Frances Densmore was born on May 21, 1867 in Red Wing, Minnesota. Trained in piano, organ, and harmony at the Oberlin Conservatory and in counterpoint at Harvard University, Densmore began studying American Indian music in 1893 with the encouragement of Alice Fletcher. Under the auspices of the Bureau of American Ethnology (B.A.E.) from 1907 to 1933 and from 1939 until her death, Densmore traveled around the United States recording and studying the music of various tribes. Her publications include
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Presented to the Bureau of American Ethnology (B.A.E.) by Frances Densmore at intervals, 1944-1955. Some materials received from the Densmore estate, circa 1962.
Manuscript 4250 Frances Densmore papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Inventory last updated by Anna M. Kerns, July 1998.
Finding aid encoded from a MARC collection-level record in 2009-2011. Revisions to the EAD were encoded by Katherine Madison in 2017.
The Frances Densmore papers, 1893-circa 1955 include: diaries and extracts from diaries, account books, a scrapbook, letters received, lectures, reminiscences and brief manuscripts, field and work reports, notes on recording techniques and the preservation of Native American music, musical transcriptions, bibliographic notes, library items, tone photographs, a mouth organ (pitch pipe), and a slide rule.
Frances Densmore's song recordings were transferred to the Library of Congress.
The numerous ethnographic manuscripts submitted to the B.A.E. at intervals by Frances Densmore are individually catalogued under the following tribal or geographic headings: Acoma, Alaska, Alibamu, British Columbia, Chippewa, Choctaw, Cuna, Dakota, Iroquois, Menominee, Omaha, Papago, Quileute, Seminole, Winnebago, Yuman, and Zunu.
Five photographic portraits of Densmore (previously Item 1) have been separated out and added to the Portraits of anthropologists collection (Photo Lot 33).
The following three photographic albums, received from the Densmore estate, circa 1962, have been filed by tribe in the Source Prints Collection under B.A.E. No. 4250 (pt.):
(1) "Photographs taken among the Northern Ute by F. Densmore," on two trips, 1914 and 1916. Includes notation by Densmore as to nature of her work and list of captions for photographs. Album, 34 pp. (Several of the photographs were published in B.A.E. Bull. 75, "Northern Ute Music".) Frances Densmore appears in group photograph, p. 23(b).
(2) "Photographs and postcards of a western trip by F. Densmore," from two trips, 1923 and 1926, among the Indians at Neah Bay, Washington. (Results of two trips presented in Nootka and Quileute Music, B.A.E. Bull. 124.) Album, 70 pp. (See pp. 55 and 61 for photgraphs of Frances Densmore.)
(3) "Photographs taken at Neah Bay, Washington, and in hop-picking camp near Chilliwack, B.C., " 1926. Includes photographs taken by Frances Densmore, by C.A. Clay (a newspaper man from Seattle, Washington), and several by Asahel Curtis. Notation by Densmore on nature of her work and various captions supplied by Densmore. (Results of trip presented in B.A.E. Bull. 124, op. cit. and B.A.E. Bull. 136, No. 27, "Music of the Indians of British Columbia.") Album, 45 pp. See page 39 for photograph of Densmore's sister Margaret and Indians).
Item separated and added to Photo Lot 33.
"Chronology of the Study and Presentation of Indian Music from 1893 to 1944 by Frances Densmore." Presented to the B.A.E., June 28, 1944
Items dated 1953-1957 added at B.A.E.
See also newspaper clippings and speech programs in Frances Densmore's scrapbook, Item 5
Contains 2 slightly different typescripts, 10 pp. each
Contains 1 p. mimeographed and typed version of the abstract as prepared by F. Densmore, 3 pp. Also incomplete carbon copy of lecture, 12 pp.
Contains the following: trip to Grand Marais and Grand Portage, Minn., 1905, approx. 33 pp.; reading notes from Schoolcraft and others, approx. 24 pp. in middle of the notebook; story, "The Turtles Go to War," "probably related at White Earth in 1907," approx. 7 pp.; notes "evidently made at the fourteenth of June Celebration at White Earth, Minnesota, among the Chippewa, in 1907," approx. 6 pp.; and cash account of Grand Portage trip, 1 p.
Also contains "First Field Trip Among the Chippewa by Frances Densmore," typescript concerning Aug., 1905 trip, with map and pages from F.D.'s diary added, 11 pp.; and typed transcript of story "The Turtles Go To War," 3 pp.
See also photographs of Chippewa Indians, taken at Grand Marais and Grand Portage, Minn., 1905, 16 glossy prints, 5" x 7", B.A.E. Orig. Prints No. 4635
See Separated Materials Note about photographic album relating to this trip
Also includes a typescript copy submitted to the B.A.E., 1945.
Includes correspondence with the Library of Congress; Mr. and Mrs. Clovis (who furnished funds for Densmore's use in connection with her music manuscripts); Mr. Bradley of the National Archives; Mr. Archibald McLeish, L.C.; and others.
Photostat copy of report attached to letter of March 28, 1940 to Mr. H.W. Dorsey, Admin. Assistant to the Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
Material included: 77 cylinder records of Indian songs; pamphlets in German regarding Indian music; 10 letters regarding Indian music; box of material (letters, book, photographs, etc.) received from Dr. Dayton C. Miller regarding his collection of flutes
For catalog of Indian Music recorded by Frances Densmore for the B.A.E. and subsequently transferred to the Library of Congress, and for note concerning box of material received by L.C. from Densmore estate, see B.A.E. MS 4243
May have been used to illustrate early lecture
See also bibliography of F.D. (Anon.) published in
Those present are marked on complete bibliography, Item 40
"Used [by Frances Densmore] in adjusting the speed of the phonograph in field work. After the phonograph had been wound, a cylinder with the tone C was played and the speed of the phonograph adjusted until the pitch of the tone corresponded to that of the tone on the mouth organ"