National Anthropological Archives

Elizabeth Bayley Willis photographs of peoples, artifacts, and scenery of Northeastern India, circa 1950-1965

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.79-11
Creators:
Willis, Elizabeth Bayley (collector and photographer)
Dates:
circa 1950-1965
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
33 Color slides
1 Color postcard
53 Prints
silver gelatin
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs depicting indigenous peoples, antiquities, implements, textile types, and scenery in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and other areas of northeastern India. Represented photographers include Elizabeth Bayley Willis, Verrier Elwin, Panna Pal, R. Pyngrope, and other photographers.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Elizabeth Bayley Willis (1902-2003) was a scholar of textiles and decorative arts who was affliliated with several museums and galleries including the San Francisco Museum of Art and the Henry Gallery of the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1952, she was appointed to the United Nations Technical Assistance Board, where she focused on marketing of textile and other decorative art products from India to improve economic development; she later worked on similar missions for the UN in Vietnam, Formosa, and Morocco. Willis went to India to consult the Uttar Pradesh government about the development and preservation of crafts and served as an advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Textile Commissioner, and the All India Handloom Board. Between 1957 and 1965, Willis returned to India several times to collect textiles and continue her research on the tribal arts of northeastern India and Bhutan.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Donated by Elizabeth Bayley Willis, 1978.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
These photographs cannot be reproduced without permission from the photographers.
Preferred Citation note
Photo lot 79-11, Elizabeth Bayley Willis photographs of peoples, artifacts, and scenery of Northeastern India, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs collected by Willis can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 97.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Willis also donated artifacts to the Department of Anthropology, in accessions 255963, 264169, 268921, 270239, and 279910.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The Special Collections at the University of Washington holds the Elizabeth Bayley Willis Papers, 1933-1988.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 79-11

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Arunà„chal Pradesh (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Assam (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brahmaputra River Valley Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Postcards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Khasi (Indic people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mishmi (Indic people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lushai (Asian people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Akha (Southeast Asian people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Elwin, Verrier Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pal, Panna Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pyngrope, R. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
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Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu