Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Sheila Salo Gypsy Photographs

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0357
Creators:
Salo, Sheila
Dates:
1973-1979
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
This collection contains photographs of North American Rom Gypsies by donor Sheila Salo; also copy prints, negatives, and slides made from material in other collections.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection contains photographs of North American Rom Gypsies by donor Sheila Salo; also copy prints, negatives, and slides made from material in other collections. The photographs by Ms. Salo are Kodak color prints, while the copy photographs are all black-and-white prints, negatives, and a slide. Most of the copy negatives and prints were made from a series of photographs taken in Chicago, 1928, of settlement houses, including Hull House, with some Mexican subjects. Captions have been typed on the backs of most of the color and black-and-white prints by Ms. Salo.
The collection is divided into two series: (1) Color photoprints by Sheila Salo; and (2) Black-and-white copy photographs. Formats include: color photographic prints (4" x 6" and 3-1/2" x 5"), black-and-white photographic copy prints (3-1/2 x 5"), 35mm negatives, a slide, and a 4" x 5" copy negative. The color prints depict Gypsies and Gypsy community events in Illinois; Ontario; Ste.-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec; Mississippi; Louisiana; and New Jersey. The subject emphasis is on wedding and saint's day celebrations, and memorial services for the deceased.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection arranged into one series. Roughly chronological.
Series 1: Color Photoprints by Sheila Salo, 1973-1979
Series 2: Copy Photographs, Black-and-White

Historical

Historical
Most of the color photographs were taken by Sheila Salo in 1973-1979: (a) Canada, 1973, 1976, and 1977 as part of research supported by contracts from the National Museums of Canada; and (b) taken in Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Jersey through 1979. Sheila Salo and her husband Matt are historians of Gypsy culture; Ms. Salo also processed and wrote the register for the the Carlos de Wendler-Funaro Gypsy Research Collection. The Salos have personal contacts among Gypsy groups, and they made these photographs to document Gypsy customs, clothing, and rituals.

Administration

Author
David E. Haberstich and Sheila Salo
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Matt and Sheila Salo, [1990?].
Custodial History
The Salos donated these photographs to the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life). The Division then transferred them to the Archives Center.
Processing Information
Processed by David E. Haberstich, curator, 1991.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Sheila Salo Gypsy Photographs, 1973-1979, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions. No reproduction permitted without permission from the photographers. Several images are specifically restricted against any reproduction at all, although they are available for exhibition. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 1970-1980 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Color photoprints -- 1970-1980 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film -- 1970-1980 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gypsies -- 1970-1980 -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gypsies -- 1970-1980 -- Canada Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Canada Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chicago (Ill.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hull House (Chicago, Ill.) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu