Carol F. Jopling received her doctorate in Anthropology in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts after completing her dissertation entitled
Carol F. Jopling papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
James R. Glenn, Revised by Robert Leopold, August 2000
The papers of Carol F. Jopling relate to her work as an instructor of primitive and Pre-Columbian art as well as her fieldwork in Yalalag, Oaxaca for her doctorate in Anthropology. The materials cover the years 1966-1975, the bulk being 1968-69. The collection can be divided into two sections. The first and smaller part contains correspondence relating to the publication of the book edited by Jopling in 1971. The second portion and bulk of the collection contains the materials relating to her work in Yalalag. This material contains correspondence, fieldnotes, photographs, color slides and cassette tape recordings. The majority consists of her fieldnotes and forms recording family history interviews and the results of the Welsh Figure Preference test. The fieldnotes often explain events which were photographed as well as describing the community life in Yalalag.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Contains incoming and outgoing letters. Although there are a few personal letters interspersed, the majority concerns the process of publishing Art and Aesthetics in Primitive Societies. Also included are letters requesting permission to reproduce the articles and photographs contained in the book, publisher rejection letters, letters of congratulations or thanks for copies of the book, anonymous evaluations of the book sent by the publisher, and invoices of fees for duplication of articles and photographs. The letters were grouped together by Jopling according to the topic discussed within the contents of the letter. The majority were written to, or received from Cyril I. Nelson of E.P. Dutton, publisher of Art and Aesthetics in Primitive Societies. Other names include: Ronald M. Berndt, Henry Bascom Collins Jr., Brenda Gilchrist, Frank J. Malina, F. Clarke Newlon, Charlotte Otten, Harold K. Schneider, J. Zwernemann.
All folders contain letters requesting permission to reproduce the articles and photographs contained in the book.
Arranged Chronologically
Contains incoming and outgoing correspondence in English and Spanish. Letters cover a variety of topics concerning Joplingâs work in Mexico. Also included are letters of introduction and miscellaneous letters to acquaintances. Of particular interest is an article on the Silver crosses of Oaxaca, a letter from Textile Museum in Washington D.C. acknowledging Joplingâs gift in Yalalag weaving, and letters from John Paddock discussing Joplingâs research in Mexico. Several of the letters are from residents of Yalalag, who are also referred to in the fieldnotes. These are Padre Apolinar, Carmelia Fabian, Augustina Fernandez, Roman Jimenez Mazas, Juan Alejo P., Agapito Fabian Santiago, and Nicodemus B. Vasquez. Others include Orin T. Howard and Kate Young (who is also referred to in the fieldnotes.)
Contents include mimeographed forms on which scores of the Welsh Figure Preference Tests and Family History of individual wavers were recorded. Jopling assigned Numbers or letters to each weaver. The numbers/letters were used to identify weaversâ photographs and test score sheets. Names, assigned number/letter and test scores were also recorded on 4x6 index cards, which were generally stapled to the family history interview forms. The forms were arranged numerically or alphabetically by the assigned number/letter. They were grouped together into folders which were labeled by Jopling as "Have Examples" and "Do Not have Examples" which seems to imply examples of weaving which had been or needed to be obtained by Jopling. The final folder contains mimeographed flowers, which were colored by the individual weavers and examples of their writing. Of particular importance is a list in file 5, which contains the weaverâs names and their assigned number. Also included are various charts compiling tests and interview results.
Contains a variety of materials concerning Joplingâs work in Yalalag. Of particular interest is a report of her field trip to Yalalag, Oaxaca in 1969 and a Catalog of Weaving Examples for the Textile Museum in Washington D.C. This catalog includes a description of the weaving example and biographical information on the individual weaver. Also contained are examples of Yalalag Publications.
The fieldnotes contain 5 inches of typewritten notes, which are arranged alphabetically by subject and are transcriptions of the notebooks. The notebooks are, for the most part, arranged chronologically. However there are some subject entries within the notebooks. Many of the people and events, which were photographed or recorded on cassette tapes, are described in the fieldnotes.
The following people have extensive references: Agapita Poblano, Alicia Illescas, Augustina Fernandez, Aurelia Baltazar, Carmelia (?), Fabian Family, Francesca Dominquez, Hilaria Montez, Irene Matias, Limeta Family, Maria Zacharias, Rosenda Completo, Salustria (?), Shorter references to individuals can be found under the topic "Weavers".
Note: Individuals are arranged alphabetically by FIRST name.
The majority of the cassettes are recording of events attended by Jopling while she was in Mexico. They tend to alternate between speeches and music. There is a great deal of background noise from the crowds at the events. Many of the events are described extensively in the fieldnotes. The other tapes are interviews or conversations with various weavers in Yalalag. All conversations are in the local dialect. There are also references to these people in the fieldnotes.
