Charlotte Johnson Frisbie Collection of Navajo Music and Oral Histories
Collection
Identifier: MU-10
Scope and Content
This collection of field recordings is the work of Charlotte Johnson, done on the Navajo reservation during the summers of 1963-1965 in the Chinle and Lukachukai areas of Arizona. The collection contains a wide range of songs and oral histories that provide an in depth view of Navajo religion, society and history. It contains discussions of foods, animals, blankets, saddles, moccasins, clans, sweat houses, hunting, myths, dreams, superstitions, death, creation and origin stories, as well as personal experiences and histories of the Navajo people. Included are accounts such as the forced education of Navajo children and the Long Walk.
Charlotte Johnson conducted detailed interviews with Frank Mitchell, a leading Navajo medicine man, and his wife, Rose Mitchell. Chic Sandoval (Albert G. Sandoval), Augusta Sandoval and Totsoni Mark made translations of the narratives. Navajo songs are performed by Frank and Howard Mitchell, Walter Davis, Marie Shirley, John Tsoii, Ashan Kataali (Bird Woman) and Blue Mule, and by Jimmy Howard and Billy Norton and their groups.
The original recordings are housed at Wesleyan University. In 1966 the University of New Mexico Fine Arts Library made copies of the original recordings which have been reformatted to cassette.
Charlotte Johnson conducted detailed interviews with Frank Mitchell, a leading Navajo medicine man, and his wife, Rose Mitchell. Chic Sandoval (Albert G. Sandoval), Augusta Sandoval and Totsoni Mark made translations of the narratives. Navajo songs are performed by Frank and Howard Mitchell, Walter Davis, Marie Shirley, John Tsoii, Ashan Kataali (Bird Woman) and Blue Mule, and by Jimmy Howard and Billy Norton and their groups.
The original recordings are housed at Wesleyan University. In 1966 the University of New Mexico Fine Arts Library made copies of the original recordings which have been reformatted to cassette.
Dates
- 1963-1965
Creator
- Frisbie, Charlotte Johnson (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The 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 publications or distribution.
Biography / History
Charlotte Johnson received her B.A. from Smith College, her M.A. from Wesleyan University, and her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, in 1970. She married Theodore R. Frisbie in 1965. He was also a UNM Anthropology graduate. They both taught at and retired from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois. Parts of these materials form the basis of Charlotte Johnson's thesis at Wesleyan, (1964) and her dissertation (Charlotte Johnson Frisbie) at UNM, 1970.
Extent
1 box (23 CDs)
Abstract
This is a copy of the field recordings made by Charlotte S. Johnson on the Navajo Reservation in 1963-1965. There are large segments of Navajo dialogue with English translations. The collection contains a wide range of songs and oral histories that provide an in depth view of Navajo religion, society and history.
Location of Originals
The original recordings are held by the World Music Archives, Wesleyan University.
Processing Information
Cassettes reformatted to CD in June 2011.
83 recordings deemed "sensitive" by the donor were removed from the collection in August 2009. The remaining items were not renumbered so in the sequence various numbers are missing.
NOTE: The order of items on the CDs matches the order of items in the list below. However, due to the reformatting process, CD tracks do not necessarily start or stop at the same events as the list below.
83 recordings deemed "sensitive" by the donor were removed from the collection in August 2009. The remaining items were not renumbered so in the sequence various numbers are missing.
NOTE: The order of items on the CDs matches the order of items in the list below. However, due to the reformatting process, CD tracks do not necessarily start or stop at the same events as the list below.
- Indian dance -- Southwest, New
- Indians of North America -- Relocation
- John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music
- Mitchell, Frank, 1881-1967
- Navajo Indians -- History
- Navajo Indians -- Medicine
- Navajo Indians -- Rites and ceremonies
- Navajo Indians -- Social life and customs
- Navajo Women -- Biography
- Navajo children -- Education -- Navajo Indian Reservation
- Oral histories
Creator
- Frisbie, Charlotte Johnson (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Charlotte Johnson Frisbie Collection of Navajo Music and Oral Histories, 1963-1965
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Nancy Brown-Martinez
- 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
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