National Anthropological Archives

Guide to the Edward J. Jay papers, 1958-2003

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.2017-09
Creators:
Jay, Edward J., 1931-
Dates:
1958-2003
Languages:
Collection is primarily in English; some materials in Hindi and/or other languages.
Physical Description:
11.2 Linear feet
17 boxes, 2 rolled items
1,895 Slides
691 Photographic prints
526 Negatives
21 Sound cassettes
Repository:
The papers of Edward J. Jay, 1958-2003 consist of anthropological field notes and related material documenting his fieldwork in central India. The collection contains field notes, kinship charts and genealogies, maps, printed matter, publications and other writings, photographs (including prints, negatives, and slides), and sound recordings.

Content Description

Content Description
The papers of Edward J. Jay, 1958-2003 consist of anthropological field notes and related material from his fieldwork in central India. The collection documents four separate research projects: a tribal village study among the Hill Maria Gonds of Orchha, Madya Pradesh (1958-1960); a multi-caste peasant village study in Paragaon, Chhattisgarh, (1967-1968); a town study of Rajim, a regional Hindu temple and pilgrammage center in Chhattisgarh; and a study of Indian middle class life among senior managers and their families at the Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) plant and the related community in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (1989-1990). The collection contains field notes, kinship charts and genealogies, maps, printed matter, publications and other writings, photographs (including prints, negatives, and slides), and sound recordings. Video recordings containing raw and edited footage of scenes in Paragaon, Rajim, and Nawa Para Rajim, including scneice of work, agriculture and religious rituals are available through the Human Studies Film Archive.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 3 series: (1) Field notes and printed matter, 1958-2003; (2) Photographs, 1958-1990; and (3) Sound recordings, 1967-1978.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Edward J. Jay was born on May 7, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a B.A. in Anthropology-Sociology from Queens College in 1952, and an MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1957 and 1963, respectively. He was Professor of Anthropology at California State University, Hayward from 1964-1992 and conducted fieldwork in various towns and villages in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, India from 1958-1990.

Administration

Author
Gabrielle Sanchez
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Received from Edward J. Jay in 2016.
Processing Information
The papers of Edward J. Jay were organized by project before they were deposited at the National Anthropological Archives. The archivist maintained this original organization by project while also arranging the material into 3 series by format (Field notes and printed matter, Photographs, and Sound recordings). Original folder titles and spellings were retained; titles assigned by the archivist were placed within square brackets.
Processed and encoded by Gabrielle Sanchez, December 2021.
Separated Materials
Videorecordings have been transferred to the Human Studies Film Archives (HSFA accession 2022-03).

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Edward J. Jay papers are open for research.
Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings.
Digital media in the collection is restricted for preservation reasons.
Access to the Edward J. Jay papers requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Edward J. Jay papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Manuscripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Madhya Pradesh (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chhattīsgarh (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Orchha (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rājim (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bhopal (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu