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Chester E. Faris Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS -229 -BC

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 131 items in three folders. The first folder contains printed material including Christmas cards and postcards, resort and publicity brochures from New Mexico, Arizona, Indiana and Florida, as well as miscellaneous programs. Most of the correspondence, articles and other papers in the second folder relate to Faris' career with the United States Office of Indian Affairs and the Indian Rights Association. There is also material about Chief Washakie and Sacajawea, whom Faris researched extensively, along with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The third folder contains crayon drawings of Jicarilla basket designs. Photographs have been transferred to the CSWR Pictorial Collections.

Dates

  • 1860-1956

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biography

Chester E. Faris, a federal Indian administrator, was a leading authority on Indian history and lore. Most of his work was with Southwestern and Plains Indian groups. He was born in October, 1877 in Tunnelton, Indiana. After studying at Indiana normal schools and teaching until 1902, Faris moved to Wyoming to work for the Forest Service. In 1906 he joined the Indian Service and began his career at the Wind River Agency (Shoshone and Arapahoe) in Wyoming, serving, 1908-1916. From 1918-1923, he was superintendent of the Jicarilla Apache Agency at Dulce, N.M. From 1925-1926 he served as Superintendent of the Pima Agency, then became district superintendent-at-large for the Southwest, including Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. In 1930, the Santa Fe Indian School and the Northern Pueblos Agency were consolidated under Chester E. Faris as superintendent, with administrative jurisdiction over both the school and the pueblos. Faris served in this capacity until 1935 when he was assigned to administer the Consolidated Navajo Agency. He worked as a field representative for the Indian office until his retirement in 1943. After this he was an executive for the Indian Rights Association in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until 1947 when he returned to New Mexico. He died in Albuquerque, N.M., on January 24, 1957.

Extent

1 box (.20 cu. ft.)

Related Material

Sophie D. Aberle Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Santa Fe Indian School: The First 100 Years Project, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. William Zimmerman Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. John Collier Papers, microfilm edition, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Elizabeth Willis DeHuff Family Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Erna Fergusson Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Glenn Leonidas Emmons Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Michael Steck Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Willam Zimmerman, Jr. Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico

Separated Material

Photographs have been transferred to the Chester E. Faris Photograph Collection.

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Hyer, Sally. Remembering Santa Fe Indian School, 1890-1990. Ph.D. diss., University of New Mexico, 1994.
Title
Finding Aid of the Chester E. Faris Papers, 1860-1956
Status
Approved
Author
Processed by T.S. Reining
Date
©2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 229 BC::Chester E. Faris Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss229bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451