Alanson Skinner Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8b56m76 No online items Finding Aid to Alanson Skinner Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201 Finding aid prepared by Jim Hofer and Holly Rose Larson Autry National Center, Braun Research Library 234 Museum Drive Los Angeles, CA, 90065-5030 323-221-2164 [email protected] 2011 Finding Aid to Alanson Skinner MS.201 1 Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201 Title: Alanson Skinner Papers Identifier/Call Number: MS.201 Contributing Institution: Autry National Center, Braun Research Library Language of Material: English Physical Description: 3.0 Linear feet(6 boxes) Date (inclusive): 1890-1926 Abstract: This collection includes manuscripts, research and field notes, poems, artwork, correspondence, ephemera, scrapbooks, and personal papers of Alanson B. Skinner. creator: Grinnell, George Bird, 1849-1938 creator: Harrington, M. R. (Mark Raymond), 1882-1971 creator: Harris, William creator: Heye, George G. (George Gustav), 1874-1957 creator: Oneroad, Amos E. (Amos Enos), 1884-1937 creator: Parker, Arthur Caswell, 1881-1955 creator: Satterlee, John Valentine creator: Skinner, Alanson, 1886-1925 Access Collection is open for research. Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit http://theautry.org/research/research-rules-and-application or contact library staff at [email protected]. An item-level inventory is available from library staff. Use Copyright has not been assigned to the Braun Research Library at the Autry National Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Braun Research Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Preferred Citation Alanson Skinner Papers, 1890-1926, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MS.201; [folder number] [folder title][date]. Acquisition Gift of M. R. (Mark Raymond) Harrington, 1950. Scope and Contents This archive includes material collected and created by Skinner, as well as material about Alanson B. Skinner. The bulk of the archive includes biographical materials, personal materials, financial materials, manuscripts written and collected by Skinner, Skinner's obituary written by M. R. Harrington, lecture announcements, correspondence, research and field notes, scrapbooks, drawings, and other ephemera. Also included is an undated certificate of a degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature from the Seminarii Theologici Judaico-Americani. Arrangement 201.1 Biographical materials; 201.2 Obituary by M. R. Harrington; 201.3 Lecture announcements; 201.4 Correspondence; 201.5 Non-fiction manuscripts; 201.6 Fiction and folklore manuscripts; 201.7 Poetry; 201.8 Fiction manuscripts collected by Alanson Skinner; 201.9 Costa Rica expedition materials; 201.10 Research and field notes; 201.11 Catalog of the Skinner Collection of Indian Relics; 201.12 Assorted ephemera; 201.13 Drawing; 201.14 Scrapbooks & loose items. Related Archival Materials Alanson B. Skinner: Eastern Indians, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MIMSY A63 & MIMSY A64. Alanson Skinner Papers, 1921-1924, Museum Library, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI. Alanson Buck Skinner Photograph Collection, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian Archives, Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, Maryland, MRC-541. Mark Raymond Harrington Collection, 1930-1961, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MS.214. Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation records, 1890-1998, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian Archives, Suitland, Maryland, NMAI.MC.001. Finding Aid to Alanson Skinner MS.201 2 Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201 Photographs by Alanson Skinner: Canada – Ojbway, 1908-1909, American Museum of Natural History Research Library, New York. Biographical/Historical note Alanson Buck Skinner was born on September 7, 1886 in Buffalo, New York. He became interested in archaeology, specifically related to Native Americans, at a very young age and started publishing notes on his findings before he was 18 years old. Through the American Museum of Natural History, Skinner accompanied Arthur C. Parker and M. R. (Mark Raymond) Harrington on his first fieldwork expedition near Shinnecock Hills, Long Island. As a result of this expedition, Skinner was published for the first time, and it was the start of a lifelong friendship between Harrington and Skinner. In addition to expeditions with the likes of Harrington, F. W. Putnam, George H. Pepper, and W. T. Davis, Skinner also attended Columbia University and Harvard. Skinner was Assistant Curator of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History from 1907-1915, Assistant Curator and then Curator of Anthropology at the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee from 1920-1922, and staff member of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation from 1915-1920 and again from 1922-1925. Skinner was prolific in his writings and was published widely in the areas