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Princeton University Library Collection of Frederick Monsen Photographs

Notifications

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

This is an open collection of photographs by Norwegian-born photographer, essayist, and lecturer Frederick I. Monsen (1865-1929). Born in Bergen, Norway, Monsen emigrated to Utah Territory with his parents in 1868. Monsen learned photography as a teenager, when he and his father worked as a photographic team for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He began photographing Indians while working for the U.S. Geological Survey in the late 1880s; and took a specific interest in the Native American communities of the Southwest, which he continued to document from the mid-1880s until his death in Pasadena in 1929.

The photographs in this collection primarily depict Hopi and Navajo people, structures, and landscapes in New Mexico and Arizona. Represented to a lesser extent are Paiute, Apache, Pueblo, and Mojave Indians. There are several views of Indian children, shown with and without clothes, in their daily activities. It consists of a portfolio, entitled "The Frederick Monsen Ethnogoraphic Indian Photographs," dating from circa 1890 to 1910, with twenty-five sepia-toned silver prints (approximately 16″ x 20″ in size) as well as 4 loose silver prints of varying size, dating circa 1905 to 1910.

Photographs are arranged by accession.

The collection adheres to a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.

Purchases include: AM 2014-104 and AM 2015-6.

This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in March 2017. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in March 2017.

No materials were separated during 2017 processing.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Faith Charlton
Finding Aid Date
2017
Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Arrangement

The photographs have been kept in the order in which they were received. It is unclear whether this was Monsen's original order, or if they were arranged later.

Scope and Contents

Each photograph is signed by the photographer and includes a brief, handwritten description on the front, written by Monsen. Most also include handwritten copyright symbols.

Physical Description

1 box

Hopi Girl. Pueblo of Mishongnovi, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Depicts child in doorway with puppy

Physical Description

1 item

Hoyuchame, Chief of the Taos. Taos Pueblo. New Mexico, circa 1910. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Hopi. Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Naked child sits at ladder base

Physical Description

1 item

Paiute Indians, Nevada, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Tepees and a brush shelter.

Physical Description

1 item

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Wagon and horseriders near rock walls

Physical Description

1 item

Laguna, New Mexico, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

View of pueblos in the distance.

Physical Description

1 item

Hopi, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Child behind masonry, next to ladder

Physical Description

1 item

Hopi High Priest. Pueblo of Oraibi. Arizona, circa 1890-1905. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Isleta Girl, New Mexico, 1890. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Smiling girl stands against adobe wall

Physical Description

1 item

Hopi. Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Young woman with whorled hair sits on masonry, feet rest on ladder.

Physical Description

1 item

Hopi Boys. Walpi (First Mesa). Arizona, circa 1900. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Hopi Children. Arizona., circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Group portrait of 10 naked children.

Physical Description

1 item

Child of Acoma Pueblo. New Mexico, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Child with necklace in water.

Physical Description

1 item

Navajo boys. New Mexico., circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

2 boys walking in motion

Physical Description

1 item

Michongnovi. Hopi town. Arizona., circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Pedestrians and horse riders on dirt road.

Physical Description

1 item

Zuni mother and child. New Mexico, circa 1910. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Moancopa. Hopi town. Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Laguna, New Mexico, Indian Pueblo, circa 1910. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Navajo, New Mexico, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Child in print shirt sits on dirt

Physical Description

1 item

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Physical Description

1 item

Hopi Maiden, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Likely Popomana (Gray Butterfly), Hopi of the pueblo of Oraibi, Arizona

Physical Description

1 item

The Rising Sun, Hopi, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Naked child climbing a ladder.

Physical Description

1 item

Mojave Girl, Colorado River, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Girl holding a toddler.

Physical Description

1 item

Navajo Indians, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Family portrait.

Physical Description

1 item

Hopi girl, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 item.
Scope and Contents

Naked child sits on masonry wall

Physical Description

1 item

Scope and Contents

Silver gelatin prints of varying size. Titles and other descriptive information provided by dealer.

Physical Description

1 box

Watching the Eagles Flight. Hopi Boys, First Mesa, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Shows four Hopi boys on the edge of a mesa cliff. Front signed by Frederick Monsen with copyright symbol; 13.4 x 10.4"

Physical Description

1 folder

Walpi Pueblo, First Mesa, Arizona., 1900-1910. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

View of pueblo buildings, ladders, and two Hopi Indian men, with the desert landscape beyond. Negative date: circa 1900, Print date: circa 1910, 13.4 x 10.4"

Physical Description

1 folder

Navajo Indian, Hostine Nez, on Horseback. Chinle, Arizona, circa 1910. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Portrait. 7.5 x 5.5"

Physical Description

1 folder

Hopiland, Third Mesa, Arizona. A Little Aristocrat. Child of Techunuva, Chief of the Village of Oraibi., circa 1904-1910. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Child is sitting on rock at pueblo. Negative date: circa 1904, print date: circa 1905-1910; 7.5 x 5.5"

Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest