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Finding Aid of the Manuel Archuleta collection of Pueblo Indian, Navajo and Hopi music, ca. 1940-1970

University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest Research

Email: cswrref@unm.edu
URL: http://elibrary.unm.edu/cswr/



© 2009, ©2011

The University of New Mexico


Collection Summary

Title Manuel Archuleta collection of Pueblo Indian, Navajo and Hopi music
Dates (Inclusive) ca. 1940-1970
Creator Archuleta, Manuel
Abstract The collection contains Native American music from San Juan, San Felipe, Laguna, Taos and Zuni Pueblos, as well as the Navajo and Hopi. The songs were recorded in the 1940s by Manuel Archuleta, of San Juan Pueblo.
Collection Number MSS 830 BC
Size 1 box containing 10 CDs (.2 cu. ft.)
Repository University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research

Biography / History

Tom Tom Record Label

Manuel Archuleta, of San Juan Pueblo, was one of the first collectors of Native American music in the United States. Archuleta first recorded music as a hobby, and later sold his records. He formed his own record production company, Tom Tom Records, Co., Albuquerque, New Mexico in around 1940. His label heading read - America’s Original Folk Songs of the Redmen, Vocal Documentation of Authentic Indian Songs. Additional slogans on his records include Manuel Archuleta Production Enterprise, Save-A-Chant Project Series, Limited Issue. Archuleta recorded 24 songs on 78s under this red label. After loss of the copyright to his first Tom Tom label, Manuel produced a second run of the 24 songs as 45s under the name and yellow label - Songs of the Redmen, Super Chief Indian Records. They were similar to his earlier Tom Toms, but with different label descriptions. Mary-Kay Co. of South El Monte, California re-published some of his recordings in the 1970s.

Archuleta realized that the native people of New Mexico were reluctant to have him record their songs, but once they listened to his recordings and understood that he was helping to preserve their heritage, they began urging him to record their songs. He captured as many authentic Native American songs as he could, always knowing that when old men die they take with them the songs that others had failed to learn. To further this cause he donated his recordings to the University of New Mexico. Musicologists researching Native American songs have found Manuel Archuleta's recordings useful. For example, in Music and Dance of the Tewa People, authors Gertrude Prokosch Kurath and Antonio Garcia have used these recordings along with ethnographers’ film recordings, to combine transcriptions of the music with dance glyphs.

Archuleta worked for the United Pueblos Agency. He sang native songs that he had learned from the old men of his village and started collecting New Mexico Native American songs at the Indian School and various pueblos in 1939. Archuleta’s wife, Alyce Pinno of Laguna, graduated in 1936 from Haskell Indian School with a commercial associates’ degree. She worked for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Archuleta recorded Alyce's father, George Pinno, known as one of the best song makers of his day. Archuleta lectured at UNM and taught Indian dances and lore in the local schools. He died in November 1963.

Sources: Archuleta, Manuel. “The Chants of my People," The Desert Magazine, October 1949, Vol. 12, No. 12, pp. 12-14

Kurath, Gertrude Prokosch, with Antonio Garcia, Music and Dance of the Tewa Pueblos. Museum of New Mexico Press: Santa Fe, NM. 1970. p. 164;

Levine, Victoria Lindsey. Ed. Writing American Indian Music: Historic Transcriptions, Notations, and Arrangements. Published for American Musicological Society. A-R Editions, Inc.: Middleton, Wisconsin. 2002

Szasz, Ferenc M. Larger Than Life: New Mexico in the Twentieth Century. University of New Mexico Press: Albuquerque. 2006.

Scope and Content

The Manuel Archuleta collection contains six (of a total of 12) original Tom Tom 78s; copies of his Super Chief 45s; and copies of all his other recordings. These have been reformatted to CDs. According to a memo accompanying the collection, the six Tom Tom 78s were donated to John Donald Robb at UNM Fine Arts Library in November 1946 by Manuel Archuleta himself and Otis Smith (a Native American), from the Albuquerque Indian School.

