VMFA_EAD_SC26Pueblo Chant Recordings (SC-26)Finding Aids to Special Collections in the VMFA Archives | Pueblo Chant Recordings SC-26Special Collection 26 (SC-26)Courtney Yevich Tkacz, VMFA ArchivistVirginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives
2017
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library200 N. Arthur Ashe BoulevardRichmond, VA 23220-4007Business Number: 804-340-1495library@vmfa.museumURL: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-15 15:33:11 -0400.Description is written in: English, Code for undetermined script script.Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ArchivesPueblo Chant Recordings (SC-26)SC-26/repositories/2/resources/350.25 Linear Feet1 box; 8 items[late 1940s]The collection is comprised of eight rare 78 rpm shellac records of Native American chants and songs. Recorded in the early 1950s by Manuel Archuleta, the first Native American in the United States to own his own record label, the chants preserve the songs and dances from the Navajo and several Southwestern pueblos, including the Hopi, Zuni, and San Juan peoples.Hopi, Navajo, Zuni
Biographical Note
In the late 1940s, a San Juan Pueblo Indian from Gallup, New Mexico, Manuel Archuleta, or Tse-We Ant-Yen (Rain God), used his life savings to launch Tom Tom Records. It would be the first Native-owned record label. A stock and file clerk at the Albuquerque Indian School by day, Archuleta supplemented his incoming by lecturing about American Indian music at the University of New Mexico and signing traditional songs at public schools.
Distributed primarily in the Southwest, Tom Tom's releases - originally on 78-rpm discs and later collected as a pair of twelve-inch albums, "Indian Chants, Volumes 1 and 2" - are remembered more for their historic importance than their commercial success.
The collection is open for research. The records have been digitized, and access copies are available on-site.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.
Preferred Citation
Pueblo Chant Recordings (SC-26). Gift of Karen Gravelle. VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into one series.
Chant Recordings, [late 1940s]
Processing Information
The records were rehoused and the original wrappers retained.
Custodial History
The collection was donated by Karen Gravelle in May 2017. She inherited the records from her father who received them from his brother prior to 1953.
Related Materials - University of New Mexico Libraries
Manuel Archuleta Collection of Pueblo Indian, Navajo and Hopi Music, circa 1940, MSS 830 BCSeries 1: Chant RecordingsSC-26-01/repositories/2/archival_objects/48954Deer, Elk & Antelope Game Hunting Song/Buffalo Dance Song (San Felipe) by Thunder Bird, Red Fox and Yellow BirdRG262133/repositories/2/archival_objects/48946[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262133Chant of the Buffalo Dance/Dance of the Corn Maidens (San Juan Pueblo) by White Leaf Lighting - Koong-WeeRG262134/repositories/2/archival_objects/48947[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262134Sundown Round Dance Songs/Hoop Dance Songs by Taos Pueblo Indian ChorusRG262135/repositories/2/archival_objects/48948[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262135Sundown Round Dance Songs/Hoop Dance Songs by Taos Pueblo Indian ChorusRG262136/repositories/2/archival_objects/48949[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262136Zuni "Komanchee" Song/Zuni "He-Le-Le" Song by Zuni Indian Chanters under direction of Ed (Rain Water) TsyiteeYaa-Nee-Wa, A Pleasure Dance Song/Social Dance Song by Hopiland ChantersZuni "Komanchee" Song/Zuni "He-Le-Le" Song by Zuni Indian Chanters under direction of Ed (Rain Water) TsyiteeYaa-Nee-Wa, A Pleasure Dance Song/Social Dance Song by Hopiland ChantersRG262137/repositories/2/archival_objects/48950[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262137Yaa-Nee-Wa, A Pleasure Dance Song/Social Dance Song by Hopiland ChantersRG262138/repositories/2/archival_objects/48951[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262138Hopi Youth Corn Dance with Notched Wood Rhythm Accompaniment by Hopi Ceremonial Chanters/Mudhead Funmakers Song by Hopi ChantersRG262139/repositories/2/archival_objects/48952[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262139Navajo Skip Dance Song/Navaho Feather Dance Song by Navaho Chorus GroupRG262140/repositories/2/archival_objects/48953[late 1940s]SC-26 Box 1RG262140