.

Box 1, Folder 1-12

Books 1-12 1984 - 1985

Box 2, Folder 1-10

Books 13-22 1985 - 1986

House-by-house lists of inhabitants, including names, ages, educational levels attained, marriages, children, and kinship

Box 2, Folder 11

Census: Bumbita

Box 2, Folder 12

Census: Urita

Box 3, Folder 1

Census: Sa'unes

Box 3, Folder 2

Census: Buter/Aor

Box 3, Folder 3

Census: Indipi [Indibi]

Box 3, Folder 4

Language - drills. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh

Box 3, Folder 5

Language - Bumbita Arapesh word list. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh. A-S only; T-Z not listed

Box 3, Folder 6

Language - monologues. Bumbita Arapesh with Tok Pisin translations

Box 3, Folder 7

Topics: Causes of death

Box 3, Folder 8

Topics: Parents on children

Box 3, Folder 9

Topics: Children on children

Box 3, Folder 10

Sexual ideology and experience in a Papua New Guinea society - Journal article. Published in: Social Science & Medicine (1991) v. 3 n. 8: 897-907. Earlier version delivered at the 87th meeting of the American Anthropological Association 1988

Box 3, Folder 11

Miscellaneous - Field note index

Box 3, Folder 12

Miscellaneous - Maps, genealogy charts and tables

Box 3, Folder 13

Miscellaneous - Urita court cases index

Box 16, Folder 1

Catalog of slides 1984-1986

Box 16, Folder 2-6

Slides, A2-Z34 and AA1-AA30 1984-1986

TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 2) TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS: Leavitt's transcriptions of selected recorded interviews with informants. Includes files on myths and dreams.

Box 4, Folder 1

Personal interview: Ahaurim

Box 4, Folder 2

Personal interview: Michael Kora

Box 4, Folder 3

Personal interview: Paul of Imbras

Box 4, Folder 4

Personal interview: Endyohimp

Box 4, Folder 5

Personal interview: Kuna'ara

Box 4, Folder 6

Personal interview: O'weriwa

Box 4, Folder 7

Personal interview: Sua'a

Box 4, Folder 8

Personal interview: Arehin

Box 4, Folder 9

Personal interview: Pihinguh

Box 4, Folder 10

Personal interview: Karauri

Box 4, Folder 11

Personal interview: Mungahan

Box 4, Folder 12

Personal interview: Robert

Box 4, Folder 13

Personal interview: Anien

Box 4, Folder 14

Personal interview: Antosiom

Box 4, Folder 15

Personal interview: Michael Uhiar. Revival and thinking of Christians and heathens

Box 4, Folder 16

Personal interview: Raikos

Box 4, Folder 17

Dreams

Box 4, Folder 18

Personal interview: Umbuahember

Box 4, Folder 19

Myths

RECORDINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 3) RECORDINGS: Audiocassette recordings of field interviews and social events conducted in the Bumbita Arapesh language as well as recorded English translations of some of the sound recordings. The recordings were arranged in numeric order by Leavitt. The box numbers in the container list reflect each cassette's location, and the folder numbers designate Leavitt's numeric order. In addition, an appendix to this guide, supplied by Leavitt, provides added description of the contents of each recording.

Box 5, Folder 1-2

Meeting of the Totems 1984

Box 5, Folder 3

Ethnographic interview: Guria, Kumul myths 1985

Box 5, Folder 4

Uritas Fight with Balanga

Box 5, Folder 5

Ethnographic interview: Bumbita villages rout Kamanakor 1985

Box 5, Folder 6

Personal interview: Anien - On his illness 1985

Box 5, Folder 7

Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 1 1985

Box 5, Folder 8-9

Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 2 1985

Box 5, Folder 10-11

Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 3 - Side B: Myths of routing Kwanga and Apu'u 1985

Box 5, Folder 12

Komsio songs and a myth 1985

Box 5, Folder 13-14

Letter to Mantandan telling of wife's death 1985

Box 5, Folder 15

Ethnographic interview: Causes of Areli'wen's death 1985

Box 5, Folder 16

Ethnographic interview: The Balanga gift and previous fight 1985

Box 5, Folder 17

Meeting of Balanga, Salata over ground: Final mediation 1985

Box 6, Folder 18

Meeting of Balanga, Salata over ground: Final mediation 1985

Languages: English.

Box 6, Folder 19

Kiap's meeting in Maprik with Urita, Salata and Balanga 1985

Box 6, Folder 20

Ethnographic interview: Raikos on "Birua," Ua'hun / Traditional songs

Box 6, Folder 21

Informal discussion with Balanga at Salata 1985

Box 6, Folder 22-23

Meeting at Sapimp over land 1985

Box 6, Folder 24

Revival Banter / Ethnographic interview: Ambun myth, Arehin 1985

Box 6, Folder 25

Meeting at Umbuahimin over land 1985

Box 6, Folder 26

Meeting on a prospective marriage, at Mahines 1985

Box 6, Folder 27-28

Meeting over land at Ambolip's house in Buter 1985

Box 6, Folder 29

Ethnographic interview: Origin of fire, Ambun myths 1985

Box 6, Folder 30

Ethnographic interview: Salinau on Maolomu Tambaran 1985

Box 6, Folder 31

Personal interview: Michael Kora #1 - Guria myth, etc. 1985

Box 6, Folder 32-33

Urita court case: Ta'vanangas marriage / Sanguna meeting at Alawinge 1985

Box 6, Folder 34

Personal interview: Mungahan #1 - Childhood 1985

Box 7, Folder 35

Personal interviews: Ahaurim #1 - Father and land 1985

Box 7, Folder 36

Personal interview: Mungahan #2 - On his wives and Christianity 1985

Box 7, Folder 37

Ethnographic interview: MBana on magic, Tembaran myth 1985

Box 7, Folder 38-39

Personal interview: Karari #1 - Life history 1985

Box 7, Folder 40

Personal interview: Michael Kora #2 - Life history 1985

Box 7, Folder 41-42

Meeting over land at Suru'wa 1985

Box 7, Folder 43-44

Personal interview: Michael Kora #3 - On sorcery 1985

Box 7, Folder 45

Funeral of Weipim at Matous 1985

Box 7, Folder 46-47

Meeting over sorcery, at Maunite: The death of Waipi'eru's son 1985

Box 7, Folder 48

Personal interview: Michael Kora #4 - On Buas and two myths 1985

Box 7, Folder 49

Personal interview: Mungahan #3 - Exchange partners and Tumbuan 1985

Box 7, Folder 50

Meeting at Alawinge: Departure of Ingalimbi 1985

Box 7, Folder 51

Personal interview: Michael Kora #5 - Wa'hun history 1985

Box 8, Folder 52

Personal interview: Michael Kora #6 - Conversion to Christianity 1985

Box 8, Folder 54

Personal interview: Mungahan #4 - Revival and changes with Christianity 1985

Box 8, Folder 55

Meeting over attempts to kill Raikos, at Atim 1986

Box 8, Folder 56

Personal interview: Michael Kora #7 - Missionaries and myths 1985

Box 8, Folder 57

Personal interview: Michael Kora #8 - Tatangohom myth and the past 1985

Box 8, Folder 58

Personal interview: Michael Kora #9 - Childhood, father, first marriage 1985

Box 8, Folder 59

Ethnographic interview: Origin of sorcery, on sorcerers 1986

Box 8, Folder 60

Personal interview: Michael Kora #10 - On the war 1986

Box 8, Folder 61

Meeting over death of a Wa'hun woman, at Atim 1986

Box 8, Folder 62-63

Personal interview: Ahauim #2 - Childhood and father 1986

Box 8, Folder 64

Personal interview: Karauri #3 - Kwar Tambaran 1986

Box 8, Folder 65

Ethnographic interviews: Antosiom on sorcery 1986

Box 8, Folder 66

Ethnographic interview: Ahaurim #3 - Adolescence and marriage 1986

Box 8, Folder 67

Personal interview: Pihinguh #1 - Life history 1986

Box 8, Folder 68

Personal interview: Pihinguh #2 - Childhood and girls 1986

Box 8, Folder 69

Meeting over exchange partners' dispute over land, at Bumbuinga 1986

Box 9, Folder 70-71

Personal interview: Michael Kora #11 - Origins of sorcery; life history after war 1986

Box 9, Folder 72

Urita court - Swambien's wives and Sam against Wa'hun 1986

Box 9, Folder 73

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #3 - Childhood and eating food 1986

