National Anthropological Archives

Photographs of We'wha demonstrating Zuni textile making, circa 1886

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.2004-03
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology
Dates:
circa 1886
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5 Albumen prints
mounted
7 Cyanotypes (photographic prints)
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Includes images of We'wha (Zuni) spinning wool, setting up a loom, and weaving a blanket at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The photographs were probably made as part of a demonstration commissioned by Matilda Coxe Stevenson or the Bureau of American Ethnology.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
We'wha (d. 1896) was a Zuni berdache and one of Matilda Coxe Stevenson's main informants in her research. In 1886, We'wha spent six months in Washington, D.C., living with Stevenson and her husband and helping the Bureau of American Ethnology to record Zuni knowledge. As part of this documentation, the Bureau also photographed We'wha demonstrating Zuni weaving techniques.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Photographs removed from the National Anthropological Archives File Prints by Kathleen Baxter in 1985 were not formally accessioned until November 2004. One photograph, relocated from MS 4624 (now Photo Lot 23) in September 2013, may have been collected by Matilda Coxe Stevenson for her manuscipt "Dress and adornment of the Pueblo Indians." The other photographs may have originally been collected by the Bureau of American Ethnology.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot 2004-03, Photographs of We'wha demonstrating Zuni textile making, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
One albumen print mounted on boudoir card, previously held in MS 4624 (now in Photo Lot 23) has been relocated and merged with Photo Lot 2004-03.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Original glass negatives for most of these images are held in the National Anthropological Archives in the BAE historical negatives.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs of We'wha are in the National Anthropological Archives in the Matilda Coxe Stevenson photographs (Photo Lot 23).
Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Anthropological Archives also holds the Matilda Coxe Stevenson papers (MS 4689).

See others in

See others in
Photographs of We'wha demonstrating Zuni textile making, circa 1886

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 2004-03


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Indians of North America -- Southwest, New Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Spinning Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Weaving Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cyanotypes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
A:shiwi (Zuni) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1850-1915 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
We'wha, 1849-1896 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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