John Louw Nelson collection

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sova.nmai.ac.333

Summary: This collection includes manuscript and photographic materials documenting John Louw Nelson's work among the Hopi people as an associate of the Museum of the American Indian Heye, Foundation. This includes photographic stills from his film "Hopi" (1935) and illustrations for his book "Rhythm for Rain" (1937).

Biographical / Historical: John Louw Nelson, 1895-1963, was the son of Harriet Schuyler Anderson and Richard Henry Nelson, Bishop of Albany. He began his career as a pianist and composer in New York but then developed an interest in Hopi culture and spent 8 years living among the Hopi community documenting their cultural practices. During this time, he developed relationships with many Hopi artists including Fred Kabotie, Waldo Mootzka, and Quoyavema (Riley Sunrise). In 1935 Nelson produced the silent film "Hopi: The Romance and Drama of an American Indian Tribe," which was filmed in Hopi villages in Norther Arizona with an all-Native cast. The cast was costumed with blankets and ceremonial garments from museum collections, many items from the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. Lewis Jacobs served as the photographic director for the film. In 1937, Nelson published "Rhythm for Rain," an anthropological study in narrative form of Hopi myths and customs. Nelson began his relationship with the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation in 1928. Between 1928 and 1936, Nelson sold, gifted, and exchanged hundreds of items from Southwest communities. The relationship soured when Nelson formed the "Committee on Indian Research" claiming to be a representative and employee for the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, which he was not. Nelson died in 1963, survived by his wife Tora Maria Selander and son Peter Louw Nelson.

Custodial History: The manuscripts in Series 1 were previously in the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation records (NMAI.AC.001) Box 261, Folder 12-19 and Box 262, Folder 1-3.

Type: Collection descriptions; Archival materials; Photographic prints; Slides (photographs); Color slides; Motion picture stills

Citation: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); John Louw Nelson collection, image #, NMAI.AC.333; National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.

Arrangement: Arranged in two series. Series 1: Manuscripts, correspondence, and articles, 1895, 1930-1938 is arranged alphabetically. Series 2: Photographic prints and slides from "Hopi" and "Rhythm for Rain," 1930-1937 is arranged by photo catalog number.

Processing Information: Processed by Rachel Menyuk, Processing Archivist, 2024.

Rights: Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not modified in any way, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use and NMAI Archive Center's Digital Image request website.

Scope and Contents: Series 1: Manuscripts, correspondence, and articles, 1895, 1930-1938, includes original drafts of manuscripts written by Nelson, correspondence between Nelson and the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, as well as published materials. Most of the documents are about Nelson's work with Hopi communities in the 1930s and the publishing of his book "Rhythm for Rain" in 1937. Series 2: Photographic prints and slides from "Hopi" and "Rhythm for Rain," 1930-1937 includes 15 black and white photographic prints (8x10) and 22 color slides (35mm). The prints are film stills from the film "Hopi" which was produced by Nelson in 1935. Many of the images were also used as illustrations (plates) at the end of Nelson's book "Rhythm for Rain." The film, and the photographs, follow "Butterfly Girl," "Son-on Rising," portrayed by Hopi artist Quoyavema (Riley Sunrise), and other members of the Hopi community as they navigate drought and other life events. The costumes and blankets used in the film were borrowed from a number of museums, including the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. The slides are 35mm colored slides, that include both stills from the film and images of artwork by Hopi artists such as Fred Kabotie, Quoyavema (Riley Sunrise) and Waldo Mootzka. It is unclear when the slides were made. Photographic prints: P22264-P22282. Slides: S03687-S03708.

Restrictions: Access to NMAI Archives Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).

NMAI.AC.333

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv483d38ff8-378b-4e4f-9425-7d11d9a9dbe3

NMAI.AC.333

NMAIA