The Frederick Dockstader collection contains the research files
of this prominent expert on Native American art. The collection contains material
related to his published monographs and articles, Kachina research, unpublished
manuscripts, and research and personal files. Overall the Dockstader collection provides
a significant insight into the world of Indian Art and also into the world of the
workings of art museums.
Collection Number
NAU.MS.327
Language
English.
Repository
Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives
Department.
Northern Arizona University
Box 6022
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022
Phone: 928 523 5551
Fax: 928 523 3770
Email: Special.Collections@nau.edu
Biographical Note
Dr. Frederick Dockstader (1919-1998) anthropologist, art professor, museum director, and
noted authority on American Indian art, was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1919.
However he spent much of his youth on the Hopi and Navajo reservations in Arizona.
During this period he became an accomplished silversmith and started his lifelong
interest in studying indigenous peoples and their art. He received his bachelor's and
master's degree from Arizona State College, Flagstaff, Arizona. After a short stint
teaching in the Flagstaff public schools he went on to Western Reserve University, where
he received his Ph.D in 1951.
Dockstader went on to an impressive career in the museum world. He became the Staff
Ethnologist at the Cranbook Institute of Science from 1950-1952; Curator of Anthropology
at Dartmouth College Museum, 1952-1955; Assistant Director at the Museum of the American
Indian, 1955-1960; and Director at the Museum of the American Indian, 1960-1975.
Dockstader served as a Commissioner and as Chairman of the U.S. Department of the
Interior's Indian Arts and Crafts Board, and a member of the New York State Museum
Advisory Council. Dockstader also taught as an adjunct professor at Columbia University
and Arizona State University.
Dockstader is widely published in the area of Indian Art. His books include The Kachina and the White Man: a Study of the Influences of White
Culture on the Hopi Kachina Cult(1954), Indian Art
in America (1962), Indian Art in Middle
America(1964), Indian Art in South
America(1967), and Great American Indians
(1977).
Scope and Content Note
The Frederick Dockstader collection contains the research files of this prominent expert
on Native American art. The collection contains material related to his published
monographs and articles, Kachina research, unpublished manuscripts, and research and
personal files. Overall the Dockstader collection provides a significant insight into
the world of Indian Art and also into the world of the workings of art museums.
Of importance in the collection are Dockstader's notes about his Kachina research. These
include correspondence, notes and artwork that led to the writing of his 1954
publication Kachina and White Man. It also contains several boxes of index cards
arranged alphabetically by Kachina name. A card may contain drawings of the Kachina,
definitions of words associated with the Kachina, and notations as to where the
information was obtained. Also, found in the index cards are examples of Kachinas from
different collections and books. The Kachina research files also include correspondence
with Byron Harvey about his experiences in Indian country. The files also include
inventories to important Kachina collections held by museums. Finally, there are H.R.
Voth's original notes about the Owen Kachina collection.
Dockstader also has very rich subject and research files. These files cover many topics
relating to Native American art. They also contain correspondence with many "experts" in
the field. Of interest is the unpublished manuscript to an encyclopedia of Native
American Art (box 15) and the many bibliographies that he created about Native American
topics (box 16).
Finally, there are two boxes containing Dockstader's art work. Box four contains
drawings of Kachinas and box 27 contains drawings of Navajo Jewelry.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner
of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs,legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its
officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person
asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
The American Indian in Graduate Studies: A
Bibliography of Thesis and Dissertations, 1957 edition book
reviews, 1958.
1
2
The American Indian in Graduate Studies: A
Bibliography of Thesis and Dissertations, 1973 edition related
material, 1973.
1
3
Dockstader's bibliography. ,
1
4-5
Great North American Indians; Profiles in Life and
Leadership,
1976-1988.
Book reviews, and publishing correspondence.
1
6
Arts and Crafts of the North American
Indian, news release New York Graphic Society, 1961-1965.
1
7-9
Indian Art in America Series, 1958-1988.
Book reviews and publishing correspondence related to the Indian Art In
America Series.
1
10
Indian Art in Middle America, book review,,
1964-1969.
1
11
Indian Art in Middle America,
correspondence, lists, information, 1962-1965.
1
12
Indian Art in South America book reviews,
1967-1968.
1
13
Indian Art in South America,
correspondence, related material, 1966-1968.
1
14
Indian Art of the Americas, book review.
,
1
15
The Kachina and the White Man, original
edition (1954), book reviews, 1954-1955.
1
16-25
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, 1985.
Bibliographies, book reviews, drafts and correspondence for the revised
edition of Dockstader's Kachina book. Includes a proposal for a Hopi Kachina
Guidebook (see box 13, folder 134).
box
folder
4
61
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, correspondence and drawings. ,
4
62
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
editions, illustrations. ,
4
63
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate I. ,
4
64
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
editions, color keys, photos, plates. ,
4
65
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate I. ,
4
66
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate II. ,
4
67
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate III. ,
4
68
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate IV. ,
4
69
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate V. ,
4
70
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate VI. ,
4
71
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate VII. ,
4
72
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate VIII. ,
4
73
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate IX. ,
4
74
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate X. ,
4
75
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate XI. ,
4
76
The Kachina and the White Man, revised
edition, Plate XI. ,
box
folder
2
26-30
The Oscar Howe: A Retrospective Exhibition, 1959,1982-1985.
Catalogue Raisonne, articles, correspondence and information on Oscar Howe.
Includes material on the Oscar Howe Memorial Association.
2
31
Pre-Columbian Art and Later Indian Tribal
Arts, book reviews, 1968.
2
32
Primitive Art, book reviews, 1979.
2
33
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , article written by Dockstader related to exhibit,
1986-1987.
2
34
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , bibliography and appendix. ,
2
35
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , biographies.,
2
36
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , book reviews, 1987.
2
37
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , correspondence from Textile Museum, 1986-1987.
2
38
Song Of The Loom : New Traditions In Navajo
Weaving , exhibits, 1987.
box
folder
3
39-41
Weaving Arts of the North American Indian,
correspondence and book reviews, 1979-1993.
Kachina Research -- Kachina Research -- Research notes, 1950-1952.
6
114
Kachina research --Ruth Fifield-correspondence, 1981.
6
115
Kachina research --General information, articles, lists, stories,
1949-1991.
6
116
Kachina research --Byron Harvey-correspondence, 1922, 1952-1964.
6
117-118
Kachina research --Byron Harvey articles written about Fred Harvey
Indian art collections and one journal of a trip through the Navajo
reservation, 1955-1957.
6
119
Kachina research --Records from the Volz ledgers, Fred Harvey Company
Hopi Collection Records, 1901,
Nine pages 5.25 x 11 , evidently torn from Volz' ledger. List gives Hopi names
of a collection of 400 Kachinas. From this collection 100 Kachinas were sent to
George Heye Director of the Museum of the American Indian.
6
120
Kachina research --Kachina, Fred Harvey-Hopi Collection Records, Item
2. ,
Typed list, with annotations, of the Volz Kachina collection.
6
121
Kachina research -- Fred Harvey-Hopi Collection Records, Item 3.
,
Copy of list of 156 specimens in the Owen Collection, numbers 704-860. These
items were collected by Owen and later reviewed by Henry Voth. Folder includes
Voth's original notes.
6
122
Kachina research --Fred Harvey Index cards of Hopi Words related to
Kachinas. ,
6
123
Kachina research --"Hopi Kachina Sculpture," A Thesis by Robert Bruce
Spaulding, 1953.
box
folder
7
124
Kachina research -- Kachina notebook. ,
7
125
Kachina research -- legends, stories drawings. ,
7
126-128
Kachina research -- lists of museum holdings and other information on
Kachinas. ,
7
129
Kachina research -- photos, drawings, information. ,
7
130
Kachina research --Correspondence and photographs, Paul Huldermann
, 1957.
7
131
Kachina research -- various photos. ,
7
132
Kachina Research -- Woodblock cut of Kachinas appearing in Arizona
State Teachers College Bulletin, 1938.
"European Influences on Hopi Kachina Ceremonials," Abstracts of Masters Theses, Arizona State Teachers
College Bulletin , 1938-1942.
13
134
A Guidebook to Hopi Kachinas proposal and related material (cross
reference The Kachina and the White Man,
revised edition, series one), 1970 (see box 1, folders 16-25).
13
135
North American Indian Art Series, tentative resumes, 1979.
13
136
Pottery Arts of the North American Indian, unpublished manuscript,
1994.
13
137
Pottery Arts of the North American Indian, bibliography. , 1994.
13
138
Pottery Arts of the North American Indian, related material, 1994
13
139
Pottery Arts of the North American Indian, photographs from a variety
of American cultural institutions. Restricted to study use only. (See box 23,
folder 236 for more information on this book and the photographs),
box
folder
14
140-141
Pottery Arts of the North American Indian, photographs from a variety
of American cultural institutions. Restricted to study use only. (See box 23,
folder 236 for more information on this book and the photographs),
14
142-144
White Influences on the Hopi Kachina Cult, dissertation for Western
Reserve University, parts 1-3, 1951.
box
folder
15
145
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "A"), unpublished.
,
15
146
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "B"), unpublished.
,
15
147
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "C"), unpublished.
,
15
148
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "D"), unpublished.
,
15
149
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "E"), unpublished.
,
15
150
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "F"), unpublished.
,
15
151
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "G"), unpublished.
,
15
152
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "H"), unpublished.
,
15
153
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "I"), unpublished.
,
15
154
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "I","J" and "K"),
unpublished. ,
15
155
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "L"), unpublished.
,
15
156
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "M"), unpublished.
,
15
157
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "N"), unpublished.
,
15
158
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "O"), unpublished.
,
15
159
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "P"), unpublished.
,
15
160
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "Q" and "R"), unpublished.
,
15
161
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "S"), unpublished.
,
15
162
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "T"), unpublished.
,
15
162
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "U" and "V"), unpublished.
,
15
164
Encyclopedia of American Indian Art (letter "W" and "Z"), unpublished.
,
Subject files arranged alphabetically. These files includes correspondence files,
either listed by last name or by the letter of the last name.
box
folder
16
165
American Association of Museums, presidency of, 1971 to
1974.
16
166
American Indian Ethnohistoric Conference, correspondence, newsletters,
related materials, 1957-1958.
16
167
Arizona State University, correspondence, 1981-1983.
16
168
Arizona State University, material related to classes Dockstader
taught, 1982.
16
169
Bahti, Mark, correspondence, 1996.
16
170
Bahti, Tom, correspondence, 1980-1982.
16
171
Bibliographies, ceramics, 1982.
16
172
Bibliographies, Indian Art of North America. ,
16
173
Bibliographies, Mexico and Central America. ,
16
174
Bibliographies collected or created by Dockstader about Native American
topics, 1940-1954
Bibliographies include -- Culture, Bibliographies, Design Styles, Arts and
crafts of Southwestern Indians, Navajo Art and Artisans, Prehistoric Cultures
of Arizona, Mescalaro Apache, Pueblo Sandpainting, Navajo Sandpainting, Indians
of the Southwest, Indians of the Americas, Southwestern Indian Silverwork,
Weavers of New Mexico, Choctaw Textiles and Design, Use of Herbs as Dyes,
Eskimo Art, Hopi Indians, Teacher's Bibliography, Children's Bibliography,
Mimbres, Peyote and Peyote Cult.
16
175
Bibliographies, new school including course information, 1977.
16
176
Bibliographies, North America. ,
16
177
Bibliographies, pottery. ,
16
178
Bibliographies, Pre-Columbian Art, 1982.
16
179
Bibliographies, Pueblo Indian Dances and Ceremonies, 1954.
Correspondence from Nathan Bijur, New York State Supreme Court justice,
concerning Native American items that he collected and purchased in Alaska.
Dockstader was asked to write an article about the judge's collection. The
material includes photographs of the items and correspondence related to the
acquisition of the items.
16
183
The Bibliographical Directory of Native American Painters,
correspondence with Ginger E. Kingman, 1992-1995.
16
184
Bromberg, Erik (Indian Arts and Crafts dealer), Hopi Kachina doll
correspondence and other correspondence, 1983-1985.
16
185
Bromberg, Erik (Indian Arts and Crafts dealer), The Hopi Approach to
the Art of Kachina Doll Carving. ,
16
186
Bromberg, Erik (Indian Arts and Crafts dealer), newsletters, 1978-1983.
16
187
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, correspondence and transcripts of
presentation, 1980.
16
188
Columbia University, correspondence and related material, 1956-1978.
box
folder
17
189
Correspondence "A", 1976-1979.
17
190
Correspondence "B", 1975-1979.
17
191-192
Correspondence "C", 1959-1994.
17
193-194
Correspondence "D", 1954-1997.
17
195
Correspondence "E", 1981-1997.
17
196
Correspondence "F", 1955-1997.
17
197
Correspondence, 50's correspondence, museum related and some personal,
1950-1959.
17
198
Correspondence "G", 1979-1993.
17
199
Correspondence "H", 1954-1996.
box
folder
18
200
Correspondence "I", 1975-1986.
