[2025 August 29, Tracy J Nishimoto]: updated line break inventory, created resource record
A young Viola Edmundson, too frightened to walk alone past a field of cows on the way to the schoolhouse, soon abandoned her first attempt at grade school. By the time she had turned twenty-two, however, the timid girl had grown up into an adventurous young woman. In August of 1922, Viola accepted a job from the Bureau of Indian Affairs teaching Tsimshian Indian children in a remote Alaskan village. Years later she described that "my first view of the Tsimshian was of rows of houses spaced along the meandering shores of New Metlakatla, Alaska. Approaching the island in a late August afternoon, Purple Mountain and Yellow Hill with their brilliant colors dwarfed the weathered homes and churches." Accompanying her were five other teachers and the superintendent. Viola was one of only two in the group who had met an Indian previously, and her interactions with a few Salish Indians on Whidbey Island while growing up had been very limited. And regardless of prior experience, "none of us had known such people as the Metlakatlans." The nine-month teaching assignment would define her life and work from that moment forward.
Born on December 5th, 1899 in Iowa, Viola moved with her family to Whidbey Island in 1905. Once an added year and the company of a younger sister provided the courage to brave the frightening gauntlet of cows, she thrived in school--gaining back the lost year by skipping the fourth grade--and graduated valedictorian of her high school class. She worked and saved for a year, and entered the University of Washington in 1919. Unfortunately, her money ran out during her second year, necessitating a transfer to the Bellingham Normal School. Shortly after earning a teaching certificate, she left for New Metlakatla.
When she arrived, many adult Metlakatlans had been among those who had helped build the village, and only the youngest had no memory of its founder. These settlers had left their ancestral homeland, and vowed to renounce their ancient customs in favor of approximating the white man's culture. For this reason, they had a reputation among whites as being the most "progressive" of all Northwest Coast Indian tribes. Despite the sincere effort to assimilate, she noted that "in many ways the Metlakatlans displayed attitudes, beliefs and behavior that were foreign and incomprehensible to the teachers." The Indian children, for example, would not compete for attention or for rewards because, she realized, they thought in terms of group, and not personal, interest. The uniqueness of the Indians and their culture fascinated the young Viola. Despite the superintendent's injunction, she refused to punish children who spoke Tsimshian.
This initial immersion in Indian culture ended with the school year the following spring. She returned to Seattle and worked as a stenographer for the city's Chamber of Commerce. Here she met Charles Darwin Garfield, an Alaskan who had founded the Seattle Fur Exchange, and they married on her twenty-fifth birthday. Her curiosity about Indian culture slumbered dormant until 1927, when she was able once again to attend the University of Washington. She majored in sociology, and renewed her interest in the Tsimshian under the influence of newly-arrived anthropologist Melville Jacobs. She returned to New Metlakatla to study Tsimshian marriage patterns for her Master's Degree, which she received in 1931. For the next several years, she would alternate between spending summers at Columbia University in pursuit of doctoral studies and the rest of the year teaching at the University of Washington. At Columbia, she studied under Franz Boas, generally credited with being the "father of American anthropology." Like many other early Northwest anthropologists, she maintained throughout her long career the Boasian dedication to ethnographic detail and native texts. At the time Columbia required the publication of the dissertation before granting a Ph.D. Even though Garfield finished hers in 1935, she had to wait until the 1939 publication of Tsimshian Clan and Society before receiving her degree. Once she had the Ph.D., she joined the University of Washington as a full faculty member, where she would teach until her retirement in 1970.
Garfield formed a crucial part of the nucleus of a department internationally famous for its specialization in Northwest Coast Indian culture. French anthropologist Claude Lévy-Strauss, for example, relied upon Tsimshian examples drawn from Garfield in his early studies of kinship and mythology. Outside academia, Garfield was most famous for her work on totem poles. She worked with the United States Forest Service (U.S.F.S.) to restore many Alaskan totem poles, and together with Linn A. Forrest, a U.S.F.S. regional architect and supervisor of the restoration project, wrote The Wolf and the Raven: Totem Poles of Southeastern Alaska in 1948. She also wrote a history of the famous Seattle totem pole in Pioneer Square. Garfield's research illustrated how the poles are not just intricately crafted, beautiful works of art, but sophisticated symbols created by the Indians to tell of family, history and mythology.
Viola Edmundson Garfield died in 1983, after spending a life studying, promoting and trying to preserve the art and culture of Northwest Coast Indians.
Biographical note written by Rich Bellon, 1995.