Side A - "La Novena, San Antonio 6/3/71"
Side B - " La Novena (Rosario) San Antonio 6/3/71"
See field notes under Fiesta-San Antonio and San Antonio- Fiesta
La Novena, San Antonio [sound recording]
La Novena, San Antonio [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 1
La Novena - Fieldnotes under Fiesta-San Antonio and San Antonio - Fiesta
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side A - "Fiesta, Misa, Basketball, San Antonio"
Side B - "(?) Basketball"
Yalálag, Tape 2 [sound recording]
Yalálag, Tape 2 [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 2
Side A - Fiesta, Misa, Basketball, San Antonio. Side B - [?] Basketball
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Unlabeled - alternates between speeches, band music and singing. Side 2--- appears to be a church service
Yalálag Tape 3 [sound recording]
Yalálag Tape 3 [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 3
Tape unlabled. Various speeches, band music, singing, and a church service.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side A - Unlabeled Side B - "Augustina Family & Lucia" Interviews Zapotec Names and Family
Interview with the Augustina Family and Lucia [sound recording]
Interview with the Augustina Family and Lucia [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 4
The interview contains many Zapotec names and family names. Recorded in Yalalag, Oaxaca in Mexico.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Appears to be recording of a church service
Yalálag Tape 5 [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 5
Appears to be a Yalálag recording of a church service in Oaxaca, Mexico
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Labeled "Santa Rosa"
Includes drum and flute music interspersed with a church service.
Band music
Yalalag, Tape 6 [sound recording]
Yalalag, Tape 6 [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 6
On lable "Santa Rosa". Includes a church service with drum and flute music, as well as band music later in the recording.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Labeled "Rosario" Side 1 - Blank Side 2 - Music with background noise from crowd
Fiesta in Santa Maria del Rosario [sound recording]
Fiesta in Santa Maria del Rosario [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 7
On lable "Rosario"
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Independencia Grito Side"
Side 2 - "Independencia"
Speeches alternating with music and singing.
Independencia [sound recording]
Independencia [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 8
An Independence celebration with speeches, music, and singing. Recorded in Yalálag, Oaxaca in Mexico
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Chi Chi Castpec Band & Jose Mendez" Side 2 - "Jose Mendez" Includes band music and interview with Jose Mendez
Chi Chi Casstpec Band and Jose Mendez Interview [sound recording]
Chi Chi Casstpec Band and Jose Mendez Interview [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 9
Side 1: on lable Chi Chi Castpec Band & Jose Mendez Side 2: on lable Jose Medez.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Virginia Limeta & Augustia" Side 2 - "Augustina Fernandez" Interviews
Yalálag Interviews [sound recording]
Yalálag Interviews [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 10
Side 1: On lable Virginia Limeta. Side 2: Augustina Fernandez. Recorded in Yalálag, Oaxaca in Mexico
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - " Lucia & Saula, Agapita Poblano" Side 2 - "Francesca Dominguez
Interviews
Yalálag Interviews [sound recording]
Yalálag Interviews [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 11
On label: " Lucia & Saula, Agapita Poblano" and "Francesca Dominguez"
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Francesca Dominguez"
Side 2 - "Francesca Dominguez"
Interviews
Francesca Dominguez Interview [sound recording]
Francesca Dominguez Interview [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 12
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Maria Zacharias"
Side 2 - " Limeta family"
Interviews
Maria Zacharias and Limeta Family Interviews [sound recording]
Maria Zacharias and Limeta Family Interviews [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 13
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - "Limeta"
Side 2 - "Limeta"
Interview
Limeta Interview [sound recording]
Limeta Interview [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 14
Interview with the Limeta family. Recorded in Yalálag, Oaxaca in Mexico.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalálag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Side 1 - " Limeta & (?)"
Side 2 = Unlabeled
Beginning of Side 1 appears to be a recitation or speech followed by band music and then the Limeta Family. Side 2 contains voice talking over a P.A. system and music alternation with speaking.
Yalálag Tape 15 [sound recording]
Yalálag Tape 15 [sound recording]
Jopling Sound Recording 15
Ceremony with a speech and music. Later, the recording continues into conversations within the Limeta family and miscellaneous speech and music.
Carol F. Jopling Papers, Yalalag Sound Recordings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Digitization and preparation of these materials for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
The photographs are arranged by subject and include pictures of identified Yalalag weavers, events, examples of weaving and the waving process. The subjects photographed are often referred to in the fieldnotes. The largest group of photos is of the Yalalag weavers. These have been identified by Jopling and were labeled with their name and identification number given on the Welsh Figure Preference Tests found in Box 2. Some of these photos were arranged into groups of four with no apparent order and were photographed a second time. These have been labeled as Composite Photographs of Yalalag Weavers. On the composites certain names were checked or underlined. These pictures were then arranged into groups of two and photographed for a third time. However only negatives of the groups of two exist (box 10).
The slides are arranged alphabetically by subjects, which are parallel to those assigned to the photographs. Many of the slides duplicate individual photographs. Of particular interest is a set, which was number 1-52 by Jopling and appears to have been used as a slide presentation. Subjects in the slides are referred to in the fieldnotes.
This group of slides does not have any bearing to Joplingâs work in Mexico but was included with her papers. All additional materials were incorporated here.