By Zachary R. Jones, Archivist
Title: Wilsey & Ham, Inc. 14(h)1 Historic Sites Recordings Collection, 1974-1975
ID: MC/041
Primary Creator: Sealaska Corporation
Other Creators: Haida Indians, Tlingit Indians.
Extent: 5.0 Boxes
Date Acquired: 01/15/2012
This collection consists of audio recordings generated by the Sealaska Corporation, shortly after the passing of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971 in effort to professionally locate and document Tlingit and Haida historic and sacred sites in Southeast Alaska. Much of this effort was connected to 14(h)(1) legislation for the Conveyance of Cemetery Sites and Historical Places as outlined by ANCSA. To document these historic and sacred sites, sites inhabited by the Tlingit and Haida for thousands of years, Sealaska hired independent Seattle-based contractors Wilsey & Ham, Inc., who traveled to villages across Southeast Alaska and interviewed the most knowledgeable Tlingit and Haida elders about sites. Their work occurred over the 1974 and 1975 years, resulting in approximately fifty-seven cassette recordings that contributed to Sealaska’s privately published Native Cemetery and Historic Sites of Southeast Alaska (1975).
These recordings, captured on cassette, contain detailed information about the historic sites and their habitation by the Tlingit and Haida’s most knowledgeable elders of the period. These elders not only provided information on the locations of these sites, but also on their history, cultural connection, stories, associated songs, and indigenous place names in the Tlingit and Haida languages. As a general, the content on these recordings is presented in Tlingit and Haida, but always with a translator present and provided English translation. The sites that Sealaska worked to document and protect with this project included historic village settlements—both permanent and seasonal settlement sites, cemetery or grave sites, sacred sites of cultural value, petroglyphs/pictographs, subsistence sites, forts and battle areas, gardens, and other sites that are of special interest to the history and culture of the Tlingit and Haida.
The recordings constitution this collection were originally numbered by Wilsey & Ham, Inc., such as Tape 1, 2, and so on up to circa Tape 114, which serves as the numbering system for this collection. Each side of each cassette was given its own number, so for example, Tapes 9-10 are actually Side A and B of one single cassette. Thus, although Wilsey & Ham, Inc. created tapes that are numbered 1-114, there are actually circa 57 cassettes. The recordings, migrated from cassette to CD in 2012 by Sealaska Heritage Institute (digital content preserved), have been arranged according to the numbering system applied by Wilsey & Ham, Inc. Partial or full transcriptions of a few recordings from the collection have been generated, though some transcriptions are incomplete.
Repository: Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives
Access Restrictions: RESTRICTIONS: Researchers should know that this collection is not open to the general public, since these recordings contain information about 14(h)1 sites. To prevent further vandalism to these sites, only researchers with reasonable cause are allowed to examine these recordings. It should also be noted that Sealaska hired an independent law firm to determine the legalities of administering these recordings based on laws governing recordings, privacy rights, and 14(h)1 issues, and the law firm determined that Sealaska has the legal right to administer these recordings.
Use Restrictions: Intellectual Properties Note: Since SHI adheres to the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials, and since we desire to honor Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian traditional cultural belief that clans retain the intellectual property rights to clan stories or songs, patrons who use or study clan songs or stories are asked to credit clan ownership to stories and songs.
Physical Access Note: NOTE: It should be noted that this recordings collection may be incomplete at this time, as Tapes 1-2 (David Kadashan on Hoonah), Tapes 34-35 (Jimmie George & Eddie Jack on Angoon), Tapes 82-83 (Matilda M. Paul and Elise Louis on Wrangell), Tapes 84-85 (Herbert Bradley on Wrangell), Tapes 88-89 (Jonas Hallingstad and Marilee Mathisen on Petersburg), and Tape 115 (Si Dennis on Skagway) are not included. However, Wilsey & Ham, Inc. do appear to have omitted some numbers in their numbering system, likely including Tapes 63, 105, and 107 which appear to have never existed.
Acquisition Source: Sealaska Corporation
Acquisition Method: The materials in this collection were obtained by SHI in two batches. An initial accession of materials was located amid unprocessed SHI operational recordings on July 22, 2010, which had been in the possession of SHI prior to 2007. This batch amounted to approximately 10 recordings, constituting an incomplete set. The collection was eventually made complete in January 2012 as SHI was granted access to the Sealaska Corporation’s collection in order to duplicate and migrate the cassette recordings to CD, thereby archiving second and digital copies of these recordings.
Related Materials: NOTE: Also of importance, between 1978 and 1981 the BIA engaged in a similar recordings venture, interviewing a number of Tlingit and Haida elders about 14(h)1 sites. This separate though smaller collection is also held by Sealaska Heritage Institute, as MC 37: BIA Southeast Alaska 14(h)1 Historic Sites Oral Histories Interview Recordings Collection.
Tapes 3 & 5: Audio recording of David Kadashan (b. 1893) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/1974.
Tapes 4 & 7a: Audio recording of David Kadashan (Tape 4) and Andrew Johnnie (b. 1921) (Tape 7a) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/1974.
Tapes 5-6: Audio recording of David Kadashan and George Dalton (b. 1897) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/11/1974.
Tapes 7-8: Audio recording of George Dalton, George Davis (b. 1899), and Eva Davis (b. 1909) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/11/1974.
Tapes 9-10: Audio recording of George and Eva Davis speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/11/1974.
Tapes 11-12: Audio recording of George Davis and Matthew Lawrence (b. 1902) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/12/1974.
Tapes 13-14: Audio recording of Matthew Lawrence and Harry Marvin (b. 1901) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/12/1974.
Tapes 15-16: Audio recording of Harry Marvin, Amy Marvin (b. 1912) , and Andrew Johnnie speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/12/1974.
Tapes 17-18: Audio recording of Andrew Johnny speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/12/1974.
Tapes 19-20: Audio recording of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gray (Mrs. H. Gray b. 1913), Frank McKinley (b. 1909), and Mary Sarabia speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/13/1974.
Tapes 21-22: Audio recording of Mary Sarabia and David Kadashan speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hoonah, 11/13/1974.
Tapes 23-24: Audio recording of Harry K. Bremner Sr. (b. 1893) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Yakutat, 11/14/1974. 92 minutes in length.
Tapes 25-26: Audio recording of Harvey Milton (b. 1913) and Samson Harry (b. 1901) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Yakutat, 11/14/1974.
Tapes 27-28: Audio recording of Harvey Milton, Samson Harry, Frank Dick Sr. (b. 1899), and Clarence Milton (b. 1918) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Yakutat, 11/14-15/1974.
Tape 29: Audio recording of Frank Dick Sr. and Clarence Milton speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Yakutat, 11/15/1974.
Tapes 30-31: Audio recording of Jimmie George (b. 1889) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Angoon, 11/16/1974.
Tapes 32-33: Audio recording of Jimmie George speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Angoon, 11/16-17/1974.
Tapes 36-37: Audio recording of Jimmie George, Sam Johnson (b. 1889), and William Nelson (b. 1904) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Angoon, 11/17/1974.
Tapes 38-39: Audio recording of William Nelson, George James (b. 1894), and George Jim (b. 1902) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Angoon, 11/17-18/1974.
Tapes 40-41: Audio recording of Herman Kitka Sr. (b. 1914) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 11/25/1974.
Tapes 42-43: Audio recording of Herman Kitka Sr. and Tom Young Sr. (b. 1907) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 11/25-26/1974.
Tapes 44-45: Audio recording of Tom Young and Mary Williams (b. 1899) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 11/26/1974. Note: Tom Young mentions the history of clan houses and of Klukwan Tlingit, potential sale of clan at.óowu/State Museum desire for Klukwan art.
Tapes 46-47: Audio recording of Albert S. Davis (b. 1914), Annie Dick (b. 1904), Mark Jacobs Jr. (1923), and Esther Littlefield (b. 1906) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 11/26/1974.
Tapes 48-49: Audio recording of Esther Littlefield, Ray Nelson (b. 1927), and Henry Davis (b. 1912) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 11/26-27/1974.
Tapes 50-51: Audio recording of Henry Davis speaking on 14(h)1 sites in the Sitka area, 11/27/1974.
Tapes 52-53: Audio recording of Mark Jacobs Sr. (b. 1896), Susie James (b. 1890), and James D. Williams (b. 1890) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 12/9-10/1974.
Tapes 54-55: Audio recording of James D. Williams (b. 1909) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Sitka, 12/10/1974.
Tapes 56-57: Audio recording of Joseph C. Williams speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Saxman, 12/10/1974.
