Constance Goddard DuBois papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 9167

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The papers include her field notes from her summers in California, notes on her activities with the Connecticut Indian Association, and newspaper clippings relating to Indian affairs, particularly those in California. Drafts of manuscripts for her publications on Luiseno religion, Diegueno mythology, and other subjects relating to the Mission Indians of California are included in the collection. Letters written to Du Bois from 1897 to 1909 comprise a significant part of the collection. Correspondentss from Alfred Kroeber, Otis T. Mason, Mary C. B. Watkins, Frederick W. Hodge, and Clark Wissler, as well as with representatives of Indian-aid organizations such as the Indian Industrial League and the Indian Rights Association. Other correspondence to DuBois, her notes and manuscripts on Indians of California including the Diegueño and Luiseño Indians. One folder about Robert Wilcox and the Hawaiian Rebellion. Folders with information about mythology, religion, industry, art, missions, language, vocabulary, biographical information, and newspaper clippings. Includes index of correspondence. Field notebooks, date books, and diary books.

Dates

1897-1909.

Creator

DuBois, Constance Goddard. (Person)
Hodge, Frederick Webb, 1864-1956. (Person)
Kroeber, A. L. (Alfred Louis), 1876-1960. (Person)
Mason, Otis T., 1838-1908. (Person)
Watkins, Mary C. B. (Person)
Wissler, Clark, 1870-1947. (Person)
Huntington Free Library (Former owner, Organization)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Constance Goddard Du Bois, a successful novelist who lived in Connecticut, became interested in the Indians of southern California on a visit there around the turn of the century. From 1897 to 1907 she became increasingly involved in efforts to assist the Luiseno and Diegueno peoples of the area, spending many of her summers with them. At home in the winter she worked vigorously to bring the situation of these desperately poor people to the attention of her neighbors and officials of the Indian Bureau, through correspondence and lectures. Her efforts put her in touch with anthropologists and other scholars with similar interests, and she began to publish some of the many myths and legends she collected from her Diegueño and Luiseño friends in southern California.

Extent

2 cubic feet. (2 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT

Original Huntington Free Library box numbers have been retained.

SERIES LIST

Series I. Guides and other material

Series II. List of Correspondents

Series III. Correspondence

Series IV. Publications and Manuscripts

Series V. Notebooks

Series VI. Field Notebooks

RELATED MATERIALS

Microfilm available.

Physical Description

Manuscripts, correspondence.

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: Evan Fay Earle
Date completed:: February 2006
EAD encoding:: Evan Fay Earle February 2006

General

The Du Bois papers are a window into the lives of the Indians in southern California at the turn of the century. They are especially useful in demonstrating the relationship between the Mission Indians and those, like Constance Du Bois, who served as their intermediaries with the state and federal governments. Preserving this collection archivally on microfilm ensures its availability to future scholars, and makes it accessible in libraries throughout the country via inter-library loan. While much of the collection warrants individual preservation treatment as well, this microfilm edition is an important first step.