Circa 1964, Archuleta’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth Archuleta, donated or loaned additional recordings by her father to the UNM Fine Arts Library, which were copied to 7 reels. These reels contained 232 songs recorded by Manuel Archuleta. All of the 24 songs that Archuleta recorded on Tom Toms and Super Chiefs were included on these reels. The remaining songs were apparently never recorded commercially. Some of them have no titles, but are Native American in origin. Some of the songs were composed by Archuleta.

In 2011, the Archuleta family located an album with Manuel’s yellow label - Songs of the Redmen, Super Chief Indian Records. They are similar to the Tom Toms but with different descriptions. For posterity, these were copied for the Library to CDs and returned to the family. Hence the duplication of titles in the inventory.

The family also located two descriptive handouts that Archuleta had produced to promote his recordings. These have been scanned, attached to this inventory and returned to the family.

The Manuel Archuleta collection contains the only known recordings of some of the outstanding Native New Mexican singers of the past. Featured are performers from San Juan, San Felipe, Laguna, Taos and Zuni Pueblos, as well as the Navajo and Hopi. They include vocals in the native languages performed by individual singers or by choruses, ceremonial songs and dance songs. Most performers are accompanied by drummers and occasionally by musicians with other native instruments. Song No. 187 is identified as being performed by an Indian child.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Duplication of recordings permitted only with written permission from artist, performer, interviewer and interviewee, tribal authority, or current holder of intellectual property rights. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.

Preferred Citation

Manuel Archuleta collection of Pueblo Indian, Navajo and Hopi music (MSS 830), University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research

Processing Information

Vinyl records and reel to reel tapes reformatted to CD in September 2009.
In April 2010, Tessa Archuleta Krause and Freida Archuleta Stewart, daughters of Manuel Archuleta, loaned the CSWR twelve original 45 rpms produced by Manuel Archuleta. They were reformatted to a CD and returned to the daughters upon their request. For comparison, several scans were made of the Tom Toms and Super Chiefs to see the difference in the labels, as well as the description of the song and performers.

Separated Material

Reel to reel tapes, vinyl records, and archival CDs are stored on B3.

Related Material

Paul Tosa Collection of Jemez Pueblo Music Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Indian Music of the Southwest and Mexico Collection Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Sound Recordings of the 44th Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, 1965 Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Collection of Hispanic, Isleta, and Laguna Songs Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Mary Louise Perrine Recordings of Navajo Chants, Songs and Prayers Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Edith Murphy Collection of Pomo and Yuki Recordings Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Charlotte Johnson Frisbie Collection of Navajo Music and Oral histories Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Antonio Garcia Collection of Native American Music of New Mexico and Mexico Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Donald L. Roberts Collection of Music of the Southwest and Mexico Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

John Duncan collection of California Maidu oral histories and music and Plains Indian music Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Margaret Hindes Collection of Native American Music of the Western Mono Indians of California and the Sioux of South Dakota Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Maidu-Concow Indian oral history collection Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Odd S. Halseth Collection of Native American Social Songs and Interviews Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

John Donald Robb Field Recordings Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

James B. Wright Collection of Southwestern Native American and Hispanic Music, Interviews and Literary Programs Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Access Terms

Hopi Indians -- Music

Indian dance -- Southwest, New

Indians of North America -- Southwest, New -- Music

John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music

Laguna Pueblo (N.M.) -- Music

Navajo Indians -- Music

Pueblo Indians -- Music

San Felipe Pueblo (N.M.) -- Music

San Juan Pueblo (N.M.) -- Music

Taos Pueblo (N.M.) -- Music

Zuni Pueblo (N.M.) -- Music

Contents List

Description Container

Recordings 

#1 Navajo Feather Dance Song, Navajo, Record # 100A*, Artist: Navajo Chorus Group

# 2 Navajo Skip Dance Song, Navajo, Record # 100B, Artist: Navajo Chorus Group

# 3 Mudhead Funmakers’s Song, Hopi, Record # 101A, Artist: Hopi Chanters

# 4 Hopi Youth Corn Dance, Hopi, Record # 101B, Artist: Hopi Ceremonial Chanters

#5 Zuni “Komanchee" Song, Zuni, Record # 101B, Artist: Zuni Indian Chanters-Ed (Rain Water) Tayitee-director

#6 Zuni “He-Le-Le" Song, Zuni, Record # 102B, Artist: Zuni Indian Chanters-Ed (Rain Water) Tayitee-director

#7 Navajo Circle Dance, Navajo, Record # 103A, Artist: Navajo Night Chanters

#8 Taos Horse Tail Dance, Taos Pueblo, Record # 103B, Artist: Taos Chorus

#9 Yaa-Nee-Wa, Hopi, Record # 104A, Artist: Hopiland Chanters

#10 Social Dance Song, Hopi, Record # 104B, Artist: Hopi Indian Chanters

#11 Navajo Yei-be-chai, Navajo, Record # 105A, Artist: Jonah Yazza & Navajo Chorus Chanters (Yee-heb-be-che)

#12 Navajo Squaw Dance Songs, Navajo, Record # 105B, Artist: Jonah Yazza & Navajo Chorus Chanters (Squaw Night Singers)

#13 Round Dance Songs, Taos Pueblo, Record # 106A, Artist: Taos Pueblo Indian Chorus (Sundown)

#14 Hoop Dance Songs, Taos, Record # 106B, Artist: Taos Indian Chorus

#15 Harvest Dance Song, Laguna, Record # 107A, Artist: George Pinno, Jr., Lynn Sheya, Willie Natseway

#16 Corn Grinding Song, Laguna, Record # 107B, Artist: George Pinno, Jr., Lynn Sheya, Willie Natseway

#17 Butterfly Dance Song, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 108A, Artist: White Leaf, Koong-Wee, Lighting

#18 Song of the Basket Dance, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 108B, Artist: White Leaf, Koong-Wee, Lighting

#19 Dance of the Corn Maidens, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 109A, Artist: White Leaf, Koong-Wee, Lighting

#20 Chant of the Buffalo Dance, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 109B, Artist: White Leaf, Koong-Wee, Lighting

#21 Song of the Rain Races, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 110A, Artist: White Leaf, Koong-Wee, with rain calls by Lightning Man

#22 Tewa Social Dance, San Juan Pueblo, Record # 110B, Artist: White Leaf and Koong-Wee, with Rain Calls by Lighting Man

#23 Deer, Elk, and Antelope Game Hunting Song, San Felipe Pueblo, Record # 111A, Artist: Thunder Bird, Red Fox and Yellow Bird

#24 Buffalo Dance Song, San Felipe Pueblo, Record # 111B, Artist: Yellow Bird, Red Fox and Thunder Bird

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box  1 CD  1

Recordings - Presumed to be Native American songs collected by Manuel Archuleta. Additional description not available. 

#25 Native American Song

#26 Corn Grinding Song

#27 Indian Song

#28 Indian Song

#29 Indian Song

/#30 Indian Song

#31 Round Dance

#32 Indian Song

#33 Indian Song

#34 Round Dance

#35 Dance Song

#36 Solo Indian Song

#37 Indian Group Song (fragment)

#38 Solo Indian Song (fragment)

#39 Indian Dance Song

#40 Indian Dance Tune

#41 Group Dance Song

#42 Solo Indian Song (fragment)

