Paul Tosa Collection of Jemez Pueblo Music
Collection
Identifier: MSS-861-BC
Scope and Content
The recordings in this collection were performed at Jemez Pueblo by the Turquoise Moiety, to which Paul Tosa belongs. Paul Tosa is singing. Tosa provided the background notes for the songs, which feature the traditional singing and drumming of the Jemez Buffalo, Deer, Corn, Bow and Arrow and Harvest dances.
Dates
- circa 1970-1975
Creator
- Tosa, Paul (Person)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Audio may not be duplicated without written consent of Paul Tosa or his descendents as noted in the CSWR accession file. No commercial use of recordings is allowed without their permission. Permission is required for publication or distribution. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.
Biographical Information
Paul Tosa is a tribal leader, educator and musician from Jemez Pueblo. He attended the University of New Mexico and has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with a minor in archaeology. His emphasis was Native American Pueblo history. While a student at UNM, Paul Tosa took music classes with Charlemaude Curtis, who worked at the Fine Arts Library, UNM, and was Assistant Curator of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music. Tosa made and donated recordings of Jemez Pueblo traditional music to the Robb Archive in the late 1970s.
Tosa was a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also served as lieutenant governor and later three-time governor of Jemez Pueblo. His passion has always been improving the lives of all Native Americans and preserving and teaching others Pueblo history and traditions, especially that of Jemez.
Tosa was privileged to learn the traditions, compose and sing the traditional music and become a tribal leader of Jemez Pueblo. He learned the history and songs of Jemez from his grandfather, Francisco Tosa, and his father, Joe Tosa. They both had been War Chiefs of Jemez in charge of traditional activities. Paul has also taught them to his son, Earl Tosa. The Tosas, from father to son, have been members of the Turquoise Moiety or kiva society and have always participated in the decisions, events, dances and songs of their pueblo.
Following in the footsteps of Manuel Archuleta, the pioneer music preservationist of San Juan Pueblo, Tosa wants to safeguard the musical traditions of Jemez Pueblo for all future students and researchers, native and non-native. The gift of these recordings to UNM is part of that effort. Tosa is currently (2010) working on a book about the history, stories and songs of Jemez Pueblo, which he plans to publish.
Tosa was a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also served as lieutenant governor and later three-time governor of Jemez Pueblo. His passion has always been improving the lives of all Native Americans and preserving and teaching others Pueblo history and traditions, especially that of Jemez.
Tosa was privileged to learn the traditions, compose and sing the traditional music and become a tribal leader of Jemez Pueblo. He learned the history and songs of Jemez from his grandfather, Francisco Tosa, and his father, Joe Tosa. They both had been War Chiefs of Jemez in charge of traditional activities. Paul has also taught them to his son, Earl Tosa. The Tosas, from father to son, have been members of the Turquoise Moiety or kiva society and have always participated in the decisions, events, dances and songs of their pueblo.
Following in the footsteps of Manuel Archuleta, the pioneer music preservationist of San Juan Pueblo, Tosa wants to safeguard the musical traditions of Jemez Pueblo for all future students and researchers, native and non-native. The gift of these recordings to UNM is part of that effort. Tosa is currently (2010) working on a book about the history, stories and songs of Jemez Pueblo, which he plans to publish.
Extent
1 Box (.1 cu. ft.)
Language of Materials
North American Indian languages
Abstract
The collection contains Native American music from Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. The songs were recorded in the early 1970s by Paul Tosa of Jemez Pueblo. Included are traditional Jemez Pueblo Buffalo, Deer, Corn, Bow and Arrow and Harvest Dance songs.
Separated Material
Archival master recordings are stored on B3.
Processing Information
Original DAT tapes have been reformatted to CD.
Creator
- Tosa, Paul (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Paul Tosa Collection of Jemez Pueblo Music, c1970-1975
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- N. Brown Martinez, A. Saletta, P. Tosa
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu