The Whiting Collection consists of over 55,000 pages of field
notes and papers, preserved in 217 binders, along with some recordings. These binders
are organized into the following categories: Anthropology, Botany, Santa Curz,
Dartmouth, Hopi, Navajo and Apache, Southwest, Taos and New Mexico, Havasupai, and
Whiting-Personal. The bulk of the collection was amassed by the late A.F. Whiting over
his forty-five year career in anthropology, ethnobiology, and linguistics.
Collection Number
NAU.MS.25
Language
English.
Repository
Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives
Department.
Northern Arizona University
Cline Library
P.O. Box 6022
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022
Phone: 928 523 5551
Fax: 928 523 3770
Email: Special.Collections@nau.edu
Biographical Note
In the 1930s, A.F. Whiting did extensive field research on the Hopi language and
culture. His Ethnobotany of the Hopi was published in
1939, and is still recognized as the definitive work. In the 1940s Whiting lived with
the Havasupai for one year, drafted a rough manuscript biography of a Hopi friend and
assistant, and also prepared a multi-volume report on Indian Arts and Crafts for the
U.S. Department of the Interior. After World War II he served as a United States
anthropologist on Ponape in the Caroline Islands of the South Pacific, and in several
other teaching and research positions before finally settling in as the long-time
Curator of Anthropology at the Dartmouth College Museum. There he worked at improving
the museum holdings, and in enlightening his anthropology students through innovative
teaching with the occasional help of a fictitious visiting instructor, "Mr. Ka-Hopi,"
who served mutton stew to his "guests" while leading them into inductive insights about
southwestern American Indian cultures. Whiting typically spent the summers in the
Southwest, helping a selected group of students learn the intricacies of field work in
other cultures, and pursuing his own wide range of research interests. Whiting's
impressive professional correspondence is indicative of his attention to detail and of
his generosity in sharing any information he had with other students and professionals
who asked him about any topic in the areas of his expertise. He liked to take on new
intellectual challenges, do meticulous and exhaustive research--of the literature as
well as in the field--and then share and discuss his findings with others who were
interested. This he preferred to the tedium of writing up and publishing a final
product. Typically, Whiting would enthusiastically enter a project, do extremely careful
and competent work resulting in massive and valuable accumulations of original
information, and then drop that project in favor of some other equally attractive
academic adventure. He did not ever willingly sit down and finish up his notes into a
publishable report or book, and he never did complete his formal degree. On the other
hand, he amassed for posterity a vast wealth of field work and related information; far
more than would ordinarily be expected from any one individual researcher.
Realizing the need for organizing this wealth of ethnographic notes and papers, Whiting
after twenty years at Dartmouth "retired" to his beloved Arizona to work on his massive
accumulation of data, and to try to update his Ethnobotany of
the Hopi. David Seaman of Northern Arizona University was assisting Whiting in
several aspects of his work, and Whiting was helping Seaman with his Hopi language
research. Tragically, Whiting contracted bone cancer and died at Flagstaff Medical
Center on May 1, 1978, at the age of 66. He retained his wry humor to the end. His last
report to the Dartmouth Anthropology Department, which he dictated to Seaman from a
hospital bed three days before his death, was entitled "Final Report of an Add-Junk
Professor."
Scope and Content Note
The Whiting Collection consists of over 55,000 pages of field notes and papers,
preserved in 217 binders, along with some recordings. These binders are organized into
the following categories: Anthropology, Botany, Santa Curz, Dartmouth, Hopi, Navajo and
Apache, Southwest, Taos and New Mexico, Havasupai, and Whiting-Personal. The bulk of the
collection was amassed by the late A.F. Whiting over his forty-five year career in
anthropology, ethnobiology, and linguistics. The materials represent a treasure trove of
original information on several southwestern Native American groups. Important field
notes and related information concerning botany, linguistics, general anthropology, and
the cultures of Mexico and the Santa Cruz area of southern Arizona.
In April 2017, staff with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office reviewed this
collection and determined that a number of items were culturally sensitive. These are
noted under the individual descriptions below. Permission for use of these items will
need to be obtained by the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. Please contact Special
Collections and Archives at 928-523-5551 for more information.
Copyright
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.
Anthropology Methods and Theory, Archeology, Bibliography, Letters
Box-folder
1.2
Culture,
1936-1976.
"Botany and Anthropology", "An Ecological Analysis of Self-Sufficient
Communities", Ethno-Astronomy, "The Folk Society", Folklore, Medical
Anthropology, "Patchwork Quilts and Social Antropology"
Box-folder
1.3
Art & Music,
1947-1971.
Art, Primitive Art, Music
Box-folder
1.4
Pottery,
1900-1968.
Bibiliography, Specimens, "Let the Clay Speak"
Box-folder
1.5
Museums,
1942-1981.
"Catalogues, Damn 'Em: An Inter-Museum Office Memo", Conservation Notes,
Museology, Dartmouth Museum, Museum of Northern Arizona, The Textile Museum,
Museum People, Museology Course at Northern Arizona University
Box-folder
1.6
Museum of Northern Arizona,
1936-1984.
1936-54, 1961-73, 1974-84, "A Memorandum for the Department of Botany"
Castetter correspondence, Organization of field research, "The Nature &
Value of Botanical Evidence", "The Significance of Diversity in Cultivated
Plants", Botany Photos, NSF Proposal, Mexico
Box-folder
1.8
Origins of Agriculture,
1939-1977.
Archaeobotany, Notes, North America, Middle America, South America,
"Ethnobotany of Kincaid", "Botany and Anthropology", Origin and Classification
of Cultivated Plants, "Ethnobotany Defined", "The Present Status of Ethnobotany
in the Southwest", "Language, Culture, & Ethnobotany"
Box-folder
1.9
Origins of Corn I,
1936-1977.
Correspondence, "Diversity of Corn Types", "The Origins of Corn"
Box-folder
1.10
Origins of Corn II,
ca. 1938.
Classic Papers with A.F. Whiting analysis
Box-folder
2.1
Origins of Corn III,
1890-1979.
Additional Articles and Notes, Corn Types, "Papago Corn Raised at Tumacacori
National Monument"
General, Dartmouth Anthropology Notes, Faculty, Students, A.F. Whiting Personal
Status and Correspondence
Box-folder
3.3
Anthropology Courses,
1960-1974.
Primitive Art, Anthropolgy I: Language and Culture, Africa, The Southwest,
Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Cultures of the Southwest, Primitive
Technology
Box-folder
3.4
Museum,
1958-1974.
"A Pioneer Museum in the Wilderness", "The Museum in the Wilderness", Professor
Childs' Collection of Cider Mugs", Exhibits, Basketry, Hopi, Music, Plymouth
College Courses, M.O.V.E. Catalogue, A.F. Whiting Correspondence, A.F. Whiting
Final Report
Box-folder
3.5
Plymouth College Courses,
1968-1971.
Anthropology I, Anthropology and the Museum, Anthropology for Teachers, The
American Indian
General, including "Hopi Social-Ceremonial Organizations", Census: 1500 to
1970, Kinship I: AFW Research Notes, Kinship II: Eggan, 1933, Incest: AFW 1940
Notes, Articles and Abstracts
Box-folder
10.9
Social Organization 2,
1931-1982.
Hopi Clans, Clans By Name
Box-folder
10.10
Social Organization 3,
ca. 1964.
Individuals, Reaction to Whites, People - Flagstaff, People - Administration,
People - Hopi
Box-folder
11.1
I, Edmund 1,
1961.
I, Edmund: The Story of a Hopi Boyhood (final revision), Bibliography
Box-folder
11.2
I, Edmund 2,
1935-1982.
I, Edmund: The Story of a Hopi Boyhood (AFW interim manuscript), Letters,
Notes, Kin of Edmund
Box-folder
11.3
I, Edmund 3,
ca. 1960.
I, Edmund: The Story of a Hopi Boyhood (AFW earlier manuscript)
"The Hopi Family" (AFW, 1937), "Hopi Family" (Underhill, 1967?), Education,
Articles and Abstracts, Letters, Diary Notes
Box-folder
11.6
Culture 3,
1940-1967.
Color, Fire, Tobacco, Pipes, Smoking, Games and Game Implements
Box-folder
11.7
The Bischoffs In Hotevilla 1,
1969.
The Bishoffs In Hotevilla: A Hopi Ethnography for Children (later draft,
December 1969)
Box-folder
11.8
The Bischoffs In Hotevilla 2,
1969-1972.
Letters: 1969-1972, Evaluations and Related Materials
Box-folder
11.9
The Bischoffs In Hotevilla 3,
ca. 1968.
The Bischoffs In Hotevilla: A Hopi Ethnography For Children (earlier draft and
notes, 1968?)
Box-folder
11.10
Language 1,
1970-1977.
References, "The Hopi Language" (early AFW sketch), Structure, Alphabet Notes,
Text
February 20, 2017: Contents in boxes 12 and 13 are being reviewed by the Hopi
Cultural Preservation Office. These boxes will be openly available to patrons
by April 20, 2017. Special permission for access to these files during this
period may be granted by contacting Special Collections and Archives in advance
of your visit by e-mail at special.collections@nau.edu or by phone at
928-523-5551.
This folder has been marked as restricted by staff with the Hopi Cultural
Preservation Office (April 2017). Special permission for use of materials in
this file can be made by contacting Special Collections and Archives at
special.collections@nau.edu or by phone at 928-523-5551.
Box-folder
12.8
Religion 2,
1967-1979.
"Hopi Clans" (AFW, 1967), Lineages, "Hopi Status Systems" (Nagata), "Hopi
Tiponi (Medicine Bundles) and Clan History" (AFW, 1968)
This folder has been marked as restricted by staff with the Hopi Cultural
Preservation Office (April 2017). Special permission for use of materials in
this file can be made by contacting Special Collections and Archives at
special.collections@nau.edu or by phone at 928-523-5551.
Box-folder
12.9
Religion 3,
1937-1969.
Articles and Notes (with AFW notations), Kachinas and Other Supernatural
Beings
This folder has been marked as restricted by staff with the Hopi Cultural
Preservation Office (April 2017). Special permission for use of materials in
this file can be made by contacting Special Collections and Archives at
special.collections@nau.edu or by phone at 928-523-5551.
Box-folder
13.1
Religion 4,
1936-1969.
Kivas, Altars
Box-folder
13.2
Religion 5,
1936-1969.
Paraphernalia
Box-folder
13.3
Religion 6,
1936-1969.
Hopi Paho
Box-folder
13.4
Religion 7,
1936-1969.
Corn Meal - Ritual Use, Ritual Day Count, War, Myths and Stories, Gods,
Shrines, Rituals, Exorcism
Box-folder
13.5
Religion 8,
1936-1969.
Ceremonial Costume, Snake Dance
Box-folder
13.6
Religion 9,
1936-1969.
Non-Ritual Behavior, Research Notes, Individual Accounts (AFW study notes),
Word Lists, Bibliography
Box-folder
13.7
Ethnobiology 1,
1929-1981.
NSF Proposal (1964), Other Tribes, Articles
Box-folder
13.8
Ethnobiology 2,
1970-1982.
Medicine I: Birth-Marriage-Death, A Hopi Doctor's Case Book
Box-folder
13.9
Ethnobiology 3,
1964-1982.
Medicine II: Body Parts, Head and Neck, Alimentary, Muscles and Nerves, Skin
and Injury
Box-folder
14.1
Ethnobiology 4,
1956-1964.
Medicine III: Genito-Urinary, Disease and Witchcraft
Box-folder
14.2
Ethnobotany 1,
1939-1976.
Agriculture, "Hopi Agriculture" Photo Essay (ca. 1939), Hopi History of
Farming
Plant Classifications, "Ethnobotany of the Hopi" (1950 reprint of AFW 1939),
"Ethnobotany of the Hopi" (AFW revisions with D. Seaman)
Box-folder
14.8
Ethno-Ornithology 1,
1969.
Photo Notebook, Bibliography, Articles and Abstracts, Bird Lists, AFW Notes
Box-folder
14.9
Ethno-Ornithology 2,
1967.
"Hopi-Ethno-Ornithology" (August 1967), Birds, General Terms, Hunting, Parts of
Birds, Miscellaneous, Exotic Birds, Water Birds, Hawks, Vultures/Buzzards,
Eagles, Quail, Turkeys
Research Plan (AFW), History, Linguistic Problems, Geographic Problems,
Botnaical Problems, Data Processing, Problems with Numbers, Baldwin: "A Story
of the Chiricahua and Western Apache", Arts and Crafts, Baskets-White Mountain
Apache, Baskets-Yavapai, Musical Instruments, Pottery, Silverwsmithing, Food
Preperation, Housing, Material Culture, People, Chiefs and Clans, Informants,
Other People, Religion, Sacred Vocabulary, Sacred Symbols of Silas John,
Tourist Guides, Navajoland Tourist Guide, San Carlos Apache Recreation Map,
Yavapai Enculturation-Proposal to MNA (AFW)
Box-folder
16.2
Ethnobiology,
1931-1941.
Miscellaneous, Body Parts (Vocabulary), Body Functions (Vocabulary), Medicine,
Mental Functions (Vocabulary)
Box-folder
16.3
Ethnobotany 1,
1941-1977.
