Smoki Museum: American Indian Art and Culture
The Smoki Museum is located at 147 North Arizona in Prescott. Its mission is to acquire, conserve, study, and interpret art, artifacts and documents pertaining to Native American prehistory and history, with particular emphasis on the Prescott region. The museum promotes the understanding of the region through research, exhibits, and education programs and maintains a library relevant to its collections.
The museum does not house any of the official papers of the Smoki Society. Former members hold these records in their personal collections and have not (as of October 1999) released them for public perusal. Since the Smoki formerly ran the facility, the earliest records of the museum are also not available to the public.
The community, surrounding area, and visitors will benefit from observing exhibits and utilizing this museum's programs and facilities. The museum concentrates on artifacts and has a very strong collection of original photos of the Hopi taken early in the twentieth century by the local photographer, Kate Cory.
Those wishing to conduct research at the museum should make an appointment with Joanne S. Cline, the librarian (520-445-1230).
The following items are located in the Museum's archives. We have listed only those that pertain to the history of the region.
Books
The Smoki Museum has a library, but its books do not circulate.
Documents
- All "register" or guest books of Smoki Museum from 1933 to the present.
-
Diary, several years on Hopi Res., dictionary of Hopi words (her compilation), some of her writings, in printed (not manuscript) form
- 3 ring binder, manuscript of monograph of the 1990 Smoki Ceremonials
Approximately 100 pages, narrative, drawings, descriptions of dances, chants
Vertical files
Section #1: Copies of Cory's articles, mostly from The Border: Monthly Magazine of Politics, News & Stories of the West: many from 1909:
Article about Kate Cory from The Border: Monthly Magazine of Politics, News & Stories of the West: published in section, "Tomorrow and Its Offerings," by Sara Angelia Newton, March, 1909.
Articles Kate Cory wrote for The Border: Monthly Magazine of Politics, News & Stories of the West, published in Phoenix early in the 20th century.
Photo of Cory late in life for Desert Magazine (copy)-article "Cory: Seven Years with the Hopis," by Harold Butcher, Feb. 1951 from Desert magazine: both original and copy.
Several miscellaneous newspaper clippings on Cory and her work.
"Film and Canvas" Photography & Paintings by Kate T. Cory, Through July 31, 1977," published by The Smoki People for an exhibition.
1957 Prescott Evening Courier article on Kate Cory at 96.
Marnie Gaede's article from Arizona Highways Aug 1987, "Kate Cory: Artist of Arizona"
Richard Sims article: "Smoki Museum continues to improve," Prescott Courier, April 27, 1997
Bruce Babbitt. The Southwest Canvases of Louis Akin. Northland Press, 1973: copy of page that deals with Cory.
Section #2: articles and information about Cory
- Sharp, Dana, ed., Courier: Kate Cory's Journal of Living with the Hopi: 1976: photocopy of
newspaper article (s?)
- Prescott Chamber of Commerce letter to Kate Cory, Nov 15, 1951 thanking her for membership that year
- Catalog from Armory Show: Milton W. Brown: probably 1963
- Kovinick, Phil and Marian Yoshiki-Kovinik. An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West. Austin: U of Texas Press, no year given
- Dawdry, Doris Ostrander. Artists of the American West, Vol. I, a Biographical Dictionary. Sage: 1974 or 1985 (that's the way it's written on the sheet) copy of section on Cory.
- Petteys, Chris. Dictionary of Women Artists, Boston: G. K. Hall & Co., 1995, section on Cory
- Samuels, Peggy and Harold: The Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, 1976, section on Cory
Section #7: various publications on Indians, 8 pieces
Section #10: locally produced article about Smoki, 10 pieces-some originals and some copies of information
Section #11: National Geographic articles on Pueblos and Hopi, various dates, 4 pieces
Section #12: miscellaneous small publications on area, flora and fauna, the first capital, various, 5 pieces
Section #13: miscellaneous publications about Indians, 13 pieces
Section #14: reprints of articles about local ruins 2 pieces, one from 1930s, one not dated but must be from 1940s or 1950s
Section #15: Articles on Northern Arizona artifacts and mining, 3 pieces
Section #17: copies of miscellaneous articles on Indians and archaeology: a few probably from at least the 1920s, others from 1970s-90s: 6 pieces
Section #18: articles and brochures on Smoki, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, in manuscript and printed form, 8pieces
Section #19: three articles that deal with Navajos
Section #20: local articles on Smoki museum: 1950s through 1990s, not always dated, not always in published form: 5 pieces
Section #21: Southwestern archeology: copies of articles, 1930s to 1990s, 4 pieces
Section #22: articles on Prescott Yavapai, not always dated, 1980s and 1990s apparently, 5 pieces
Section #23: Robert Groom: Prospector & Surveyor of Arizona's First Territorial Capital, personal publication, Melissa Ruffner, June 15, 1991.
Section #24: Copy of Cactus and Pine: Aug 1997 on Kate Thompson Cory and Albert William Bork: Remarkable Westerners.
Section #26: published information on ERA projects of Arizona, 5 pieces, 1980s and 1990s, some are personal publications
Section #43: publications on metallurgy and on the Smoki, 5 pieces
Section #44: Smoki articles (mostly newspaper) 5 clippings
Scrapbooks and Binders
Approximately 1,000 photographs of Smoki activities, in three ring binders
A few, but not all, are identified as to name of Smoki member, activity or date
It is difficult to categorize these photos; many are of snake dances.
Folder of Cory's artwork:
Approximately 100 miscellaneous items, tissue sketches, stencils, pencil sketches
Photos:
- Approximately 112 pictures of Smoki chiefs and chieftesses are displayed in the Pueblo.
- KATE CORY COLLECTION
This is probably the most important set of photos in the Museum. There are 400 + original prints; the negatives are at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The museum honors the Hopi tribe's requests to restrict access to Cory's portraits of Hopi ceremonial activities; none can be reproduced. The everyday life pictures can be reproduced with the permission of the Smoki Museum.
Most photos of people were taken in a village setting, generally outside houses (doorways) or in public areas. A few are beyond the village. Some show daily life; some are posed portraits.
Breakdown of Cory originals:
Note: We have used her spellings. When the photos are fairly specifically identified, we used the terms Cory used.
- Desert landscape: 9
- Katchinas: with and without masks: approximately 30
- Katchinas, with audience: 2
- Katchinas and clowns: 1 large photo
- Large Katchina photo
- Walpi prayer stick: 1 large photo
- Mudheads: 1 large photo
- Various dances: 6
- Ceremonial: approximately 15
- Bear Ceremony 1 large photo
- Dances: 6
- Sacred: 6
- Unmarried girls: approximately 20
- Portrait: Mana (unmarried girl) 1 large photo
- Animals: horses, turkeys, mules: 10
- Miscellaneous exteriors: 6
- External Oraibi: 5
- Houses Oraibi: 6
- People: housetops, village: 6
- Various exteriors, Walpi: 6
- Parades: 2
- Old lady 1 (not large)
- Village scenes: 7
- Children and babies: 30
- Miscellaneous men: 13
- Miscellaneous fairly specifically of buildings 15
- Miscellaneous women and children: 6
- Miscellaneous children: approximately 20 that focus on children
- Miscellaneous landscape and individuals, and pictographs: 6
- Bate picture of (Corey?) drawing Mana? 1 large
- Hauling bags of corn: (man and child on donkey) 1
- Handicraft: pottery, toy making: 2
- Miscellaneous individuals: approximately 210
- Sheep: 10
- Horse and donkey related photos: 8
- Turkey related: 6
- Women, corn, water: 7
- Individual portraits: 7
- People in activities: 8
- Miscellaneous people and animals: 21
In separate files
- Miscellaneous uncataloged Cory photos: 7
- Clipping of article about Cory's house
- Two letters to Cory from Prescott Chamber of Commerce
- 5-10 Small photos
- Copies of a few articles and prints
- In a separate folder: small photos, a few clippings of articles about Cory
Other folders of photos:
- Photos: Museum and museum exhibits: 1990s colored photos: about 15
- Photos: Black and white
Of museum and museum personnel: 6 (1960s)
Approximately 5 of artifacts, small black & white prints, probably 1970s
1 sheet photocopy of four photos of Smoki museum project and construction, 1934
- Photos: 12 black and white prints of various sizes of interior and exterior of Smoki Museum, from 1930s? through about the 1970s
- Photos: Smoki: from Ken Howell, in envelope
Baer (1) 1880s
Sisson (6) 1902-9
- Fitzmaurice, 1933: 8 prints: archaeological, not clearly identified (two sets of the same prints.)
- Paul Long donation: copies of photos sent by Paul Long in 1998: mostly of Maria the potter at San Ildefonso, early in this century (10)
- Folder:
10-15 large prints of photos of Smoki, varying dates, 1930s through 1970s?
12 photocopies of photos (snapshots) from the 1920s
- Edward S. Curtis prints, portfolio donated by Barry Goldwater
Santa Clara Pueblo: San Ildefonso,
18 shrink wrapped, 18 in envelopes, 10 framed, 4 on display in gallery and one in library
Stored on wooden shelves (built in cabinet)
- Box containing 322 negatives from 1920s and 1930s printed late 1990s:
Smoki activities at Fairgrounds, some of rodeo activities done by the Bates studio.
Most individuals are not identified because their faces are dark or the photos are too old; however, some are well identified as to location: especially those downtown. Accompanying information states when the photo was taken and the direction in which the photographer was facing.
- Young's Studio, Prescott, no date, photos of Smoki: 6
- B. Wright: 14 prints. Photos, blown up and mounted for display
- Cory: 19 prints of Cory photos, blown up and mounted for display: negatives at MNA
Smoki box:
- Approximately 20 copies of photos used in Smoki 1949 advertising as well as a few documents on/about advertising
- 3 colored snapshots of Smoki dancing (from 1970s, 1990s)
- Approximately 10-15 enlargements black and white of Smoki activities and members, no dates, but they look as though they're from the 1950s or older