National Anthropological Archives

C. Hart Merriam photographs of Native Americans, circa 1902-1938

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.74-27
Creators:
Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942
Dates:
circa 1902-1938
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
5,000 Items
glass negatives, film negatives, lantern slides, and some prints
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs depicting Native American baskets and portraits of Native Americans with whom C. Hart Merriam worked, as well as scenic views and images of animals and plants, mostly in California. Many of the photographs were made by Merriam himself or his daughter Zenaida Merriam Talbot. In addition, Merriam collected photographs from other researchers and photographers, including J. S. Diller, John Peabody Harrington, Henry Wetherbee Henshaw, and O. E. Meddaugh. There are also images acquired from the Boysen Studio of Yosemite and photographs of Mark Twain, John Muir, basketmaker Maggie James, and Merriam's family.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Clinton Hart Merriam (1855-1942) was a Columbia University-educated physician who worked as a naturalist, including as head of the Biological Survey for the US Department of Agriculture. He joined the Harriman Alaska Expedition as a zoologist in 1899. In 1910, he left the USDA and began to conduct research among California tribes. Financed by Mary W. Harriman and the E. H. Harriman Fund administered by the Smithsonian, he researched tribes' vocabularies, history, mythology, crafts (particularly basketmaking) until about 1936. His resarch was assisted by his daughter, Zenaida, who took photographs and painted glass slides for him. Merriam served as President of the Anthropological Society of Washington in 1920-1921.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Donated by C. Hart Merriam's daughter Dorothy M. Abbott, 1974.

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 74-27, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Merriam's notes held in the National Anthropological Archives in MS 1563 and in the Smithsonian Institution Archives in SIA Acc. 12-264.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs by Merriam held in the National Museum of American Indian Archives in the Mary Harriman Rumsey Photograph Collection and the Harriman Alaska Expedition Photograph Collection.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Correspondence from Merriam held in the National Anthropological Archives in MS 4558, the Department of Anthropology records (Manuscript and Pamphlet file), Bureau of American Ethnology records, J.C. Pilling Papers, Ales Hrdlicka Papers, and Jesse Logan Nusbaum Papers.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The Bancroft Library at University of California, Berkeley holds the C. Hart Merriam Papers, C. Hart Merriam Collection of Native American Photographs (prints corresponding to negatives in this collection), and C. Hart Merriam pictorial collection.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 74-27

General note

General note
Additional information supplied by Marvin Shodas.

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.

Addl. KW Subj

Addl. KW Subj
Achumawi
Apache
Athapaskan, Athabaskan
Costanoan
Karok (Karuk)
Kulanapan
Lassik
Maidu
Mattole
Mission Indians
Pima (Akimel O'odham)
Shoshone


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Apache Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Athapascan Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lantern slides Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Achomawi (Pit River) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jicarilla Apache Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Southwest, New Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Atsugewi (Hat Creek) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Patwin Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Karuk (Karok) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Klamath Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hopi Pueblo Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shasta Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shoshone Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pomo Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Paiute Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Koso (Panamint) Shoshone Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Akimel O'odham (Pima) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kutzadika'a (Mono Paiute) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diné (Navajo) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Niimíipuu (Nez Perce) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ohlone (Costano) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Great Basin Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Payómkawichum (Luiseño) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maidu Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mewuk (Miwok) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Modoc Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baskets Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Klikitat Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Laguna Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- California Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yana Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wintu Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yokuts Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yokayo Pomo Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pueblo Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tolowa Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Taos Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Washo Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wasco Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nisenan Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Subarctic Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Plateau Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hupa Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muir, John, 1838-1914 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Talbot, Zenaida Merriam (photographer) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diller, J. S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Henshaw, Henry W. (Henry Wetherbee), 1850-1930 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Meddaugh, O. E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harrington, John Peabody, 1884-1961 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boysen Studio Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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