National Anthropological Archives
Helen C. Rountree papers
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
NAA.2005-22
Archival Resource Key
27 Sound recordings
1/4" reels and cassettes
2.4 Linear feet
4 boxes
1969-1990
Helen C. Rountree is emeritus professor of anthropology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She studied the history of the Virginia Tribes from the 17th century to the 21st century and is considered a leading expert on Pocahontas. The Helen C. Rountree papers include field notes, correspondence, and sound recordings relating to her field work among the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Nansemond, Rappahannock, Chickahominy, Monacan, as well as the area around Nottoway Reservation and Gingaskin Reservation.
English
.
Scope and Contents
The Helen C Rountree papers contain correspondence, field notes, and sound recordings relating to her field work primarily among Virginian tribes including the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Nansemond, Rappahannock, Chickahominy, Monacan, as well as the area around Nottoway Reservation and Gingaskin Reservation. Correspondents include Robert Y. Barham, Christian F. Feest, Samuel Proctor, C.G. Holland, Frank Porter, Marshall Becker, and Nancy Oestreich Lurie.
The sound recordings relate to Rountree's fieldwork and contain recordings of the Chickahominy Fall Festivals, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1981-1986 and a Chickahominy tribal meeting 1987; Nansemond Tribe Spring Festival, 1984, and Homecoming, 1988. Also included are recordings among the Pamumkey; Mattaponi; Shoshoni; Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; meetings; public events, and some lectures by Helen Rountree and others. There is one unidentified sound cassette.
Arrangement
The collection contains: Correspondence, 1969-1985; Field notes, 1969-1988; Cook Books, 1981, 1983; Audio Ephemera, undated; Sound Recordings, 1969-1990.
Biographical note
Helen C. Rountree earned an A.B. in Sociology & Anthropology from the College of William and Mary, an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She joined the faculty of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia as an Instructor in 1968 and retired as a full Professor in 1999. Dr. Rountree worked initially with the Shoshone in Nevada, then began research on the Algonquian-speaking Native Americans of eastern Virginia, becoming an honorary member of the Nansemond and Upper Mattaponi tribes in Virginia. She is acknowledged as a leading researcher and writer on Virginia Indians from the 17th century to the present and is considered an expert on Pocahontas.
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Conditions Governing Access
Materials related to interview notes are restricted until June 2025.
Processing Information
The sound recordings were described by Mary Kenney in 2008.
Processed and encoded by Adam Fielding, 2014.
Preferred Citation
Helen C. Rountree papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These papers were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by Helen C. Rountree in 2005.
Selected Bibliography
1973. Indian Land Loss in Virginia: A Prototype of U.S. Federal Indian Policy. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
1989. The Powhatan Indians of Virginia: Their Traditional Culture. Norman : University of Oklahoma Press.
1990. Pocahontas's People: The Powhatan Indians of Virginia Through Four Centuries. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
1993. Powhatan Foreign Relations, 1500-1722. Charlottesville : University Press of Virginia.
Sound recordings
Correspondence
Pamunkey
Nansemond
Upper Mattaponi
Mattaponi
Chickahominy
Interviews
Folk songs, Shoshoni
Indians of North America -- Rites and ceremonies
Rappahannock
Algonquin (Algonkin)
Virginia
Field notes
Shoshone
Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe
Correspondence
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
Becker, Marshall Joseph
Sturtevant, William C.
Feest, Christian F.
Custalow, Curtis, Jr.
Scope and Contents
Series 1 consists of Rountree's correspondence with a variety of individuals, ranging from the years 1969 - 1985. Notable correspondents include William C. Sturtevant and Curtis Custalow, Jr.
Correspondence index
Archival Resource Key
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1969-1974
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1975-1981
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1982-1984
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1985
2
Field Notes
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1969-1973
2
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1973-1982
2
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1983-1985
2
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1985 July-1986 March
3
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1987 January-1988 December
3
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
1986 April-December
3
Restricted Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
4
Conditions Governing Access
Restricted until 2025 June.
Cook Books
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
Cook Books: A Book of Favorite Recipes: Compliled by Chickahominy Indian Tribe Community
Archival Resource Key
1981
1983
3
Sound Recordings
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
Scope and Contents
Series 4 consists of audio tapes related to Rountree's fieldwork and contain recordings of the Chickahominy Fall Festivals, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1981-1986 and a Chickahominy tribal meeting 1987. Recordings of the Nansemond Tribe Spring Festival, 1984 , and Homecoming, 1988, are included. Other tribes with recordings in this series are: the Pamunkey, Upper Mattaponi, Mattaponi. Also included are audio tapes recorded among the Western Shoshone, Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada. Recordings of meetings public events, and some lectures by Helen Rountree and others are included. There is one uncataloged, unidentified sound cassette.
The titles of the tapes [and content descriptions] have been transcribed from information on the tape boxes. The content of recordings has not been verified.
Names of the performers and co-creators are listed in the scope and contents notes for each sound recording and in the SIRIS item level records.