General and Miscellaneous, Preliminary Notes on Goodwin Collection (AFW, June
1965), Preliminary Report on Goodwin Collection (AFW, 1971), Goodwin Field Work
(including AFW notes), Apache Plant Names, Preliminary Taxonomic List, Western
Apache Plants (1971), Summary Notes on Goodwin Collection (AFW, August
1971)
Plant Names, Castetter: "List of Common, Apache, and Scientific Names" (1936),
Plant Locations, Plant Uses, Reagan: "Plants Used by the White Mountain Apache
Indians of Arizona" (1929), Russell: "Field Agricultural Production in a Navajo
Community: A Research Proposal" (1976)
Box-folder
16.6
Ethnobotany 4,
undated.
Navajo/Apache Terminology (mostly alphabetical by native term)
Box-folder
16.7
Ethnobotany 5,
undated.
Navajo/Apache Terminology (mostly arranged by plant taxonomy)
Winter: Hovenweep 1975: Archaeological Report No. 2 (including AFW
Correspondence), History (AFW Study Notes), Historical Culture - 1901 (Reagan
1930)
Box-folder
16.10
Language 1,
undated.
(Ethnobiology vocabulary, by native spelling) A - D
Box-folder
17.1
Language 2,
undated.
G - J
Box-folder
17.2
Language 3,
undated.
K - O
Box-folder
17.3
Language 4,
undated.
S - Z
Box-folder
17.4
Language 5,
1901-1971.
Miscellaneous, Tape Transcriptions, Informants: Mrs. Randall, Mrs. Russell,
Marsha Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Harney, Sentences in Context (an AFW field
notebook), Hoijer, 1938 and 1945 (AFW Notes), Durbin, 1964 (AFW Notes),
Franciscan Father's Ethnologic Dictionary of the Navajo Language, 1910 (AFW
Notes), Wall and Morgan, Navajo - English Dictionary (B.I.A. 1958)
Box-folder
17.5
Language 6,
undated.
Miscellaneous Vocabulary A - Z, Consonants, Vowels, Verbs,
Colors/Quantities/Shapes, Numbers/Amounts/Size/Value, Material Culture
(Kluckhohn, Hill and Kluckhohn), Social Terms, Vocabulary - Navajo and
Apache
Box-folder
17.6
Language 7,
1971.
A.F. Whiting's annotated compilation (1971)
Box-folder
17.7
Social Organization,
1942.
Goodwin: "The Social Organization of the Western Apache" (1942)
Tuba City area history; birds and animals; Tarahumara belts. See transcription,
AFW volume H51:127-136.
Box-folder
19.5
#17 (MNA #717),
1964.
Plants (especially from collection at Polacca, Hopi). See transcription, AFW
volume H51:137-144.
Box-folder
19.6
#18 (MNA #718),
1964.
Hopi foods (in Hopi, no translation); Hopi and Tewa names; (very poor
recording). See transcription, AFW volume H51:145-164.
Box-folder
19.7
#19 (MNA #719),
1964.
Discussion of Hopi and Tewa plants and animals; children's story; migration
legends; place names; kinship terms ("One man can only wish that all tapes were
this productive" --AFW); See transcription, AFW volume H51:165-191.
Box-folder
19.8
#20 (MNA #720),
1964.
Plants and animals (needs additional translation). See transcription, AFW
volume H51:192-202.
Box-folder
19.9
#21 (MNA #721),
1964.
Kachina costumes; Hopi and Tewa animal names; domestic animal names. See
transcription, AFW volume H51:203-221.
Box-folder
19.10
#22 (MNA #722),
1964.
Hopi and Tewa names for plants, animals, and animal parts. See transcription,
AFW volume H51:222-242.
Box-folder
19.11
#23 (MNA #723),
1964.
Plant specimens. See transcription, AFW volume H51:243-255.
Box-folder
19.12
#24 (MNA #724),
1964.
Tewa and Hopi names; plants; mammals; birds. See transcription, AFW volume
H51:256-270.
Box-folder
19.13
#48 (MNA #726),
1969.
Word list for those learning Hopi. See transcription, AFW volume H51:22ff.
Box-folder
19.14
#49 (MNA #725),
ca. 1969.
Kachina names; Kachina legends; Kachina costumes.
Box-folder
19.15
Hopi and Tewa,
1960.
Tewa and Hopi animal names.
Box-folder
19.16
Hopi and Tewa - Ethnobiology,
1964.
Brief excerpts from MNA tapes; possibly some Havasupai included.
Box-folder
19.17
Hopi and Dakota,
1967.
Hopi text and citation forms; Dakota text and citation forms.
Box-folder
19.18
Navajo,
1967.
Navajo text; story of informant's family; citation words.
Santa Cruz Area; Calablasas; Nogales; Patagonia; "The Story of Rosario Tadeo"
(AFW, 1951); Early Spanish History
Box-folder
20.2
History 2,
1950-1959.
Early Spanish History; Missions (Kino and Yuma Missions); Tumacacori Mission;
"Tumacacori Census of 1796" (AFW, 1953); "The Little Man with a Bit of Brass"
(AFW, undated).
Box-folder
20.3
Community 1,
1949.
Maps and Floor Plans; Economy; Agriculture; Businesses; Cattle; Horses; Leisure
and Entertainment; Mining; Peso; Property Damage; Railroads; Real Estate;
Education; Nogales High School; Patagonia High School; Santa Cruz High School;
Events; Fiesta de Mayo; Parties.
Box-folder
20.4
Community 2,
1949.
Health; Government Services; Law; News Briefs; Politics.
Box-folder
20.5
Organizations,
1949.
Men's Clubs; Women's Clubs; Military Organizations; Scouts; Sports and Arts;
Other
Box-folder
20.6
Religion,
1948-1951.
Catholic; Magdalena Church; Patagonia Church; Tubac Church; Sacred Heart
Church; Laguna Valorio; Martinez Valorio; Tumacacori Easter Ceremony; Catholic
Daughters; "Feast of the Holy Cross" (AFW, undated); "Miracle in the Living
Room" (AFW, 1951); "The Happy Cemetery" (AFW, 1951); Protestant; Baptist;
Episcopal; Methodist.
General; Archaeology; Health: Disease & Epidemics 1851-1918; Annual Reports
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1893-1904; Historical Papers by AFW: A
Kino Triptych (1952); Father Porras at Awatovi and the Flying Nun (1971); Other
Southwest Groups: Mohave; Northern Paiute; Papago; Pima; Walapai; Yuma. View Digital Images of Annual Reports.View Digital Images of Prehistoric Man in the
Southwest.
Box-folder
21.2
History,
1948-1965.
Before 700 A.D.; 700-1350; 1500s; 1600s; 1700s; 1800s; 1900s
Looms; Techniques; Spinning; Weaving Patterns; Joe Ben Wheat (AFW notes and
correspondence); Kate Peck Kent and Others (notes and correspondence re:
Southwest); Textiles
Box-folder
21.7
Textiles 2,
1901-1977.
Miscellaneous; Archaeological Textiles, including "Dove Springs Burial" (AFW
final research project); Pueblo Textiles; Specimen Lists; Stevenson Notes;
Spanish American; South America
Box-folder
21.8
Verde Valley 1,
1951-1978.
Bibliography; Maps and Roads; Bird Survey; Archaeology Site Listings
Box-folder
21.9
Verde Valley 2,
1912-1976.
Archaeology Site Listings; Textile Artifacts
Box-folder
21.10
Seri and Mexico,
1949-1958.
Seri: Miscellaneous; A Seri Diary", AFW Field Notes (June 1951); Notes on Seri
Collection; Culture; Ethnobotany; Ethnozoology; Language; Language Field Notes;
People; Photos; Textiles; Mexico: Miscellaneous; People; Travel Information;
Caborca; Oquitoa; Pitiquito
Miscellaneous; Diffusion; Sites; Chama; Dismal River; Eastern Colorado; Rio
Grande Area; Pottery Types; Gallina Phase; Pecos Conference (1959)
Box-folder
22.2
Bibliography,
1925-1960.
General; Alphabetical
Box-folder
22.3
Community,
1948-1960.
Miscellaneous; Political; Community Services: Agricultural Extension; Animal
Shelter; City Planning; Fire Fighting; Foundations and Museums; Law
Enforcement; Library; Post Office; Social Service Organization; Youth;
Industry: Miscellaneous; Agriculture; Amusement; Aviation; Electric Co-op;
Flour Mill; Lumber; Mining; Lodging, Restaurant; Retailing
Miscellaneous; Cosmology; Kiva; Ceremonial Cave; Magic; Training; Religious
Paraphernalia; Peyote; Spanish Influence; Catholic Church; Convents; Penitente
Church; Protestants; Church Directories
Box-folder
24.8
Social Organization,
1958-1960.
Miscellaneous; Personal Interaction; Family Clan; Tribal Government; Social
Control; Social Interaction; Seasonal Living; Jokes; Character; Collier
Article
Box-folder
24.9
Trip Information,
1958-1961.
Calendar; Trip Preparation; Maps; Contacts: Preliminary Field Notes; Museum of
New Mexico; Publicity; Expenses; AFW Notes; Eric Whiting Notes
