National Anthropological Archives

MS 2531 James Mooney notebooks principally regarding Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho shield and tipi designs

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS2531
Creators:
Mooney, James, 1861-1921
Murphy, Charles (Cheyenne)
Sweezy, Carl, 1881-1953
Dates:
bulk ca. 1903-1904
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
15 Volumes
autograph documents, photographs, and graphite, ink, colored pencil, crayon, and watercolor drawings.
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Notes and drawings by Native artists relating to heraldry, as Mooney termed tipi and shield designs. Also some myths and linguistic data from these and other Plains tribes. The manuscript is a compilation of materials created over a period of years, assembled under the current number by the BAE archivist. Bound volumes (since disbound for lamination) were placed under this manuscript number; loose notes and drawings on the same topics were primarily assembled under manuscript number 2538.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
James Mooney (1861-1921) was a self-taught ethnologist. He was employed by the Bureau of American Ethnology from 1885 until his death. In this capacity, he worked extensively among the Cherokee and Kiowa. Among the Kiowa his studies focused on pictorial calendars, the peyote religion, and heraldry, the term he used to refer to the designs on shields and painted tipis. In the course of his study of Kiowa and Cheyenne heraldry, he commissioned illustrations of shield and tipi designs, as well as miniature shields and tipis. For additional biographic information on James Mooney see: Christopher Winters, General Editor, International Dictionary of Anthropologists, Garland Publishing, 1991. Neil M. Judd, The Bureau of American Ethnology - A Partial History, University of Oklahoma Press, 1967. L.G. Moses, The Indian Man - A Biography of James Mooney, University of Nebraska Press, 1984.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm reel of Volume I, V, XIII and XIV (same reel as Vol 13) on file. (1/72).
Existence and Location of Copies
Transparencies made and filed with Vol. II as follows; 1a 5 obverse; 1b 5 reverse; 1b obverse 6; 2 7 reverse; 3 8 obverse; 4 obverse 9 reverse; 4 reverse 9. These transparencies have now been assigned negative Numbers 57, 508-A---57,521-A and are filed in the New Negative section of the National Anthropological Archives negative film files in MHT. Also, a black and white negative of the drawing on page 2 is on file (No. 71-3046-A) as well as a black and white negative of a lithograph after the drawing where it is published as Pl. LXVII in Bureau of American Ethnology-AR 17. Part 1 (Number 71-3046). JCR 12/71.

Using the Collection

Citation
Manuscript 2531, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
NAA MS 2531
OPPS NEG 57,508-A---521-A
OPPS NEG 71-3046-A
OPPS NEG 71-3046
OPPS NEG 72-1801 CN-1818 CN

Local Note

Local Note
The John M. Seger Referred to in Vol VIII (and also in Mooney's peyote files) was a teacher of agricultural methods. Walter Campbell edited his autobiography, "Early Days among the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians," Univ. of Okla. press. Genevieve Seger, his daughter, lives at Geary, Okla.; she may be a trustee of the Okla. Historical Soc. --Information from Althea Bass, here May 1959.
Local Note
Mrs. J. H. Bass (Althea Bass) here May 6, 1959, thinks that the "Paul" referred to occasionally in Vols. III, IV, and V may be Paul Boynton, an interpreter who spoke both Cheyenne and Arapaho. His family still lives at El Reno. His father had something to do with the Agency. Paul Boynton is mentioned in one of the letters in Mooney corresponence for 1902-06 (Smithsonian Institution - Bureau of American Ethnology correspondence files.)
Local Note
Date written on several pages by Mooney; almost certainly drawings done by same artist at same time and place as Ms. 2531, Vol. 10, identified by Mooney as "Drawn by Nakoim' eno = Bear Wings/alias Charles Murphy, Cheyenne Cantonment, Okla."

Album Information

Album Information
MS 2531


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
War -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Winter counts -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cradles -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clothing -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Names, Personal -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shields -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Camps -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sun Dance -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Games -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hide preparation -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Folklore -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Horse trappings -- Cheyenne Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Music -- Kiowa Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Language and languages -- Documentation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ledger drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kiowa Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inunaina (Arapaho) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Great Plains Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wolf Face (Cheyenne) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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