Oscar Howe with students at the University of South Dakota
The Oscar Howe Collection-Photographs Finding Aid
The Oscar Howe Collection, Photograph Collection has been processed and is available for research. The photographic materials are just one portion of this much larger collection that is still working its way through processing.
Artist Laureate of South Dakota Oscar Howe and
Governor Ralph Herseth, c. 1960
The photographic materials from the Oscar Howe Collection span the lived experiences and posthumous events of Oscar Howe’s life, depicting subjects such as Howe’s education, family, art works, military service, and employment at the University of South Dakota. For preventive conservation purposes, the photographic materials are organized by type and divided into seven series: Series 1: Black and White Photographs, Series 2: Color Photographs, Series 3: Photographs with Conservation Concerns, Series 4: Black and White Negatives, Series 5: Color Negatives, and Series 6: Slides. Generally, the subseries, categories and photographs within each series are arranged alphabetically. Titles of artworks, however, are listed first chronologically and then alphabetically within each year. Rough dates have been ascribed to photographic materials at the discretion of the series’ processor. The dates attached to photographic materials that depict artwork refer to the creation dates of the artwork, not the photographs that depict it. Instances in which a rough date for material could not be determined are marked “n.d.” It is also important to note that individuals are described by their entire names including maiden and nick names. Also, the series’ processor has included notes to aid in the disambiguation of certain events and subjects. These notes appear in italics.
Also included with the photographic materials is Series 7: Identification Photocopies. Series 7 contains photocopies of photographs from Series 1-3. Attached to each photocopy is a sheet that contains information concerning the identification number, subject, date, location, occasion, ownership/copyright, photographer, number of copies, location of the negative, and source of each photograph used as guides at the time of collection processing. It is important to note that these fields are not completely filled out for every photograph. The photocopies are arranged in the same order as the photographs they depict. Finally, also included in this series are photocopies of two albums originally owned and donated by the Howe family. The photocopies show the original location and placement of the photographs contained within each album. Photographs were removed during processing.
Series 1 is divided into 13 subseries: Awards/Special Recognition, Education, Family, Gravesite, Howe and Unidentified, Military, Miscellaneous, Museums/Gallery Spaces, Oscar Howe Retrospective Exhibition, Professional Employment, Unidentified, and Works.
Series 2 is divided into 11 subseries: Awards/Special Recognition, Family, Gravesite, Howe and Unidentified, Miscellaneous, Museums/Gallery Spaces, Oscar Howe Elementary School, Oscar Howe Memorial Lecture, Professional Employment, Unidentified, and Works.
Series 3 is divided into 9 subseries: Awards/Special Recognition, Copy Photographs/Proof Sheets, Education, Family, Miscellaneous, Museums/Gallery Spaces, Professional Employment, Unidentified, and Oversize. It is important to note that the majority of the Copy Photographs/Proof Sheets subseries are arranged by year because most of the copy photographs and proof sheets are composites of different subjects.
Series 4 is divided into 9 subseries: Awards/Special Recognition, Education, Family, Military, Miscellaneous, Oscar Howe Retrospective Exhibition, Professional Employment, Unidentified, and Works.
Series 5 is divided into 5 subseries: Family, Miscellaneous, Museums/Gallery Spaces, Professional Employment, and Works.
Series 6 is divided into 10 subseries: Awards/Special Recognition, Education, Family, Military, Miscellaneous, Museums/Gallery Spaces, Oscar Howe Retrospective Exhibition, Professional Employment, Unidentified, and Works. It is important to note that rather than being arranged alphabetically, the Oscar Howe Retrospective Slide Presentation is arranged in the original order of the presentation for preservation purposes.
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