Mary Ellen Hillaire was born 7 February 1927 to Joseph and Edna Hillaire. She was a member of the Lummi Indian Tribe and grew up on the Lummi Reservation. Joseph was a renowned orator and carver and played an important role in the creation of the first tribal government. He was the secretary of the Lummi Indian Business Council. Mary graduated from Bellingham High School in 1950, she received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University in 1956, she received her Bachelor of Social Work in 1957 from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Education from Western Washington State College in 1967. She was the first native women to obtain a position with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. This placed her in a difficult position within her community. In 1971 she was the first woman faculty hired for The Evergreen State College (TESC). While at TESC she developed the Native American Studies program. She designed programs focusing on what she felt were the core learning components of native culture: music, talk, dance, and art. She actively recruited native students by physically taking applications directly to native communities. She also presented TESC with the idea of the Long House. She advocated a necessary space; "not a place to learn about indians, but a place for indians to learn." Although she excelled at creating quality programs, she had a difficult time with necessary paperwork. Often other faculty assisted her with this. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1980. She worked as long as she could remaining a faculty member until her death 2 October 1982.
In her own words she describes her life in this way:
"From energy a creature was formed, placed in thought upon the land, and charged to establish and to maintain. This energy was drawn in love into family way, and I took my position as the central figure in a family of thirteen children, born to parents who are both now dead. My mother, the late Mrs. Edna D. Scott, housewife and informer; my father the late Joseph R. Hillaire, carver and thinker.
My home was the land, my religion, the people; and my school all things of the sky, on the earth, and in the sea- a union from whence life springs. My parents relinquished me to take my lessons from the universe where, regardless of which direction I listened, looked, or touched, I found all fused into one on the growing horizon of my understanding guided only by the quality of my parents' daily living as they held their private lives openly." - Mary Hillaire
This collection consists of audiocassettes, videos in various formats, reel to reel audiotapes, papers, objects and slides documenting the personal and professional life of Mary Ellen Hillaire. The majority of the collection is comprised of 2142 audiocassettes. Approximately one quarter of the tapes directly documents the various academic programs taught by Mary Ellen Hillaire. The majority of the remainder of the audiocassettes documents speeches and presentations, outside activities, curriculum planning and tools, native speakers, and various college related activities. The majority of the video materials and a large portion of the slides document various aspects of Native American Studies. The remainder of videos and slides documents her personal life. The artifacts include a large portion of wooden carvings and sculptures, including many totems. There are also baskets, jewelry and other hand crafted objects. The smallest portion of the collection is Papers. This portion of the collection includes her diplomas and various papers documenting activities at the Evergreen State College. The collection spans from 1950 to 1983, but the bulk of materials ranges from 1970 to 1982.
The Mary Ellen Hillaire Papers are divided into eighteen series: Series I: Academic Programs, Series II: Academic Specialty Area: Native American Studies: Curriculum Planning and Student Support, Series III: Lectures, Series IV: Long house Planning, Series V: Miscellanea, Series VI: Native American Cultural Examples, Series VII: Native American Studies: Media, Series VIII: Presentations, Series IX: Productions at Other Colleges, Series X: Telephone Recordings, Series XI: TESC Meetings/Seminars, Series XII: Academic Support, Series XIII: Native Speakers, Series XIV: Gathering/Events, Series XV: Minorities and Race Relations, Series XVI: Artifacts, Series XVII: Papers, and Series XVIII: Personal and Family Activities.
Series I: Academic Programs is further subdivided into thirteen subseries: Subseries I: A Separate Reality, Field Research, Subseries II: Designed Cultural Diversity, Subseries III: Economic Position in a Pleuralistic Society, Subseries IV: Life Modeling, Subseries V: Native American Studies: Instructional Materials, Subseries VI: Other Programs, Subseries VII: Perform BOAI, Subseries VIII: Resources for Determination, Subseries IX: Self Directed Learning, Subseries X: Spirituality - Eye of the Unknown, Subseries XI: Symbolization, Subseries XII: The Nature of Community and Subseries XIII: Miscellaneous: Class Discussions and External Academic Credits.
Subseries V: Native American Studies: Instructional Materials is further subdivided into three Sub-subseries: Sub-subseries I: "Oral Tradition," Sub-subseries II: "Nature of Human Nature," and Sub-subseries III: " Futurism."
