John Duncan Collection of California Maidu Oral Histories and Music and Plains Indian Music
Collection
Identifier: MU-17
Scope and Content
The first part of the collection is a copy of field work done by researcher Edith Murphy with Lucy Young, a member of the Wintun tribe of Northern California. Murphy provided these recordings to the Mendocino County School System, in Ukiah, California, in 1960-65 and allowed UNM to make copies.
The rest of the collection contains oral interviews with Bryan Beavers, John Davis, John Day and Lizzie Enos, all members of the Maidu tribe. The interviews cover many aspects of traditional Maidu Indian culture, such as the acculturation of the tribe and the pressures of the modern world. Bryan Beavers discusses his life, occupations, family and issues surrounding the California mining labor strike of 1930. Interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson of the Hupa tribe contain their stories, life histories and songs. Duncan's recordings also include traditional songs, stories and their meanings by Lizzie Enos and others. Several songs of the Sioux, Paiute and Shoshone tribes, collected by Duncan, are also included.
This collection forms part of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music.
The rest of the collection contains oral interviews with Bryan Beavers, John Davis, John Day and Lizzie Enos, all members of the Maidu tribe. The interviews cover many aspects of traditional Maidu Indian culture, such as the acculturation of the tribe and the pressures of the modern world. Bryan Beavers discusses his life, occupations, family and issues surrounding the California mining labor strike of 1930. Interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson of the Hupa tribe contain their stories, life histories and songs. Duncan's recordings also include traditional songs, stories and their meanings by Lizzie Enos and others. Several songs of the Sioux, Paiute and Shoshone tribes, collected by Duncan, are also included.
This collection forms part of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music.
Dates
- 1960-1965
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 publication or distribution.
Biography / History
John Duncan was a scholar of Central California Indian ethnology who persuaded several other researchers of California Indian music to donate their research materials to the University of New Mexico. Duncan was a student at Sacramento State College when he did his Maidu interviews. Some of the interviews and songs were recorded by student anthropologists from the University of California-Berkeley. This collection includes extensive information about the role of songs within the Maidu culture. These materials document cultural traditions that now have disappeared.
Extent
19 CDs ca 28.5 hrs.)
Abstract
This collection contains interviews with several California Maidu informants and songs and stories. There are also songs from the Sioux, Paiute and Shoshone tribes.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the John Duncan Collection of California Maidu Oral Histories and Music and Plains Indian Music, 1960-1965
- 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
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