Rosamund Spicer Tohono O'odham Photographs

Rosamund Spicer Tohono O'odham Photographs

Selections of Rosamund Spicer Tohono O'odham Photographs

Rosamond Spicer (1913-1999) received a bachelor's degree in archaeology from Northwestern University in 1934 and a Master's degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1938. She lived on the Tohono O'odham Reservation, previously known as the Papago Reservation, from October, 1942, to July, 1943. The photos were taken as part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the University of Chicago Committee on Human Development Indian Education and Research Project. The results of this project were discussed in The Desert People, written by Spicer, Alice Joseph, and Jane Chesky. The majority of the photos were taken by Rosamond in Topawa, Arizona, where Rosamond lived in the Feast House with her young son Barry. The photos are a mix of representations of everyday life on the reservation and special events such as Rodeo and religious processions. Descriptions of the photos come from an index typed up by Rosamond Spicer in 1994, information she wrote on the back of prints, and from Tohono O'odham members. Most dates, photographers, and names of subjects are listed, but some are unknown. In addition to her time spent on the reservation in the early 1940's, Spicer visited again in the 50's and 60's, and continued to gather photos of the Tohono O'odham taken by others.

According to The Desert People, the Tohono O'odham reservation held about 5,900 residents at the time of the study. Populations ranged from anywhere to 1,200 in the Sells district to 250 in the Gu Vo district. An additional 200 lived in the Gila Bend reservation, and almost 500 at the San Xavier reservation. The remaining of the almost 7,000 strong population lived off-reservation. At the time Rosamond was living on the reservation, many families still worked as farmers and ranchers, and two villages still migrated annually from the fields to the foothills. However, more and more were finding off reservation work in mines or on nearby farms, or they found government employment. Most followed Roman or Sonoran Catholicism, but the Presbyterian Church had a strong following as well. Schools were typically run by the BIA or Catholics, however, there were no secondary schools on the reservation. Only government or Catholic boarding schools off reservation were available for higher education. English was taught in schools, but it was not the predominate language on the reservation at this point, with only a third of adults able to speak it. Sells, as now, was the seat of the government in the early 1940's. The tribal council was in charge of arts and crafts, the tribal fair and rodeo, loans, the tribal herd, and administering tribal law. However, at this time the Tohono O'odham could still not vote, and they did not own the rights to the minerals under their land.

Joseph, Alice, Rosamond B. Spicer, and Jane Chesky. The Desert People. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 1949.

Items in Collection: 
Presbyterian Easter Service at Fresnal Canyon
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Dewey Jose's stone house in Fresnal. Benches set up in front of house for the sunset service.
First Holy Communion
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Clemencia Lopez and Edith Francisco.
Third May Procession, Honoring Mary, at San Solano Mission
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Leaving the church. Orchestra at left, procession with acolytes, image (Mary?), people, priest, and sisters.
Third May Procession, Honoring Mary, at San Solano Mission (close-up)
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
The front of the procession.
Third May Procession, Honoring Mary, at San Solano Mission (close-up)
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Heads of people in the procession and the arch.
Third May Procession, Honoring Mary, at San Solano Mission
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
The procession entering the church.
San Solano
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
View of San Solano Mission, St. Anthony's Mission School, and the Sisters' Quarters. Baboquivari Peak in the background.
San Solano
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
View of the San Solano church and mission.
Schoolhouse and Church
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
The Presbyterian school/church at San Miguel. The children are lined up to enter after recess.
Presbyterian Mission School, San Miguel
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Education
Summary
Miss Ruth McNaughton, teacher.
Bureau of Indian Affairs School at Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
Boys and girls at recess playing 'Come Along.'
Schoolchildren
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
Matilda Kermen, Lucina Joaquin, and friend pretending to make baskets. Photo by Father Rupert Hanner of San Solano Mission, Topawa.
Schoolchildren
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
San Solano Mission school children dressed up like 'Indians' and holding instruments-'The Rhythm Band.' George Martinez, Edward Chico, Augustine Kermen, Gilbert Segundo, Stewart Wilson. Photo taken by Father Rupert Hanner of San Solano Mission, Topawa.
Papago Rodeo, Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
Papago girls standing in front of a clown.
Papago Rodeo, Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
Grand entry. The U.S. and Papago flags.
Gu Achi Dancers
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Music, Song, and Dance
Summary
Gu Achi dancers dancing at the Sells Rodeo.
A Papago Round Dance, 'Bat,' at Ted DeGrazia's, Tucson, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Music, Song, and Dance
Summary
Dancers circling, holding hands.
Papago Rodeo, Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
The Rodeo Queen-Miss Segundo.
Papago Rodeo, Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Music, Song, and Dance
Summary
Santa Rosa dancers.
Dedication of New Building to Father Bonaventure Oblasser at San Solano Mission, Topawa
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Dancers.
Dedication of New Building to Father Bonaventure Oblasser at San Solano Mission, Topawa
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life, Religion
Summary
Singers (sitting) and dancers with bird emblems.
Trip to Ajo for an organization meeting
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Governance, Leadership, and Gatherings
Summary
Joe Blaine 'Chief of Ajo Papagos,' and Henry Throssel, tribal chairman.
Groundbreaking for new Public Health Service hospital at Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
Tribal Chairman Enos Francisco addressing the guests.
Sells, Arizona
Community
Photograph Collection, Tohono O'Odham Nation
Category
Community Life and Family Life
Summary
The 'Indian Oasis Trading Co.' (The High Store), in Sells, AZ.