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Throughout her professional career both at the University and in the field, Viola Garfield assembled, from museums, libraries, scholars and photographers, this collection of photographic documentation on Northwest Coast totems, totem carving, and totem culture. A first set of 26 volumes containing 1749 photographs and written material (housed in brown notebooks with white casings) are organized primarily along tribal divisions. The majority of photographs are identified as to symbolism, tribal origin, location, photographer, and date of photograph. All volumes are indexed in detail. The first part of the Box Contents gives a brief description of each volume. (Note totem classification scheme). Additional material including some duplicates of the images relating to the 26 volumes can be found in BOXES 4-6. These are arranged along tribal categories similiar to those in the volumes. BOX 7 contains miscellaneous subject material relating to native art and Viola Garfield in general. BOXES 1-3 contain a second set of albums and personal scrapbooks relating to and documenting her trips to Alaska. In the 1930s-1940s she conducted University of Washington summer cruises to places of interest in Southeastern Alaska. They include postcards, snapshots, maps, clippings and ephemeral items. In addition there are 382 nitrate negatives. Some are labelled with Viola Garfield's original totem classification system, others were given new Garfield numbers. Most have been printed, but in some cases, matching prints were not found.
Photocopies of albums in bound volumes. Includes numbered index of photographs
Howkan (H Series, H100-H129); Klinquan (Kli Series, Kli100 Kli140); Sukkwan (Su Series, Su100-Su113); Index; "Published Illustrations of Haida Poles in Alaska Towns", Notes from "Descriptive Booklet on the Alaska Historical Museum," ed. by Rev. A.P. Kashevaroff; "Old Witch Totem to Stare Down Again on Juneau," Juneau Independent, May 13, 1954; "John Wallace's Pole from Sukkwan"
Hydaburg Totem Park (Hy Series, Hy100 Hy184); Index; Photographers; Notes on poles sold to John Wallace from U.S. Forest Service files, Juneau; "Story of the Chief's Totem Pole."; Notes on Hydaburg poles from National Archives
Old Kasaan (Ka Series, Ka100 - Ka170); Index (2 versions); Notes on carvers; map of Kasaan Village by Herbert W. Krieger; explanation of map; correlation of John Krieger's map and Garfield's inventory; Notes from Waterman, T.T., "Some conundrums in Northwest Coast Art"
New Kasaan (Ka Series); Index (see Album 3); Obituary of carver James Son-i-hat Peele
Tongass (T Series, T100-T199); Village Island (T Series, T200-T249); Cape Fox (T Series, T250-T299); Cat Island (T Series, T300-T350); Index; notes on Lincoln pole controversy, Deans, James, "Tales of the Totems of the Hidery," 1899; Shotridge, Louis, "The Bride of Tongass; a study of the Tlingit marriage ceremony, " 1929; Benyon, William, paper sent to Hunter Lewis, U.B.C. 1950; Knapp, Frances & Rheta Louise Childe, The Thlinkets of Southeastern Alaska, 1896; Krieger, H.W., "Indian Villages of Southeast Alaska"; map of Tongass Village with explanation; Deans, James, "Tales of the Totems of the Hidery," 1899; Shotridge, Louis, "The Bride of Tongass; a study of the Tlingit marriage ceremony, " 1929; Benyon, William, paper sent to Hunter Lewis, U.B.C. 1950; Knapp, Frances & Rheta Louise Childe, The Thlinkets of Southeastern Alaska, 1896; Krieger, H.W., "Indian Villages of Southeast Alaska; "How the Abe Got on a Totem Pole," by Mabel Powers; Notes from: Waterman, T.T., manuscript notes and sketch of Village Island, 1922; Archbold, C.M., Report on Village Island for the U.S. Forest Service, 1938; Waterman, T.T., "Some Conundrums in Northwest Coast Art," ; Archbold, C.M., Report on Cape Fox for U.S. Forest Service; Waterman, T.T., manuscript notes and sketch of Cape Fox, 1922; "Museum Exhibit"
Saxman (K Series, K200-T234); index; Notes from Harriman Alaska Expedition; News release for The Wolf and the Raven; Notes from the Alaskan Sportsman; Notes from Scidmore, Eliza, Appleton's Guide-book to Alaska and the Northwest, 1893; Notes from Krieger, H.W., "Indian Villages of Southeast Alaska," 1928
Ketchikan (K Series, K100 - K115); Mud Blight (Mb Series, Mb100-Mb117); index; "High Man on Totem Pole'; "Totem Poles" by John S. Robinson
Klawock Totoem Pole (Kla Series, Kla100-Kla124); Tuxekan (Tx Series); index; photographers; notes on carvers
Wrangell (W Series W300); index; photographers; publications referred in description of Wrangell poles; "Wrangell Totems"; Notes from Collis, Septimia M., A Woman's trip to Alaska, 1890; Notes from Knapp, Frances and Rheta Louise Childe, "The Thlinkets of Southeastern Alaska," 1896; Notes from Scidmore, Eliza, "Appleton's Guidebook to Alaska and the Northwest"
Shakes Island (W Series W100-W151); index; "Carved Ancestor of an Indian Chief," 1956
Sitka National Monument (S Series, S100-S119); Town carvings (S Series, S200-S215); Sitka Paintings (S Series, S220-S224); index, history of Sitka; notes on poles exhibited at Lewis and Clarke Centennial Exposition, 1905; excerpt from journal of Frederica de Laguna re: George Benson; notes on Sitka National Monument from Sitka Sentinel, 1940
Hoonah (Nt Series, Nt100 Nt119); Kake (Nt Series, Nt120-Nt139); Klukwan (Nt Series, Nt140-Nt169); Angoon, Kootsnahoo, Killisnoo (Nt Series, Nt 170-Nt189); index; clipping on stone bear grave marker at Angoon; excerpt from "The Totems of Alaska," notes on drawing byh Thomas Suria, painter with Malaspina at Port Mulgrave; "Tax te: the Big Dipper" by Linn Forrest, 1941
Seattle pole from Tongass (Se Series, Se100-); other poles, mostly commercial Cedar Lumber Company (Se200-Se225); West Seattle (Se226-Se230); index; notes on the Seattle totem and its source; "Man who felled Pioneer Square Totem 55 Years Ago Admits His Crime on Visit"; "Totem Pole May be Erected On New Yesler Site"New Totem Pole to Keep Vandals Away"; "Dr. Garfield Issues Pamplet on Alaskan Indian Habits," U.W. Daily; "Skipper Knows; he paddled away on Seattle totem pole"; "New Totem Pole Here Ready for Installation"; "Indians First Tested Material of "America's Overcoat"; "Face-lifting for Totem"; "10-ton Totem Pole"
Kitsegulka (Ts600); Kispiox (Ts700); Kitladamax (Ts800); Port Simpson (Ts900); New & old Metlakatla (TsTs950); Kitixt (Ts1000); index; photogrpahers; excerpts from Beynon, William, "An account of totem pole erections and cedremonies at Gitsagyukla, Skeena River"; "A New Totem Pole to Join the Old"; map of Port Simpson, B.C.; loan of receipt and description of Tsimshian house model made by Fred Alexcee
Ninstints (Ha200 Series); Skidegate Channel (Ha400-600); West Coast (Ha700-800); Northern Group (Ha900-1100); index; references and photographers; notes from Dawson, George M., "Report on Queen Charlotte Islands"; editorial note on Deans, James, "Tales from the Totems of Hidery"; notes from Duff, Wilson, "Poles from Skidans and Tanoo"
Miscellaneous, original location unknown (Ha1-Ha54 Series); index
Kwakiutl: Fort Rupert (Kw Series, Kw100); Alert Bay (Kw Series, Kw200-); Miscellaneous (Kw Series, Kw300-); Nootka: (N Series, N100-); British Columbia Salish: Bella Coola (Be Series, Be100-), Miscellaneous (Sa Series); Thunderbird Park, Victoria (BCm100); Stanley Park, Vancouver (BCm200); index; Souvenir program, opening ceremonies of the new Kwakiutl Indian house in Thunderbird Park, Victoria, BC; "Bella Coola (Totem) returned to Park"; "Gift Totem Pole Set up in Garden"
(M Series); Includes carvings of unknown location, pictures from the Territorial Museum in Juneau and illustrations other then totem poles; index; "Seattle Man Carved Totem Pole with Spirit of Steelhead Fishing," by C.L. Anderson; "Restoration," by C.M. Archbold
Alaskan Eskimo (M Series); Index; notes from Petroff, Ivan, "report on the Population, Industries, and Resources of Alaska," 1884
Old Kasaan, New Kasaan, Hydaburg, Kinkwan, Howkan
Tongass, Cape Fox, Village Island, Cat Island, Ketchikan, Mud Blight
Klawak, Ranger's report of salvageable poles at Tuxekan, typed notes and text for The Wolf and the Raven
Includes 921 images
Includes commercial photographs by E.W.Merrill, Cameron, George L. Johnson and the Photo Shop Studio of scenic views vicinity of Sitka, Seward, Anchorage and Atlin (B.C.). Also included are snapshots of a visit to Alaska by steamer and train, ca. 1920s. Among the images are views of Sitka (Sitka Totem Park, pupils at the Sheldon Jackson Mission School, Russian church service including native choir, halibut at Booth Fisheries), Juneau, Taku and Columbia Glaciers, Cordova, Port Althorpe, Valdez, Seward (African American railroad employee feeding animals), Anchorage (Gray Line Tours sightseeing bus), Industrial School at Eklutna, Matamuska, Chickaloon, Mt. McKinley National Park, Fairbanks, Tanana River, Yukon River, Rampart, Fort Yukon, Dawson (Robert Service and his cabin), Whitehorse, Carcross, Atlin Lake, Lake Bennett, Skagway, Wrangell. (Note: Includes 2 photographs signed by Winter and Pond in pencil).
Album of 13 reproductions of original drawings by W. Langdon Kihn.
72 photographs of Charles D. Garfield and friends in vicinity of Juneau? Also shows mining, hydraulicing activities and the Log Cabin Soda Works, Juneau.
Album with 21 photographs by an unidentified photographer
Inscribed to "Mr. & Mrs. B.J. Young from Mont. Hawthorn. Astoria, Ore." Included are images of totem poles at Fort Wrangell and Ketchikan; Shakan graveyard and canneries; views of Kasaan showing Chief Suny Heart's totem, Chief Skowl's grave at Kasaan Bay, Paul Young's totem. (See NA 3506-3521)
81 photographs taken or acquired in the years 1920-1929 of Metlakatla, Alaska. Some date from 1887-.
Includes views of native carvers, canneries, missions, missionaries, portrait of Father Duncan, native basketball teams, Viola Garfield, family and friends. Nearly all identified and dated. (See NA3522-3546. NA3544 is missing from album. KK 9/1997)
Scrapbook (unbound). Includes 44 b/w snapshots and ephemeral items.
Scrapbook (unbound) describing the University of Washington Summer School Cruises to Alaska in 1934 and 1935 aboard Alaska Steamship Company's S.S. Northwestern and S.S. Aleutian. Conducted by Viola E. Garfield. Includes 44 b/w snapshots and ephemeral items relating to visits to Wrangell, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg.
Scrapbook describing the University of Washington Summer School Cruises to Alaska in 1936, 1937, and 1938 aboard the Alaska Steamship Company's S.S. Northwestern, S.S. Aleutian, and S.S. Alaska. Conducted by Viola E. Garfield. Includes 69 b/w photographs and ephemera relating to the trip. Includes images of the Todd Cannery (Peril Straight), Union Bay Cannery, Cannery at Petersburg, Hoonah Cannery (Chichagot Island?), Metlakatla Cannery.
Scrapbook. Includes 56 b/w photographs and ephemera.
Scrapbook describing the University of Washington Summer School Cruises to Alaska in 1939, 1940 and 1941 aboard the Alaska Steamship Company's S.S. Yukon, S.S. Alaska, and S.S. Prince George. Conducted by Viola E. Garfield. Includes 56 b/w photographs and ephemera relating to the trip.
Album containing typewritten manuscript and 38 b/w photographs.
38 b/w photographs of Skagway, Lake Bennett, White Pass and Yukon Route. Includes historical and descriptive information. Possible background for summer cruises.
Album containing typewritten manuscript and 6 b/w photographs.
6 b/w photographs of Sitka. Includes historical and descriptive information. Possible background material for summer cruises.
Album containing typewritten manuscript and 6 b/w photographs.
6 b/w photographs of Wrangell and Petersburg. Includes historical and descriptive information. Possible background information for summer cruises
Album containing typewritten manuscript and 5 b/w photographs.
5 b/w photographs of Juneau and vicinity. Includes historical and descriptive information. Possible background information for summer cruises.
Loose photographs of Alaska totem poles, Native American art and Alaska scenery relating to the contents of the Garfield Notebooks
93 photographs
75 photographs
9 photographs
48 photographs
29 photographs
30 photographs
91 photographs
70 photographs
38 photographs
45 photographs
28 photographs
54 photographs
36 photographs
Loose photographs of Alaska totem poles, Native American art and Alaska scenery relating to the contents of the Garfield Notebooks. In some case they are duplicates of the images found in the notebooks.
32 photographs
89 photographs
14 photographs
15 photographs
11 photographs
16 photographs
16 photographs
5 photographs
64 photographs
28 photographs
37 photographs
90 photographs
Included are 31 b/w snapshots and mimeographed text offered by students
A mimeographed booklet containing the history of Metlakatla, Annette Island, history of town council, history of the Metlakatla Concert Hall and band, bank, town cannery, sawmill, school, powerplant, community hall, Duncan Memorial Church, President Harding's visit in July 1923. Illustrated with 20 b/w snapshots.
Image of Viola Garfield's trips to Alaska. All unidentified localities, people, and some totem pole art
Corresponding prints in Box 7, folder 12
Reproduction of Saxman pole done by Bernard W. Powell, Glenbrook, CT