#43 Indian Song

#44 Indian Song

#45 Indian Song

#46 Indian Song

#47 Indian Song

#48 Indian Song

#49 Indian Song

#50 Indian Song

#51 Indian Song

#52 Indian Song

#53 Indian Song

#54 Indian Dance Song

#55 Indian Song

#56 Indian Group Song

#57 Indian Song

#58 Indian Dance Song

#59 Indian Song

#60 Indian Song

#61 Indian Song

#62 Indian Song

#63 Indian Song

#64 Not Recorded

#65 Not Recorded

#66 Indian Song

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD  2

Recordings 

#67 Indian Dance Song

#68 Indian Dance Song

#69 Archuleta family conversation

#70 Indian Group Chorus

#71 Indian Song

#72 Indian Song

#73 Round Dance Song

#74 Indian Song

#75 Indian Song

#76 Indian Song

#77 Indian Song

#78 Indian Song

#79 Indian Song

#80 Indian Song

#81 Indian Song

#82 Indian Song

#83 Indian Song

#84 Indian Song

#85 Indian Song

#86 Indian Song

#87 Corn Grinding Song

#88 Indian Song

#89 Solo Indian Song

#90 Indian Song

#91 Indian Dance Song

#92 Solo Indian Song

#93 Group Indian Song

#94 Round Dance

#95 Indian Song

#96 Group Indian Song

#97 Group Indian Song

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD 3

Recordings 

#98 Indian Song

#99 Indian Song

#100 Indian Song

#101 Indian Song

#102 Indian Song

#103 Indian Song

#104 Indian Song

#105 Indian Song

#106 Group Indian Song

#107 Group Indian Song

#108 Group Indian Song

#109 Indian Song

#110 Indian Song

#111 Indian Song

#112 Indian Song

#113 Indian Song

#114 Indian Song

#115 Group Indian Song

#116 Group Indian Song

#117 Group Indian Song

#118 Indian Song

#119 Indian Song

#120 Indian Song

#121 Indian Song

#122 Indian Song

#123 Indian Song

#124 Indian Song

#125 Indian Song

#126 Indian Song

#127 Indian Song

#128 Indian Song

#129 Indian Song

#130 Indian Song

#131 Indian Song

#132 Indian Song

#133 Indian Song

#134 Indian Song

#135 Indian Song

#136 Indian Song

#137 Indian Song

#138 Indian Song

#139 Group Indian Song

#140 Group Indian Song

#141 Group Indian Song

#142 Group Indian Song

#143 Group Indian Song

#144 Group Indian Song

#145 Indian Song

#146 Indian Song

#147 Indian Song

#148 Indian Song

#149 Indian Song

#150 Indian Song

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD  4

Recordings 

#151 Group Indian Song

#152 Indian Song

#153 Group Indian Song (fragment)

#154 Group Indian Song

#155 Group Indian Song

#156 Group Indian Song

#157 Group Indian Song

#158 Group Indian Song

#159 I think I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree…

#160 Song sung in Russian

#161 When I’m Calling You (Rudolph Friml)

#162 Moon Dear, How Near

#163 Out of My Lodge at Evening Tide

#164 Group Indian Song

#165 Indian Song

#166 Group Indian Song

#167 Group Indian Song

#168 Indian Song

#169 Indian Song

#170 Indian Song

#171 Group Indian Song

#172 Group Indian Song

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD 5

Recordings 

#173 Indian Song

#174 Group Indian Song

#175 Group Indian Song

#176 Indian Song

#177 Indian Song

#178 Indian Song

#179 Indian Song

#180 Group Indian Song

#181 Group Indian Song

#182 Group Indian Song

#183 Indian Song

#184 Group Indian Song

#185 Group Indian Song

#186 Group Indian Song

#187 Indian Song, Indian Child

#188 Group Indian Song

#189 Indian Song

#190 Group Indian Song

#191 Indian Song

#192 Indian Song

#193 Group Indian Song

#194 Group Indian Song

#195 Group Indian Song

#196 Group Indian Song

#197 Rasp and bull roar Sounds with song

#198 Round Dance

#199 Group Indian Song

#200 Group Indian Song

#201 Group Indian Song

#202 Indian Song

#203 Indian Song

#204 Indian Song

#205 Indian Song

#206 Group Indian Song

#207 Announcement (fragment)

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD 6

Recordings 

#208 Announcements, Manuel Archuleta

#209 Indian Song

#210 Eagle Dance

#211 Hunting Song, San Ildefonso Pueblo

#212 Group Indian Song, Cochiti Pueblo

#213 Group Indian Song

#214 Indian Song

#215 Indian Song

#216 Indian Song

#217 Indian Song

#218 Indian Song

#219 Indian Song

#220 Indian Song

#221 Group Indian Song

#222 Group Indian Song

#223 Group Indian Song

#224 Group Indian Song

#225 Indian Song

#226 Indian Song

#227 Indian Song

#228 Indian Song

#229 Indian Song

#230 Indian Song (Same as No. 229 with different performers)

#231 Indian Song

#232 Indian Song

Note: Reformatted from reel to reel tape. Songs are not on separate tracks
Box 1 CD  7

Tom Tom LPs,  1940s

1. Buffalo Dance Song, San Felipe, by Yellow Bird, Red Fox and Thunder Bird (B10.) (clicking sound, record is cracked)

2. Deer, Elk and Antelope Game Hunting Songs, San Felipe, by Thunder Bird, Red Fox and Yellow Bird (B11) (clicking sound, record is cracked)

3. Navajo Yei-Be-Chai, (Yay-Be-Chay), by Jonah Yazza and Navajo Chorus Chanters (B12)

4. Navajo Squaw Dance Songs, by Jonah Yazza and Squaw Night Singers (B13)

5. Chant of the Buffalo Dance, San Juan Pueblo, by White Leaf, Lighting and Koong-Wee (B14)

6. Dance of the Corn Maidens, San Juan Pueblo, by Lighting, White Leaf and Koong-Wee (B15)

7. Tewa Social Dance Songs, San Juan Pueblo, by Koong-Wee and White Leaf, with Dance Calls by Lighting (B16)

8. Song of Rain Races, San Juan Pueblo, by White Leaf, Koong-Wee, with Rain Calls by Lighting Man (B17)

9. Hoop Dance Songs, by Taos Indian Chorus. (B18)

10. Sundown, Round dance Songs, by Taos Pueblo Indian Corus (B19)

11. Corn Grinding Song, Laguna, by George Pinno, Jr., Willie Natseway and Lynn Sheya (B20)

12. Harvest Dance Song, Laguna, by George Pinno, Jr., Lynn Sheya and Willie Natseway (B21)

Note: Originally these LPs were hand numbered B10 – B21. Songs are on separate tracks.
Box 1 CD 8

Songs of the Redmen, Super Chief Indian Records,  1940s

1 - A - Navajo Feather Dance Song, sung by Navajo Feather Dancers B - Navajo Skip Dance Song, by Skip and Hop Enchanters

2 - A - Mudhead Funmakers Song, sung by Enchanting Mudheads B - Hopi Youth Corn Dance, sung by the Notched-Stick Rhythm Dancers

3 - A - Zuni “Komanchee" song, sun by Zunian Chanters (Comanche) B - Zuni “He-Le-Le" song, chorus by Happy He-Le Lees

4 - A - Navajo Circle Dance Song, sung by The Navajo Trail Enchanters B - Taos Horse Tail Dance, sung by Teasing Horse Tail Dancers

5 - A - Hopi “YAA-NEE-WAA" Song, sung by Delightful "Yaa Nee Was" B - Hopiland Social Dance, sung by Hopian Enchanters

6 - A - Navajo “YEI - BE - CHAI" Song, sung by Ceremonial Yei-Be-Chais B -The Navajo Squaw Dance, sung by tribal male Enchanters

7- A - Taos Round Dance Songs, sung by the Twilight Enchanters (various) B - Taos Hoop Dancing Songs, sung by Famous Tribal Dancers (Intro-Climax-End)

8 - A - Laguna Harvest Dance Song, sung by Patriarch George Pinno and Keres Chorus B - Laguna Corn Grinding Song, sung by Patriarch George Pinno and Keresans

9 - A - San Juan Butterfly Dance, sung by the Dancing Butterfly Chanters B - Song of the Basket Dance, sung by the Ceremonial Dancing Tewas

10 - A - Dance of the Corn Maidens, sung by San Juan male, Ceremonial Dancing Tewas B - The Prancing Buffaloes, San Juan Tewas, Buffalo Calls by Lightning Man

11 - A - Song of Rain Races, San Juan Tewanians, Rain Calls by Lightning Man B - Tewa Social Dance Songs, by Happy Tewanians, Dance Calls by Lightning Man

12 - A - Deer-Elk- Antelope Song, sung by San Felipe Keresans B - Keres Buffalo Dance Song, sung by Keresan Enchanters

Note:Reformatted from twelve 45 rpm vinyl records
Box 1 CD 9

Scans of Tom Tom and Super Chief labels,  1940s
Box 1 CD 10
 
 
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