Box 9, Folder 74

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #4 - More childhood vignettes 1986

Box 9, Folder 75

Personal interview: Karairi #4 - On losing customs and Christianity 1986

Box 9, Folder 76

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #5 - Court, plantations and children 1986

Box 9, Folder 77

Some songs, Ya'utes 1986

Box 9, Folder 78

Meeting over land between Sa'unes and Buter, at Niuh 1986

Box 9, Folder 79-80

Meeting over death of Kuniari's baby, at Mahines 1986

Box 9, Folder 81

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #6 & 7 - Christianity and revival 1986

Box 9, Folder 82-83

Meeting on compensation to Wa'hun over deaths 1986

Box 9, Folder 84-85

Meeting to mark a new boundary for Sa'unes and Buter / Lua'i on Yam magic 1986

Box 9, Folder 86

Pihinsuh #7 (concluded) / Personal interview: Pihinsuh #8 - Fathers, mothers 1986

Box 10, Folder 87

Personal interview: O'weriwa #1 - Fight with husband, life history 1986

Box 10, Folder 88

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #10 & 11 - 10: Tamboran 11: Self-image 1986

Box 10, Folder 89

Meeting over land between Salata and Balanga, at Balif 1986

Box 10, Folder 90

Ethnographic interview: Ta'vanangus land dispute with Inakor 1986

Box 10, Folder 91

Urita court: Sorcery changes between Batin and Ausera of Wa'hun 1986

Box 10, Folder 92

Personal interview: Pihinsuh #9 - Bighead, plantations and marriage 1986

Box 10, Folder 93

Ethnographic interview: Ta'vanangas clan myths and history 1986

Box 10, Folder 94

Ethnographic interview: Lua'i on Tambaran Kwar 1986

Box 10, Folder 95

Personal interview: Ahaurim #4 - Lehin Tambaran and the dead 1986

Box 10, Folder 96

Personal interview: Arehin #1 & 2 - Plantation experiences; Hunting 1986

Box 10, Folder 97

Slit Gong calls, whistle talk and Slit Gong songs 1986

Box 10, Folder 98

Slit Gong songs 1986

Box 10, Folder 99

Men's cult sounds and music: Trumpets, whistles, flutes, etc.

Box 10, Folder 100

Keening at Arehiwen's death 1986

Box 10, Folder 101

Personal interview: Arehin #2 - Pig hunting and pig magic 1986

Box 10, Folder 102

Ethnographic interview: Paikos on Kwar Tambaran 1986

Box 10, Folder 103

Urita court - Me'in's compensation for custom 1986

Box 11, Folder 104

Personal interview: Endyohimp #1 - Childhood and reactions to customs 1986

Box 11, Folder 105

Divination for MBana'a illness 1986

Box 11, Folder 106

Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Me'in's compensation 1986

Box 11, Folder 107-108

Ethnographic interview: Teimo on sorcery 1986

Box 11, Folder 109

Personal interview: Arehin #3 - On Yams 1986

Box 11, Folder 110

Personal interview: Pihinguh #11 & 12 - On self / Sorcery of the dead - Part 2

Box 11, Folder 111

Personal interview: O'weriwa #2 - Life history after marriage 1986

Box 11, Folder 112

Discussion over food at MBana's funeral 1986

Box 11, Folder 113

Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Wahitineri Tambaran and music 1986

Box 11, Folder 114

Personal interview: Sua'a #1 - On menstruation 1986

Box 11, Folder 115

Personal interview: Kuna'ara #1 - Belief and relations with men 1986

Box 11, Folder 116

Personal interviews: Umbuahember on ghosts, etc. 1986

Box 11, Folder 117

At Korogo village, Iatmul: Myths, war stories, initiation 1986

Box 11, Folder 118

Personal interview: Arehin #4 - Magic and death of father 1986

Box 11, Folder 119

Urita meditation 1986

Box 11, Folder 120

Urita court - Arahin and Sunduhu man / Speeches, keening at Arehin's death 1986

Box 12, Folder 121

Urita court : Yaroku and girl's adoption; Manihueren sorcery change 1986

Box 12, Folder 122

Personal interview: Endyohimp #2 - Fight with Ma'arien, marriage attitudes 1986

Box 12, Folder 123

Personal interviews: Sua'a #2 & 3 - Early life, courtship / Later life, convers 1986

