Omer Call Stewart photograph collection, 1920s-1987

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Stewart, Omer Call
Title
Omer Call Stewart photograph collection
Dates
1920s-1987 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 boxes
Collection Number
P0426
Summary
The Omer Call Stewart photograph collection contains portrait photographs of Omer Stewart and of his first wife, Wanda Clayton. The collection also contains photographs taken in Europe during the 1920s; photographs of Omer Stewart receiving awards, as well as two photographs of Wovoka.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Omer Call Stewart was born in 1908 in Provo, Utah. He grew up in a LDS (Mormon) family and environment, and from 1928 to 1932 he served a French speaking mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He later withdrew from membership in the LDS Church, but maintained a strong interest in the subject of religion. Stewart earned his B.A. from the University of Utah, completing work for the degree in 1933. He studied anthropology and spent two summers in the field under the direction of Dr. Julian H. Steward. While at the University of Utah, he was chosen to play the lead male role in the varsity play "Mis' Nelly of N'Orleans," directed by Maud May Babcock. The lead female role was played by Wanda Clayton, whom Stewart married a few months after the play was performed. In 1934, Clayton and Stewart were divorced. He later married Lenore Thurston, with whom he had four children. Stewart's graduate education took place at the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his Ph.D. in anthropology in 1939.

During his time at Berkeley, Stewart had his first experience with the peyote ceremonies of the Native American Church. These ceremonies became a major focus of his work in later years. Stewart spent most of his professional career at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was responsible for the formation of the University's Department of Anthropology. He invested much time and effort into protecting the rights of Native Americans. Such work included research and service as an expert witness in land claims cases and cases involving religious freedom and the use of peyote. Stewart earned Emeritus status at the University of Colorado. He was the author of a number of articles and other writings, most of which address Native American issues. He received many awards, fellowships and grants, and was a member of a number of professional societies. Stewart died in Boulder, Colorado, in 1991.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains many portraits of Omer Stewart during his mission in France, and later in his career as an anthropologist. Other notable portraits of his first wife, Wanda Clayton, and the Paiute Messiah, Wovoka are included.

The majority of photographs are black and white and of standard formats.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Drew Ross in 1992.

Separated Materials

Manuscript materials were transferred to the Omer Call Stewart papers (MS 0612).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
1 1 Portraits
1 2 Receiving Awards
1 3 Wanda
1 4 Woroka, Paiute
1 5 portraits
1 6 Friends and Family, Young Adulthood
1 7 WWII in Egypt
1 8 Teepee with US Flag, Patty in "Mr. Bob"
2 1 Album - Mission/Family
3 1 Album - Mission
4 1 Album - Friends/Family
5 1 Album

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Clayton, Wanda--Photographs
  • Stewart, Omer Call, 1908-1991--Photographs
  • Wovoka(Paiute Indian), ca. 1856-1932--Photographs.

Geographical Names

  • EuropePhotographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints--1920-1987
  • Photographic prints--Color--1920-1987
  • Portrait photographs