University of Wyoming American Heritage Center
12886
Wiles, Sara, 1948-
Sara Wiles papers
1972-2024
35.44 cubic ft. (37 boxes) + 176 GB
Sara Wiles was a photographer, writer, and anthropologist studying the preservation of Native American culture and identity in the American West, primarily the Northern Arapaho of the Wind River Reservation and surrounding communities in Wyoming. Collection contains exhibits, publications, research files, photographs, negatives, slides, and scrapbooks regarding the photography of Sara Wiles and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
English
Biography of Sara Wiles
Sara Wiles was a photographer, writer, and anthropologist studying the preservation of Native American culture and identity in the American West, primarily the Northern Arapaho of the Wind River Reservation and surrounding communities in Wyoming. She was born and raised in Ripley County, Indiana graduating from Indiana University with a BA (1970) and MA (1977) in Anthropology and English. Wiles moved to Lander, Wyoming in 1973, working on the Wind River Indian Reservation as an anthropologist, social worker, photographer, and consultant for language and culture projects. Wiles' work has appeared in many exhibits, juried art and photography shows, and publications throughout the U.S. and Europe. Some of these include; “Ni'iihi': In a Good Way” (1997), “Arapaho Journeys: Photographs and Stories from the Wind River Reservation” (2011), and “The Arapaho Way: Continuity and Change on the Wind River Reservation” (2019). She was awarded the Wyoming Governor's Art Award for contribution to the arts in 2000 and the High Plains Book Award for "Arapaho Journeys" in 2012.
Scope and Content
Collection contains exhibits, publications, research files, photographs, negatives, slides, and scrapbooks regarding the photography of Sara Wiles and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
Researchers must sign a Use Agreement for the following restrictions:
Access to the collection shall be in person and on-site only, with no online presentation of this collection being permitted until five (5) years after the death of the donor.
Access to the interviews included in this collection (audio and written) is restricted, except for AHC personnel, with no access until five (5) years after the death of the donor.
Donor shall have unrestricted access to the collection, via the Center’s normal operations, during her lifetime.
Any reproduction of the contents of the collection must be approved in writing by the donor during her lifetime.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
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Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection
Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
This material was received from Sara Wiles from 2023-2024.
The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in December 2024.
There are no known other archival collections created by Sara Wiles at the date of processing.
Access Terms
Indians of North America -- West (U.S.) -- Pictorial works
Indians of North America -- West (U.S.) -- Social life and customs
Arapaho Tribe
Wind River Indian Reservation (Wyo.)
Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999
Wyoming -- History -- 2000-
Photographs
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Wyoming
Native Americans
Social Life and Customs
Photographs
Anthropology
Series I. Project/Professional/Research Papers
Books:
1"Arapaho Journeys: Photographs and Stories from the Wind River Reservation" by Sara Wiles2011
1"The Arapaho Way: Continuity and Change on the Wind River Reservation" by Sara Wiles2019
1Masters Thesis: "Northern Arapaho Grandparents: Traditional Concepts and Contemporary Socio-Economics" by Sara Hunter, Indiana University, Department of Anthropology1977
1Yearbook: Wyoming Indian High School (WISH), Ethete, Wyoming1974-1975
Research/Project Files:
1BIA/WIHS historic photo project1982-1983
1Powell-Hinckley Collection, 1920-19242008-2014
1Jack States Family Collection, 1920/Edward Curtis Arapaho Photos, 1914/Miscellaneous other historic photos2008-2014
Digitalahcdm_12886_001-003Digital files2013-2023
Release Forms - Image and Interview:2013-2018
1Arapaho Journeys2000-2005
1The Arapaho Way2013-2018
25-26Scrapbooks (4)1979-2023
Series II. Photographs
Exhibits:
35-37"The Arapaho Way" (matted photographs for exhibit with labels):
36#1 - Mary Wolfrang1990
36#2 - Rubena Hernandez2012
36#3 - Alonzo Moss, Sr. and Paul Moss, Sr.1995
36#4 - Teneille Johnston and Brandi Bowyer2000
36#5 - Head Start Parade2003
36#6 - Fay Ann Soldier Wolf2010
36#7 - Jane Warren1983
36#8 - Ethan Fighting Bear2004
36#9 - Ryan Gambler2010
36#10 - Colleen Addison2012
36#11 - William C'Hair2017
36#12 - Martin and Philomena Underwood1991
36#13 - Darrell Lone Bear2006
36#14 - Buffalo Soldier Wolf2016
35#15 - Arapaho Nation Drum Circle2009
35#17 - Miles Armajo2014
35#18 - Trailers and Tipis2014
35#19 - John Redman Jr.2015
35#20 - Matilda Spoonhunter1913-1920
35#21 - Lucy Redman Willow2016
35#22 - Searching for Matilda2016
35#23 - Helen Cedartree1990
35#24 - Helen Cedartree1930
35#25 - Sandra Iron Cloud2013
35#26 - Chaske Valdez2010
35#27 - Little Sun Dancers2010
35#28 - Cheyenne Frontier Days People Mover2010
35#29 - Richard White Antelope2014
35#30 - White Antelope Family1930-1939
35#31 - Richard White Antelope2013
35#32 - Community Peace March2015
35#33 - "No Indians" Sign, Lander, Wyoming1930
35#34 - Martin Luther King Day Walk2016
35#35 - James "Sonny" Goggles, Jr.2016
35#36 - James "Sonny" Goggles, Jr. Honoring Ceremony2016
37Poster: "The Arapaho Way"2019
27-30"Ni'iihi': In a Good Way, Photographs of Wind River Arapaho, 1976-1996" (matted photographs for exhibition, Buffalo Bill Historical Center):1997-1998
27-2920x161997-1998
3026x211997-1998
30-34#1-50, Unidentified exhibit - probably "Arapaho Journeys" (matted photographs for exhibition, Buffalo Bill Historical Center): 2000-2011
32-3421x18 (#1-50)2000-2011
30-3127x23 (#3-39)2000-2011
Contact Sheets:
1Colombia (contact sheets and 35mm slides)1972
1Crowheart/Dubois Old Timers1975-1980
1High County News Assignments1977-1985
1Infrared1999-2014
2Twin Creek Ranch1981-2009
2Wind River Reservation1974-2018
2Yazzie Family (Navajo) (contact sheets and 35mm slides)1993-2000
Negatives (35mm):
3Colombia1972
3Crowheart/Dubois Old Timers1975-1980
3High Country News Assignments1977-1985
3Infrared images1999-2014
3Twin Creek Ranch1981-2009
3-7Wind River Reservation1974-2018
3Yazzie Family (Navajo)1993-2000
7Slides (35mm): Wind River Reservation (WRIR) 1975-2001
Photographs (mounted):
8Colombia1972
8Crowheart-Dubois Old Timers: Tom Burlingham, Billy Burlingham, Jack Anderson1975-1980
8High Country News assignments1979-1985
9Infrared1999-2014
9Twin Creek Ranch1981-2009
WRIR (Wind River Indian Reservation):1974-2018
101974-1979
11-121980-1989
13-161990-1995
17-181996-1999
18-222000-2009
22-242010-2018
24Yazzie Family (Navajo)1993-2000
Digitalahcdm_12886_001-003Digital Images (scans of photographs and negatives)2023-2024