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Hugh Milton Miller Film Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-809-SC

Scope and Content

The films in the Indian Dances of New Mexico series, 1962-1964 show dances at various New Mexico Pueblos. The Indian dances were filmed from July 1963 to July 1964. The Pueblos represented are Santa Clara, Nambe, San Ildefonso, Tesuque and San Juan (Okhay Owingeh).

The films in the Personal Home Movies series, 1940-1950, show scenes from various locations in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and California. The Millers traveled by car and trailer to such places as the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, San Diego Bay, Tucson, Carlsbad, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Preserve and Catalina Recreation Area in the Coronado National Forest. Local areas in New Mexico include Bernalillo, Jemez Mountains, and other areas in Sandoval County. There are images of logging, ships, trains, motels, saguaro cactus, sheep, cattle, donkeys, buffalo and horses at a rodeo in Tucson, Arizona. The two reels from this series that were not converted to digital contain footage of locations in Florida in the 1950s

The original films are 8mm, some color, some in black and white, all silent. These films were originally part of the Archive of Southwestern Music, University of New Mexico. The Indian dance films are also available at the Fine Arts Library cataloged under Indian Dances of New Mexico (FAL Video and FAL DVD E98 D2 I552 1986). The FAL copies include Matachines dance, San Juan Pueblo, Dec. 24, 1959. The original film for that dance is missing from the CSWR collection.

Dates

  • 1940-1964

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research. DVDs are available for viewing. Florida films require advance notice so that film can be reformatted and use copies can be made

Copy Restrictions

Moving images may not be duplicated. No commercial use of Pueblo dance films without permission from the Tribal Council at the Pueblo where they were filmed. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.

Biography / History

Hugh Miller received his BA from the University of Oregon and MA and PhD from Harvard. In 1947 he became Professor of Music and Chairman of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico. During 1958, he was a Fulbright Lecturer at Auckland University, New Zealand.

In the late 1950s to early 1960s, Dr. Miller documented Pueblo Indian dances on film. This was done with appropriate permission from the Pueblos. He was assisted by Donald L. Roberts, who worked at the University of New Mexico, Fine Arts Library, 1963-1968.

Source: Miller, Hugh Milton. Introduction to Music; a Guide to Good Listening, New York: Barnes & Noble, 1958. (College Outline Series, no. 109); Don L. Roberts e-mail dated 10/15/2007.

Extent

1 folder with 3 DVDs (3 hrs. 12 min.)

Language of Materials

Undetermined

Abstract

The Hugh Milton Miller Film Collection consists of 13 reels of film, of which 11 have been converted to DVD. Three of these films are of tourist sights in the American Southwest including New Mexico and Arizona. The other eight films are of Pueblo dances.

Arrangement

Organized into two series:

Indian Dances of New Mexico, 1962-1964

Hugh Milton Miller Personal Home Movies, 1940-1950

Related Archival Material

Donald L. Roberts Collection of Music of the Southwest and Mexico Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Antonio Garcia Collection of Native American Music of New Mexico and Mexico Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Separated Material

Original 8mm film, DVC Pro tapes and Master DVDs stored in B3.

Processing Information

Films converted to digital, November 2008.
Title
Finding Aid of the Hugh Milton Miller Film Collection, 1940-1964
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
T.S.Reinig
Date
© 2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • 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