Series II: Academic Specialty Area: Native American Studies is further subdivided into six subseries: Subseries I: Curriculum Planning and Student Support, Subseries II: Audio Tapes (R-R), Subseries III: Conferences, Subseries IV: Faculty Meetings and Seminars, Subseries V: Native American History, and Subseries VI: Instructional Materials.
Subseries V: Instructional Materials is further subdivided into five Sub-subseries: Sub-subseries I: "Cultural Re-Entry," Sub-subseries II: "David Grant," Sub-subseries III: "Question Directive: Research for Image Makers," Sub-subseries IV: Native American (Indian) Education, and Sub-subseries V: Tribes.
Series V: Miscellanea is further subdivided into five subseries: Subseries I: Mary Hillaire Misc.: Telephone conversations, Social Gatherings, Workshops/Conferences/Organizations, Subseries II: Miscellaneous, Subseries III: Not Identifies, Subseries IV: Refiles, and Subseries V: Audio Tapes -1995.
Series VIII: Presentations is further subdivided into five subseries: Subseries I: General Presentations, Subseries II: Church Presentations, Subseries III: Non-Campus Presentations, Subseries IV: Student Presentations, and School Visits Presentations.
Series XII: Academic Support is further subdivided into three subseries: Subseries I: Teaching/Tutoring, Subseries II: Counseling, and Subseries III: Recruitment.
The majority of the collection is open to the public, one folder is restricted.
Duplication by the archives in no way transfers either copyright or property right, nor does it constitute permission to publish in excess of "fair use" or to display the materials.
In all cases, publication or display of our materials must carry the credit line: "From The Evergreen State College Archives". Citations of specific materials should include the accession number, provenance and series title, file folder heading (if any) followed by the specific item's identification (title or description).
Portions of the audiocassette contents of this collection were processed and described by Sarah Plourde-Queener. The artifact portion of this collection was processed and described by Ed Nielson. The majority of this collection was processed by Randy Stilson.
Related materials may be found in Accession 1996-01 Academic Affairs: Longhouse Education and Cultural Center.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series consists of 569 audiocassettes documenting the programs led by Mary Ellen Hillaire at the Evergreen State College from 1971 to 1982.
This subseries consists of 46
This subseries consists of 44 audiocassettes documenting the program Designed Cultural Diversity in 1982.
This subseries consists of 19 audiocassettes documenting the program Economic Position in a Pleuralistic Society in Summer 1981.
This subseries consists of 77 audiocassettes documenting the program Life Modeling over the 1981-1982 academic year.
This subseries consists of 31 audiotapes documenting the programs Oral Tradition, Nature of Human Nature and Futurism from 1974 to 1980.
This sub-subseries consists of 19 audiotapes documenting the program Oral Tradition from 1974 to 1979.
This sub-subseries consists of 7 audiotapes documenting the programs Nature of Human Nature in 1979.
This sub-subseries consists of 5 audiotapes documenting the programs Futurism in 1980.
This subseries consists of 17
This subseries consists of 30 audiocassettes documenting the program Perform: Bring Out an Idea in 1975.
This subseries consists of 31 audiocassettes documenting the program Resources for Determination over the 1976-1977 academic year.
This subseries consists of 47 audiocassettes documenting the program Self Directed Learning in the Summer 1979.
This subseries consists of 101 audiocassettes documenting the program Spirituality - Eye of the Unknown over the 1976-1977 academic year.
This subseries consists of 72 audiocassettes documenting the program Symbolization over the 1978-1979 academic year.
This subseries consists of 29 audiocassettes documenting the program The Nature of Community over the 1979-1980 academic year.
This subseries consists of 25 audiocassettes documenting class discussions and external academic credit from 1974 to 1980.
This series consists of 673 audiocassettes and 44 reel to reel audiotapes documenting Native American Studies and Mary Ellen Hillaire's preparation in instruction from 1970 to 1982.
This subseries consists of 192 audiocassettes documenting Native American curriculum, curriculum planning and student support from 1970 to 1982.
This subseries consists of 28 - 7 inch, 11 - 5 inch, 2 - 3.5 inch, and 3 - 3 inch reel to reel audio tapes documenting native american ceremonies and events and oratories from Helen Cordero, Joseph Hillaire and Joe Washington from 1960 to 1977.