18
201
Correspondence "J", 1975-1976.
18
202
Correspondence "K", 1976-1993.
18
203
Correspondence "L", 1976-1989.
18
204-205
Correspondence "M", 1977-1998.
18
206
Correspondence "O", 1976-1994.
18
207
Correspondence "P", 1983-1994.
18
208
Correspondence "Q", 1981-1994.
18
209
Correspondence "R", 1976-1991.
18
210
Correspondence "S", 1975-1997.
box
folder
19
211
Correspondence "T", 1975-1994.
19
212
Correspondence "V", 1974-1980.
19
213-214
Correspondence "W", 1975-1995.
19
214
Correspondence "W" ,
19
215
Collecting arts and crafts.,
19
216-218
Day, John A., Director of University of South Dakota Art Galleries,
correspondence, 1988-1997.
19
219
Dodge, Henry Chee, letter, 1945.
19
220
Earle, Edwin (artist), correspondence and related material, 1981-1995.
19
221-223
Elders Circle, American Indian Institute Correspondence. , 1986-1993.
19
224
Exhibits, museums. ,
19
225
Greene, Helen M., correspondence, drawings and related material,
1958.
Greene spent the year of 1958 at Hopi. She reports to Dockstader on different
ceremonial dances and the arts and crafts scene on the mesas.
19
226
Hallmarks, lists and other documentation. ,
box
folder
20
227-228
Fred Harvey Fine Arts Foundation (Heard Museum), correspondence and
related material, 1976-1978.
20
229
Hatt, Robert (former director of Cranbrook Institute of Science)
correspondence, 1970-1986.
These letters and documents discuss a law suit brought against the Museum of
the American Indian in the early 1970s by the New York State Attorney
General.
20
230
Hatt, Robert correspondence, 1951-1986.
Mentor & Director of Cranbrook Institute of Science.
20
231
Highwater, Jamake, correspondence and related material, 1978-1981.
20
232
Indian Art, conference held at the University of Arizona. Folder
contains the agenda, Dockstader's keynote address, and related material,
1959.
20
233-234
Indian Arts and Crafts Board, correspondence and related materials,
1976-1991.
This folders contains a synopsis of the history of the Indian Arts and Crafts
board.
20
235
Kabotie, Fred, correspondence, 1959, 1981-1985.
20
236
Pottery book correspondence, 1978.
Correspondence relating to photographs collected for Dockstader's book on
Native American Pottery. See folders 139-141 for the actual photographs.
20
237-238
Lecture brochures and advertisements presented by Dockstader, 1975-1976.
20
239
Middle Atlantic Press (Dockstader's assistance with coloring book),
1974.
20
240
Miles, Charles. Information and correspondence about the Charles Miles
collection of Native American stone artifacts, 1978-1979.
box
folder
21
241
Museum Computer Network, Inc., 1982.
21
242
Museum of the American Indian exhibit leaflets, 1973-1975.
21
243-244
Museum of the American Indian, general information, brochures, and news
releases.,
21
245
Native American Art Studies Association, -- correspondence and related
material, 1979-1982.
21
246
Native American Ceramics vocabulary, 1982.
21
247
New York City Museum Council (correspondence and meeting minutes),
1959-1964.
21
248
Noe, Katie, correspondence and related material, 1957.
Correspondence that details the passage of a 1957 New Mexico law concerning the
sale of authentic Indian Arts and Crafts. Noe describes the fight for the bill
and also writes about her reminiscences of early Gallup, New Mexico.
21
249
Pending material, including a Prospectus for "An American Indian
Handbook", 1978.
21
250
Ross, Francis, 1976 to 1978.
21
251
Santa Fe Art Institute -- correspondence and related material,
1961-1962.
21
252
Textile Conferences -- correspondence, round table documents, and two
articles written by Dockstader, 1975-1978.
21
253
Thomas Jefferson Forum -- correspondence, brochures, lists, 1976,
1986.
21
254
United States Department of the Interior (Indian Arts and Craft Board,
1966.
These files contain articles about Dockstader, awards he earned and presentations
and lectures he presented. Also included are biographical information
(obituaries), holiday cards the Dockstaders sent to friends and family annually,
and articles about Alice Dockstader, his wife, and her early work as an engineer.
Included are images of architectural models of projects with which she was
involved. Of particular interest are the Dockstader’s personal holiday cards,
which created by Frederick and Alice and incorporated their interest in
Kachinas.