of archaeology and ethnology. He was also noted for his admiration and sympathy for Native Americans and became so involved with the Menomini that they adopted him. Skinner was also involved in professional associations, and he was a Mason and a Shriner. Skinner was on an expedition with Wahpeton informant, Amos Oneroad, when they had a car accident that took Skinner’s life on August 17, 1925. Processing History Initial processing and finding aid completed by Jim Hofer in 1987. Completion of processing and finding aid performed by Holly Rose Larson, Project Archivist, funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) in 2011. Subjects and Indexing Terms Skinner, Alanson, 1886-1925 Arctic peoples Art, American Catalogs Correspondence Costa Rica Costa Rica -- Antiquities Diaries Drawings Fiction Field notes Financial records Folklore Indians of North America Indians of North America -- California Indians of North America -- Fiction Indians of North America -- Folklore Indians of North America -- Great Plains Indians of North America -- Oregon Manuscripts Obituaries Poetry Publications Reviews Scrapbooks Alanson B. Skinner--Personalia, MS.201.1 circa 1922 - 1924 Finding Aid to Alanson Skinner MS.201 3 Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201 Alanson B. Skinner--Personalia, MS.201.1circa 1922 - 1924 Box 1, Alanson B. Skinner--Personalia, undated Folder MS.201.1.1 Physical Description: 1.0 folder Scope and Contents note Includes chronology of Skinner's archeological field experience from 1902 - 1923, a list of debts owed, an undated diploma from the "Seminari Theologici Judaica-Americani", a "Certificate of Dimit" from the "Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine", copper business card printing plate, sketch of Skinner's bookplate, and an article written by Skinner and printed in the 1924 May 20 issue of "Adventure" magazine. The folder also includes 3 typed copies of Skinner's last will and testament. The date of when the copies were made is unknown, the will was sworn in on 1921 September 24. Obituary by Mark Raymond Harrington MS.201.2 1926 Box 1, Obituary by Mark Raymond Harrington, 1926 Folder MS.201.1.2 Lecture Announcements, MS.201.3 circa 1915 - circa 1920 Box 1, Lecture Announcements, circa 1915 - circa 1920 Folder MS.201.1.3 Scope and Contents note Includes prints, posters and announcements of Skinner's lectures "Unknown Corners of North America and Their Inhabitants" and "Inside my Grandfather's Wigwam". Correspondence of Alanson B. Skinner, MS.201.4 1910 - 1926 Box 1, George Bird Grinnell Letters, 1924 August 19 - November 18 Folder MS.201.1.4.1 Scope and Contents note Subjects include: Sioux Nation./Dakota Indians./Potawatomi Indians./Fox Indians./Menominee Indians./Custer, George Armstrong,--1839-1876./Dream Dance/Writing./New York (N.Y.)/Milwaukee (Wis.)/South Dakota. Box 1, Mark Raymond Harrington Letters, 1924 March 10 - 1926 August 19 Folder MS.201.1.4.2 Scope and Contents note Subject include: Paiute Indians./Families./Writing./New York (N.Y.)/Peru./Nevada. Box 1, William Harris Letters 1922 July 27 -1922 November 17 Folder MS.201.1.4.3 Scope and Contents note Subjects include: Religion./Kickapoo Indians./Medicine bundles./Oklahoma./Avery (Okla.) Box 1, George G. Heye Letters, 1924 May 5 - 1925 February 4 Folder MS.201.4.4 Scope and Contents note Subjects include: Employment/Expeditions/New York (N.Y.) Box 1, Arthur C. Parker Letters, 1924 August 1 - 1925 March 5 Folder MS.201.4.5 Scope and Contents note Subjects include: Delaware Indians./Seneca Indians./Mythology/Museums/Writing./New York (N.Y.) Finding Aid to Alanson Skinner MS.201 4 Papers, 1890-1926 MS.201 Correspondence of Alanson B. Skinner, MS.201.41910 - 1926 Box 1, Correspondence and essay on the History of St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge in Folder MS.201.4.6 Johnstown, New York, 1922 October 19 - 1923 January 26 Scope and Contents note This is a folder of correspondence collected by Skinner. It includes correspondence between the National Masonic Research Society, William A. Wilcox, John T. Morrison, Archie D. Gibbs, J.H. Tatsch, H.L. Haywood, and John T. Morrison. Folder also includes a typed essay entitled "History of St. Patrick's Lodge, No.8, Johnstown, N.Y." from 1776 -1784. Box 1, Amos Oneroad Letters, 1922 March 28 - 1926 August 27 Folder MS.201.4.7 Scope and Contents note Includes information about Sisseton, South Dakota; Santee, Nebraska; Pawnee and Dakota Indians; Fredrick Webb Hodge; Mark Raymond Harrington and Native American religious dances. Box 1, John Valentine Satterlee Letters, 1910 December 7 - 1925 March 25 folders MS.201.4.8a-c Scope and Contents note Includes 3 folders of correspondence. One folder contains a bound and typed copy of Satterlee's letters from 1910 December 7 - 1913 January 13. Skinner has annotated some of the transcribed letters. Correspondence includes information on the Menominee, Winniebago, Potawatomi, and Ojibway tribes; animan fur preparation; dance; arts and crafts; and Keshena, Wisconsin (Shawano County).