This subseries consists of 114
This subseries consists of 168
This subseries consists of 64 audiocassettes documents Native American History education from 1975 to 1979.
This subseries consists of 135 audiocassettes documenting various instructional materials including program documentation, native education, and discussions about tribes with a date range of 1972 to 1981.
This sub-subseries consists of 9 audiocassettes regarding cultural re-entry. The audiocassettes were recorded in 1985.
This sub-subseries consists of 5 audiocassettes of David Grant in 1975.
This sub-subseries consists of 6 audiocassettes documenting the program Research for Image Makers in 1976.
This sub-subseries consists of 44 audiocassettes documenting Native American (Indian) education from 1974 to 1981.
This sub-subseries consists of 71 audiocassettes documenting various tribes from 1972 to 1980.
This series consists of 45
This series consists of 32 audiocassettes documenting the planning of the Long House on The Evergreen State College from 1973 to 1983.
This series is comprised of 211 audiocassettes documenting various aspects of Mary Ellen Hillaire's career at The Evergreen State College. The majority of these audiocassettes have not yet been documented or classified.
This subseries consists of 24 audiocassettes documenting a variety of telephone conversations, social gatherings, workshops, conferences, organizations from 1973 to 1979. A list of contents can be found
This subseries consists 101 audiocassettes not yet classified from 1971 to 1980.
This subseries consists of 43 audiocassettes unmarked and not yet identified.
This subseries consists of 11 audiocassettes with the label "refile."
This subseries consists of 32 audiocassettes documenting various items, lectures and interactions of Mary Ellen Hillaire dating from 1970 to 1980. A list of contents can be found
This series consists of 22 audiocassettes documenting Native American cultural examples including dance, music, and stories from 1972 to 1979.
This series consists of 26 audiotapes, 5 VHS videotapes, 2 Beta videotapes, 3 Umatic videotapes, 34 7-inch video reel to reels, and 12 5-inch video reel to reel documenting Native American Studies at The Evergreen State College. There are 2 binders of slides totalling 913 slides depicting Native American people, art, and gatherings. 73 slides are a presentation from 1982. The materials in this series date from 1973 to 1982. A detailed list of the audio and video can be found
This series consists of 125 audiocassettes documenting various presentations from 1970 to 1982.
This subseries consists of 39 audiocassettes documenting general presentations from 1973 to 1982.
This subseries consists of 11 audiocassettes documenting presentations at churches from 1971 to 1980.
This subseries consists of 13 audiocassettes documenting non-campus presentations from 1970 to 1981.
This subseries consists of 4 audiocassettes documenting student presentations in 1980.
This subseries consists of 36 audiocassettes documenting presentations at various schools.
This series consists of 39 audiocassettes documenting productions at other colleges from 1972 to 1979.
This series consists of 48 audiocassettes documenting Mary Ellen Hillaire's telephone converstaions from 1978 to 1982.
This series consists of 63 audiocassettes documenting various Evergreen State College meetings and seminars from 1973 to 1972.
This series consists 36 audiocassettes documenting various types of academic support that Mary Ellen Hillaire contributed from 1971 to 1980.
This subseries consists of 24 audiocassettes documenting Mary's teaching and tutoring of students from 1971 to 1980.
This subseries consists of 6 audiocassettes documenting Mary's counseling of students from 19713to 1979.
This subseries consists of 6 audiocassettes documenting Mary's recruitment and outreach in 1973.
This series consists of 194 audiocassettes documenting various native speakers' presentations and talks from 1970 to 1982.A list of speakers can be found
This series consists of 35 audiocassettes documenting various gatherings and events from 1970 to 1981.
This series consists of 29 audiocassettes documenting discussions from 1970 to 1982 about minorities and race relations.
This series consists of 148 artifacts including totems, jewelry, pouches, baskets and dolls documenting Mary's handicraft. A detailed list of artifacts can be found
This series consists of poems, quotations, diplomas, correspondence, student evaluations of faculty, program materials, interview transcripts, and some materials relating to Mary's assistant academic dean position. This series is the smallest portion of the collection as Mary did not collect or create many paper documents. The date span for this is 1950 through 1982, where the bulk dates are from 1980 to 1982. The diplomas date between 1950 and 1967.
This series consists of 605 slides and 8 7-inch reels of 8mm film documenting various aspects of Mary Ellen Hillaire's personal life.