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Princeton University Library Collection of Frederick Monsen Photographs
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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.
People
Subject
- Cliff-dwellings -- Arizona -- Photographs
- Hopi Indians
- Indian children--North America--History--19th century--Photographs
- Indians of North America--Arizona--1890-1910--Sources
- Indians of North America--New Mexico--1890-1910--Sources
- Indians of North America--Southwest, New--1890-1910 -- Sources
- Mohave Indians
- Navajo Indians
- Paiute Indians
- Pueblo Indians
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Faith Charlton
- Finding Aid Date
- 2017
- Access Restrictions
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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
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.
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 Description1 box
Depicts child in doorway with puppy
Physical Description1 item
1 item
Naked child sits at ladder base
Physical Description1 item
Tepees and a brush shelter.
Physical Description1 item
Wagon and horseriders near rock walls
Physical Description1 item
View of pueblos in the distance.
Physical Description1 item
Child behind masonry, next to ladder
Physical Description1 item
1 item
Smiling girl stands against adobe wall
Physical Description1 item
Young woman with whorled hair sits on masonry, feet rest on ladder.
Physical Description1 item
1 item
Group portrait of 10 naked children.
Physical Description1 item
Child with necklace in water.
Physical Description1 item
2 boys walking in motion
Physical Description1 item
Pedestrians and horse riders on dirt road.
Physical Description1 item
1 item
1 item
1 item
Child in print shirt sits on dirt
Physical Description1 item
1 item
Likely Popomana (Gray Butterfly), Hopi of the pueblo of Oraibi, Arizona
Physical Description1 item
Naked child climbing a ladder.
Physical Description1 item
Girl holding a toddler.
Physical Description1 item
Family portrait.
Physical Description1 item
Naked child sits on masonry wall
Physical Description1 item
Silver gelatin prints of varying size. Titles and other descriptive information provided by dealer.
Physical Description1 box
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 Description1 folder
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 Description1 folder
Portrait. 7.5 x 5.5"
Physical Description1 folder
Child is sitting on rock at pueblo. Negative date: circa 1904, print date: circa 1905-1910; 7.5 x 5.5"
Physical Description1 folder