Tapes 58-59: Audio recording of Henry Denny Jr. (b. 1903) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Saxman, 12/11/1974.
Tapes 60-61: Audio recording of Henry Denny Jr. speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Saxman, 12/11/1974.
Tape 62: Audio recording of Henry Denny Jr. and Frank Williams (b. 1890) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Saxman, 12/11/1974.
Tapes 64-65: Audio recording of Robert Sanderson (b. 1928) and Sam Douglas Jr. (b. 1922) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hydaburg, 12/12/1974.
Tapes 66-67: Audio recording of Sylvester Peele Sr. (b. 1921), Helen E. Sanderson (b. 1906), and Delbert Nix (b. 1905) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hydaburg, 12/13/1974.
Tapes 68-69: Audio recording of Helen E. Sanderson and Delbert Nix at Hydaburg, and George Hamilton (b. 1884) and William Demmert Sr. (b. 1911) at Craig, speaking on 14(h)1 sites, 12/13-14/1974. Note: H.E. Sanderson tells the story of the Porcupine and the Beaver.
Tapes 70-71: Audio recording of Sylvester Peele Sr., Helen E. Sanderson, and Delbert Nix speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Hydaburg, 12/14/1974.
Tapes 72-73: Audio recording of Ralph James (b. 1897) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Craig, 12/14/1974. Note: speaker tells the Strongman story on Tape 72.
Tapes 74-75: Audio recording of Isaac Katass (b. 1901) and Robert Snook (b. 1907), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Klawock, 12/14-15/1974.
Tapes 76-77: Audio recording of Robert Snook and Robert W. George Sr. (b. 1923), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Klawock, 12/15/1974.
Tapes 78-79: Audio recording of Dexter Wallace (b. 1911) Walter Baronovich Young Sr. (b. 1887) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kasaan, circa 12/15/1974. Note; discussion of slavery by Wallace.
Tapes 80-81: Audio recording of Louie Thompson (b. 1936) at Kasaan on 1/4/75 and Josephine Ukas (b. 1880) and Dick Stokes (b. 1924) at Wrangell on 1/5/75 speaking on 14(h)1 sites.
Tapes 86-87: Audio recording of James Demmert Sr. (b. 1889) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Petersburg, 1/7/75.
Tapes 90-91: Audio recording of Johnny C. Jackson (1890/93-1995) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kake, 1/8/75.
Tapes 92-93: Audio recording of Johnny C. Jackson speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kake, 1/8/75.
Tapes 94-95: Audio recording of Chester James Sr. (b. 1891) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kake, 1/9/75.
Tapes 96-97: Audio recording of Paul Nannauck (b. 1894) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kake, 1/9/75.
Tapes 98-99: Audio recording of Albert Davis (b. 1917) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Kake, 1/9/75.
Tapes 100-01: Audio recording of Austin Hammond (b. 1910) and Mildred Sparks (b. 1900), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Haines, 1/14/75.
Tapes 102-03: Audio recording of a Daisy W. Phillips (b. 1912) and Paul Eli Phillips (b. 1912) on Tapes 102-3, then on Tape 103 Jenny David Marks (b. 1893), an unnamed male elder, and a unnamed translator [Roy?], speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Haines, December 1974. Note: audio quality of Tape 102 is scratchy and poor in some places. Tape 103 briefly mentions/argues that the Jilkaat Tlingit participated in the Battle of Sitka in 1802. Marks group orates in Tlingit and English the stories associated with sites.
Tape 104: Audio recording of Jenny David Marks and company, speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Haines, 1/14/75. [Note: Tape 105 is blank]
Tape 106: Audio recording of Victor Hotch (b. 1897) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Klukwan, 1/15/75.
Tapes 108-09: Audio recording of Willis M. Peters (b. 1900), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Juneau, 1/17/75.
Tapes 110-11: Audio recording of Charles Johnson (b. 1900), Susie James (b. 1896), Joseph James (b. 1927), and Annie Jimmie (b. 1885), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Juneau, 1/17/75.
Tapes 112-13: Audio recording of Cecilia Kunz (b. 1910), Edward Kunz (b. 1910), and Willie Marks (b. 1902) speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Juneau, 1/18/75.
Tape 114: Audio recording of Alice Nelson (b. 1917), speaking on 14(h)1 sites, Juneau, 1/18/75.