Box 12, Folder 124

Ethnographic interview: Raikos on his conflict with Mandro 1986

Box 12, Folder 125

Ethnographic interview: Michael Uhiar on the revival, Christianity 1986

Box 12, Folder 126

Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Sisilhu myth and totem

Box 12, Folder 127

Ethnographic interview: Mandro on Raikos' claim to Urita land 1986

Box 12, Folder 128

Personal interview: Ahairim #5 - Hallucination about me 1986

Box 12, Folder 129-130

Meeting at Indahroa over water and land 1986

Box 12, Folder 131

Meeting at Atim over attempts to kill Raikos - Part 2 (continued from tape 55) 1986

Box 12, Folder 132

Personal interview: Endyohimp #3 - Life history and the dead 1986

Box 12, Folder 133

Personal interview: Kora #1 & 2 - Life history 1986

Box 12, Folder 134

Personal interviews: Ahairim #6 - Reflections on his illness 1986

Box 12, Folder 135

Speeches at feast for Raikos over attempts to ensorcel him 1986

Box 12, Folder 136

Personal interview: Karairi #5 - Dreams and the dead 1986

Box 12, Folder 137

Two myths: How women bear children; Piupatu and flying foxes 1986

Box 13, Folder 138

Personal interview: Kairen #1 - Start of life history 1986

Box 13, Folder 139

Personal interview: Endyohimp #4 - Revival and death of father 1986

Box 13, Folder 140-141

Personal interview: Karauri #6 - Penis bleeding, Tambaran, music; getting rid of music 1986

Box 13, Folder 142

Personal interview: O'weriwa #3 - On her beliefs and attitudes towards me 1986

Box 13, Folder 143

Personal interview: Ahaurim #7 / Ahaurim and Amboim fight 1986

Box 13, Folder 144

Ethnographic interviews: Buas Musik - Start to end 1986

Box 13, Folder 145-146

Personal interviews: Paul of Imbras on his beliefs, myths, and Christianity 1986

Box 13, Folder 147

Meeting at Ombuit over Swambien's illness 1986

Box 13, Folder 148

Urita court: Two cases on sorcery rumors, changes 1986

Box 13, Folder 149

Ethnographic interview: Antosiom on Wa'hun disputes 1986

Box 13, Folder 150-151

Urita court: Wehnenimp of Imbras leaves husband; other cases 1985

Box 13, Folder 152

Personal interview: Ousim Komburi (child) - Dreams, fears

Box 13, Folder 153

Bumbita songs. Saliman's songs; tape demo

Box 13, Folder 154

Bumbita Arapesh language drills

Box 14, Folder 155

Story survey: Endyohimp and Kuna'ara

Box 14, Folder 156

Story survey: Arehin and Pihinguh

Box 14, Folder 157

Story survey: Sambohim and Sua'a

Box 14, Folder 158-159

Story survey: Saliman and O'weriwa

Box 14, Folder 160-161

Translation of tapes 1, 2

Box 14, Folder 162

Translation of tapes 1, 2 / Translation of tape 143

Box 14, Folder 163

Translation of tape 8 (discussion before Balanga meeting)

Box 14, Folder 164

Translation of tape 14 (letter to Mantandan, part 2)

Box 14, Folder 165-167

Translation of tape numbers 46, 47 (sorcery meeting at Maunite)

Box 14, Folder 168

Translation of tape numbers 46, 47 (conclusion) / Translation of tape numbers 41

Box 14, Folder 169

Translation of tape numbers 41, 42 (meeting at Suru'wa land) - Part 2

Box 14, Folder 170

Translation of tape numbers 41, 42 - Translation of tape numbers 32, 33 (Alawing) - Part 3, Part 1

Box 14, Folder 171

Translation of tape numbers 32, 33 (Alawinge sorcery meeting) - Part 2

Box 15, Folder 172

Translation of tape numbers 22, 23 (meeting at Sapimp over land)

Box 15, Folder 173

Translation of tape number 69 (exchange partners' dispute, Bumbuinge)

Box 15, Folder 174-175

Translation of tape number 61 (meeting at Atim over Wa'hun death)

Box 15, Folder 176

Translation of tape number 147 (finding Swambien's illness)

Box 15, Folder 177

Post - Fieldwork letter from Aines of Sa'unes