The Santa Fe Fiesta and the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial are two of the major cultural events held annually in New Mexico, both involving substantial participation by the Indian population of the state and region. The older of these, the Fiesta, originated in 1712 when the Spanish governor, Joseph Chacón Medina Salazar y Villaseñor, the Marqués of Pañuela, set aside a day in September to commemorate the reconquest of the province by Don Diego de Vargas. Since 1919, the festival has been held annually and has increasingly become a celebration of traditional New Mexican culture and the varied ethnicities of its population.

The Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial of Gallup, New Mexico, was organized by local businessmen and Indian traders in 1922 for "the encouragement of Indian arts and crafts and the education of whites to the beauties of Indian life" and for the "perpetuation of the dances, traditions and customs of Indian life." The Ceremonial includes public performances of dances and songs, athletic contests, and an all-Indian rodeo, as well as opportunities to buy and sell arts and handicrafts. The Ceremonial draws participants from a number of tribes and nations, including the local Acoma, Hopi, Laguna, Navajo, and Zuni tribes. In 1939, the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial was given official recognition by the state.

The H. O. Hanson Photograph Collection contains 34 large format (8x10") black and white prints, including sixteen images of the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial at Gallup, 1953 and 1954, nine images of the Santa Fe Fiesta, 1952 and 1953, and four images of the Jemez Pueblo. Hanson has not been further identified, but he may have worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The photographs are somewhat unusual: mostly candid shots of the events, focused as much on the crowd as on the performers.

The title of each photograph is written on the verso, and most are signed and dated by the photographer. The images were originally affixed onto acidic mounts with staples (not affecting the photograph area), with the title transcribed beneath, however all of the images have now been removed and rehoused in polypropylene sleeves. In the few instances in which the transcribed title differed from that written on the image, both have been recorded, with the "alternate version" referring to the title on the mount.

Links to the digital versions of the photographs are included in the inventory. You may also view a gallery of all images here.

Provenance

Acquired from Almagre Books, March 2004 (accn. no. M2004-9).

Preferred citation

Cite as: H. O. Hanson Photograph Collection, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Catalogued by rsc, 2004.

Related material

The Fray Angélico Chávez History Library at the Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe, houses a Santa Fe Fiesta Colletion (AC 201).

• Gelatin silver prints
• Photographs

• Santa Fe (N.M.) -- Photographs

• Indians of North America -- Dance
• Indians of North America -- New Mexico
• Indians of North America -- Photographs
• Inter-tribal Ceremonial (Gallup, N.M.) -- Photographs
• Jemez Indians -- Photographs
• Navajo Indians -- Photographs
• Pueblo Indians -- Photographs
• Santa Fe (N.M.) Fiesta -- Photographs
• Southwest Indians
• Zuni Indians