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Northwest Ethnohistory collection, 1790-1999

Overview of the Collection

Title
Northwest Ethnohistory collection
Dates
1790-1999 (inclusive)
1850-1999 (bulk)
Quantity
72 linear ft., ( )
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0039nwethnohistory
Summary
The Northwest Ethnohistory collection includes oral histories, manuscripts, correspondence, maps, bibliographies, publications and photographs relating to various Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Tribes documented in the collection include Chehalis, Shoalwater, Chinook, Clallam, Clatsop, Cowlitz, Duwamish, Haida, Klamath, Klickitat, Kwakiutl, Lummi, Makah, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Nooksack, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Salish, Semiahmoo, Skagit, Snohomish, Squaxin, Steilacoom, Suiattle-Sauk, Swinomish, and Suquamish. The records contain information about the various tribes' art, ethnic identity, family relationships, and languages. The collection also includes documentation about fishing, hunting, and whaling practices, and material culture. The records provide insight into Indigenous social life and customs, including their legends, religious rites and ceremonies. There are also a large number of documents related to politics and government relations including the legal status of tribes, and laws regarding land tenures and treaties.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

Interviews from Bristol Bay are restricted until 2060. Additional files as noted are restricted pending review and consultation. The remainder of the collection is available at the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9123. Please also see the "About Harmful Language and Content" statement below.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Northwest Ethnohistory collection consists of the records generated through the research and academic efforts of several generations of Western Washington University anthropology professors. Creators of the collection included Dr. Daniel L. Boxberger and Dr. Herbert Cecil Taylor. Before its transfer to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, the collection served as the anthropology department's archive of source material.

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Content Description

The Northwest Ethnohistory collection includes oral histories, manuscripts, correspondence, maps, bibliographies, publications and photographs relating to various Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Native American tribes documented in the collection include Chehalis, Shoalwater, Chinook, Clallam, Clatsop, Cowlitz, Duwamish, Haida, Klamath, Klickitat, Kwakiutl, Lummi, Makah, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Nooksack, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Salish, Semiahmoo, Skagit, Snohomish, Squaxin, Steilacoom, Suiattle-Sauk, Swinomish, and Suquamish. The records contain information about the various tribes' art, ethnic identity, family relationships, and indigenous languages. The collection also documents fishing, hunting, and whaling practices, and the social conditions and material culture of these indigenous people. The records provide insight into the tribes' social life and customs, including their legends, religious rites and ceremonies. There are also a large number of documents related to politics and government relations including the legal status of tribes, and laws regarding land tenures and treaties.

Much of the collection consists of duplicates of primary and secondary materials available in other repositories and is not archival in composition. The value of the collection lies in the research convenience of having these unique and difficult to find materials located in one source. The collection has not been processed and the collection inventory provides only file level inventory of the collection. The records were initially "reorganized" into classification system based on Native American tribal associations by a staff member in the Anthropology Department. That system was abandoned about halfway through the collection and final files represent the filing system used by the creators.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Northwest Ethnohistory collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Northwest Ethnohistory collection was initially "reorganized" by a staff member in the WWU's anthropology department into a classification system based on Native American tribal associations. However, that system was abandoned part of the way through the collection, and the remaining organizational scheme represents the filing system used by the creators. In order to find relevant materials, researchers are strongly encouraged to explore the entire Northwest Ethnohistory finding aid.

Custodial History

The Northwest Ethnohistory collection was donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies by Dr. Daniel Boxberger of the Anthropology Department at Western Washington University in 1999.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

This collection contains content about Northwest Indigenous peoples that may be culturally sensitive or harmful. Archives & Special Collections acknowledges the potential harm that comes from engaging with these resources for the communities of origin and the need for ongoing review of this content. Archives & Special Collections invites Tribal/First Nation communities to offer guidance regarding restriction or removal of sensitive materials from physical or online collections and/or agreements for limiting access or use, and any special care and handling. Researchers are also encouraged to consult with communities of origin regarding appropriate use of culturally sensitive content from this collection. See the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content for more information about providing feedback or to request dialogue.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Chehalis Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Chinook Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Clallam Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Clatsop Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Cowlitz Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Duwamish Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Haida Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Claims--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Ethnic identity--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Fishing--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Folklore--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Government relations--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Hunting--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Land tenure--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Languages--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Legal status, laws, etc.--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Material culture--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Politics and government--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Rites and ceremonies--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Social conditions--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Social life and customs--History--Sources.
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Treaties--History--Sources.
  • Klamath Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Klikitat Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Kwakiutl Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Lummi Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Makah Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Muckleshoot Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Nisqually Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Nooksack Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Puyallup Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Quileute Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Quinalt Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Salish Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Skagit Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Snohomish Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Steilacoom Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Suquamish Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Swinomish Indians--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
  • Whaling--Northwest, Pacific--History--Sources.

Geographical Names

  • Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe of Washington--History--Sources.
  • Semiahmoo (First Nation)--History--Sources.
  • Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington--History--Sources.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Bibliographies.
  • Bibliographies.
  • Correspondence.
  • Manuscripts.
  • Maps.
  • Maps.
  • Oral histoires.
  • Personal correspondence.
  • Photographic prints.
  • Photographs.
  • Publications.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Taylor, Herbert C., Jr., 1924-1991--creator.

Finding aid created by the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
1999

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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