Seneca Chanters of the Dead

Mss.Rec.127

Date: 1958 | Size: 2 reel(s)
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Abstract

A recording of ?ohkiiweeh, Chanters of the Dead, recorded at Newtown Longhouse, Cattaraugus Reservation, New York, by Cornelius Seneca, with notes by W.C. Sturtevant. Lead singer with drum: Rupert Scrogg (Tonawanda); Assistant singers: Everett Parker (Tonawanda), Harold Kittle (Cattaraugus); Head women; Louise Green, Louis (Eliz.) Young; Head men: Spencer Bennett, John Cook; Speaker: Gus Williams (Six Nations, resident at Newtown)

Digital objects note

This collection contains digital materials that are available in the APS Digital Library. Links to these materials are provided with context in the inventory of this finding aid. A general listing of digital objects may also be found here.

Collection Information

Physical description

2 sound tape reels (3 hr., 22 min.) : analog, 3 3/4 ips, 1/2 track, mono ; 7 in.

2 sound tape reels (3 hr., 22 min.) : analog, 3 3/4 ips, 1/2 track, mono ; 7 in.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access:

Access to the audio in this collection is currently restricted due to the high likelihood of its cultural sensitivity, pending further review. Please consult the Curator of Native American Materials for more information.

Provenance

Donated by William Fenton in 1985. (Acc. 1985 752r)

Processing information

Collection digitized and cataloged by Brian Carpenter during the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funded audio digitization project, 2008-2014.

Related material

Related manuscript materials are available in the William N. Fenton Papers (Mss.Ms.Coll.20).

General note

William Sturtevant's notes from tape box 1 read as follows:

"According to Solon Jones, Harold Kittle remarked that these doings were about half the Tonawanda way and half Newtown--HK has Newtown versions of the songs written out.

"Cornelius Seneca reports that he doesn't recall having turned off his machine at all, once the ceremony began. However, he wasn't able to take his mike [sic] outside for the singing circuit of the Longhouse at the end, but only followed the singers to the door.

"Solon Jones says he must have missed 'about 6 more songs' by not going outside. (SJ wasn't at the ceremony, nor has he heard the recording.)"

Indexing Terms


Genre(s)

  • Sound recordings

Subject(s)

  • Seneca Indians -- Music
  • Seneca Indians -- Rites and ceremonies


Detailed Inventory

 Tape 1
  
01-01 Young, Louisa. Cook, John. Bennett, Spencer. Kittle, Harold. Jones, Solon. Green, Louise. Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005. Williams, Gus. Seneca, Cornelius. Scrogg, Rupert. Parker, Everett.
Chanters of the Dead [1 of 4]
1958-02-08 1 .mp3 ; 00:46:30

Lead singer with drum: Rupert Scrogg (Tonawanda); Assistant singers: Everett Parker (Tonawanda), Harold Kittle (Cattaraugus); Head women; Louise Green, Louis (Eliz.) Young; Head men: Spencer Bennett, John Cook; Speaker: Gus Williams (6 Nations, resident at Newtown)

Location of originals: This file is a compressed, digitized version of the original. The APS Library maintains the original format (Sound tape reel) as well as an uncompressed digitized version of this recording.

General physical description: 00:46:30


Geographic Name(s): Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.)

Subject(s): Seneca Indians -- Rites and ceremonies; Seneca Indians -- Music

Access digital object:
http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/audio:3554

01-02 Seneca, Cornelius. Scrogg, Rupert. Parker, Everett. Kittle, Harold. Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005. Young, Louisa. Williams, Gus. Bennett, Spencer. Jones, Solon. Green, Louise. Cook, John.
Chanters of the Dead [2 of 4]
1958-02-08 1 .mp3 ; 00:49:22

Lead singer with drum: Rupert Scrogg (Tonawanda); Assistant singers: Everett Parker (Tonawanda), Harold Kittle (Cattaraugus); Head women; Louise Green, Louis (Eliz.) Young; Head men: Spencer Bennett, John Cook; Speaker: Gus Williams (6 Nations, resident at Newtown). Final 5:00 of program contain inconsistent sounds levels and uncorrected background hum.

Location of originals: This file is a compressed, digitized version of the original. The APS Library maintains the original format (Sound tape reel) as well as an uncompressed digitized version of this recording.

General physical description: 00:49:22


Geographic Name(s): Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.)

Subject(s): Seneca Indians -- Rites and ceremonies; Seneca Indians -- Music

Access digital object:
http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/audio:3553

 Tape 2
  
02-01 Green, Louise. Cook, John. Bennett, Spencer. Scrogg, Rupert. Parker, Everett. Kittle, Harold. Jones, Solon. Young, Louisa. Williams, Gus. Seneca, Cornelius. Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005.
Chanters of the Dead [3 of 4]
1958-02-08 1 .mp3 ; 01:01:21

Lead singer with drum: Rupert Scrogg (Tonawanda); Assistant singers: Everett Parker (Tonawanda), Harold Kittle (Cattaraugus); Head women; Louise Green, Louis (Eliz.) Young; Head men: Spencer Bennett, John Cook; Speaker: Gus Williams (6 Nations, resident at Newtown)

Location of originals: This file is a compressed, digitized version of the original. The APS Library maintains the original format (Sound tape reel) as well as an uncompressed digitized version of this recording.

General physical description: 01:01:21


Geographic Name(s): Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.)

Subject(s): Seneca Indians -- Music; Seneca Indians -- Rites and ceremonies

Access digital object:
http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/audio:3555

02-02 Cook, John. Bennett, Spencer. Parker, Everett. Kittle, Harold. Jones, Solon. Green, Louise. Young, Louisa. Williams, Gus. Seneca, Cornelius. Scrogg, Rupert. Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005.
Chanters of the Dead [4 of 4]
1958-02-08 1 .mp3 ; 00:44:33

Lead singer with drum: Rupert Scrogg (Tonawanda); Assistant singers: Everett Parker (Tonawanda), Harold Kittle (Cattaraugus); Head women; Louise Green, Louis (Eliz.) Young; Head men: Spencer Bennett, John Cook; Speaker: Gus Williams (6 Nations, resident at Newtown)

Location of originals: This file is a compressed, digitized version of the original. The APS Library maintains the original format (Sound tape reel) as well as an uncompressed digitized version of this recording.

General physical description: 00:44:33


Geographic Name(s): Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.)

Subject(s): Seneca Indians -- Music; Seneca Indians -- Rites and ceremonies

Access digital object:
http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/audio:3552