Sound Recordings Ephemera
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
Shoshone Songs and Stories, Nevada, Summer
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Billie, Josie
Adams, John
Tau, May Howard
Hall, Bessie
1 Sound tape reel
Some language transcription enclosed in tape box
5 inch
1967
1
Shoshone
Shoshone -- Folk tales -- Songs
Language and languages -- Documentation
Folklore
Songs
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Forber, Jack
1 Reel
3 1/4 inch
1970
2
Festivals
Speeches
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Powwows -- Virginia
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Shoshone Songs and Stories
Archival Resource Key
Hall, Bessie
Adams, John
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Tau, May Howard
Billie, Josie
1 Sound tape reel
3 1/4 inch
1967 June
3
Songs
Folklore
Language and languages -- Documentation
Shoshone -- Folk tales -- Songs
Shoshone
Field Notes
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Reel
3 1/4 inch
1974
4
Field notes
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Reel
3 1/4 inch
1974
5
Festivals
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Powwows -- Virginia
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Chickahominy
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Reel
3 1/4 inch
1972 September 23
6
Musical performances
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Language and languages -- Documentation
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Powwows -- Virginia
Chickahominy
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Forber, Jack
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 45 minutes
1978 September 23
7
Rountree SR 7 side 1
Rountree SR 7 side 2
Powwows -- Virginia
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Chickahominy
Speeches
Festivals
Chickahominy Meeting, Archaeological Society of Virginia
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
2 Sound cassettes
Duration: 90 minutes
1978 October 14
8
Rountree SR 8A side 1
Rountree SR 8A side 2
Rountree SR 8B side 1
Rountree SR 8B side 2
Archeological Society of Virginia
Speeches
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Custalow, Curtis, Jr.
2 Sound cassettes
Duration: 90 minutes; 60 minutes
1981
9
Rountree SR 9A side 1
Rountree SR 9A side 2
Rountree SR 9B side 1
Rountree SR 9B side 2
Festivals
Language and languages -- Documentation
Speeches
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Chickahominy
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Powwows -- Virginia
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1982
10
Rountree SR 10 side 1
Rountree SR 10 side 2
Chickahominy
Festivals
Powwows -- Virginia
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
David Smith Colloquium on Plecker
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Smith, David
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 120 minutes
1990 January 30
11
Rountree SR 11 side 1
Rountree SR 11 side 2
Language and languages -- Documentation
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy
Speeches
Plecker, Walter Ashby, b. 1861
Helen C. Rountree Lecture to Anthropological Society of Washington
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 120 minutes
1988 October 18-19
12
Rountree SR 12 side 1
Rountree SR 12 side 2
Language and languages -- Documentation
Anthropological Society of Washington
Speeches
Indian Week Kick-off Ceremony, State Capital
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 35 minutes
1988 September 19
13
Rountree SR 13
Language and languages -- Documentation
Speeches
Indians of North America
Nansemond Homecoming
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 120 minutes
1988 September 11
14
Rountree SR 14 side 1
Rountree SR 14 side 2
Nansemond
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Language and languages -- Documentation
Nansemond County (VA).
Chickahominy Tribal Order Ad Hoc Committee on Indian History
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
2 Sound cassettes
Duration: 120 minutes
1987 October 31
15
Rountree SR 15A side 1
Rountree SR 15A side 1 part 2
Rountree SR 15A side 2 part 1
Rountree SR 15A side 2 part 2
Rountree SR 15B side 1
Rountree SR 15B side 2
Chickahominy -- History
Language and languages -- Documentation
Meetings
Chickahominy
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
4 Sound cassettes
Duration: 120 minutes
1987 April 4
1987 April 11
16
Rountree SR 16A side 1
Rountree SR 16A side 2
Rountree SR 16B side 1
Rountree SR 16B side 2
Rountree SR 16C side 1 part 1
Rountree SR 16C side 1 part 2
Rountree SR 16C side 2 part 1
Rountree SR 16C side 2 part 2
Rountree SR 16D side 1
Rountree SR 16D side 2
Virginia Council on Indians
Williamsburg Conference
Lectures
Language and languages -- Documentation
Interview with Pamunkey Chief William Miles
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Miles, Chief William
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1986 November 8
17
Rountree SR 17 side 1
Rountree SR 17 side 2
Pamunkey
Pamunkey Indians -- Interview
Language and languages -- Documentation
Interviews
Curtis Custalow Interview
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
Custalow, Curtis, Jr.
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 120 minutes
1986 November 18
18
Rountree SR 18 side 1
Rountree SR 18 side 2
Interviews
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1986 October 4
19
Rountree SR 19 side 1
Rountree SR 19 side 2
Chickahominy
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Powwows -- Virginia
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Language and languages -- Documentation
Festivals
Nansemond Spring Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 120 minutes
1986 May 24
20
Rountree SR 20 side 1
Rountree SR 20 side 2
Nansemond
Nansemond -- Rituals and ceremonies
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Nansemond County (VA).
Language and languages -- Documentation
Festivals
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1985 October 5
21
Rountree SR 21 side 1
Rountree SR 21 side 2
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Festivals
Chickahominy -- History
Powwows -- Virginia
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Upper Mattaponi Tribe at King William Board of Supervisors
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1986 December 17
22
Rountree SR 22
Mattaponi
Mattaponi -- Meetings
Indians of North America -- Northeast
King William County (Virginia) -- Place names
Language and languages -- Documentation
King William County Board of Supervisors
Meetings
Upper Mattaponi Officer Installation
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
1983 December 17
23
Rountree SR 23
Mattaponi
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Ritual (events)
Upper Mattaponi
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 60 minutes
1984 October 6
24
Rountree SR 24 side 1
Rountree SR 24 side 2
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Language and languages -- Documentation
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Powwows -- Virginia
Ritual (events)
Chickahominy
Chickahominy Fall Festival
Archival Resource Key
Langston, Morton
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 Minutes
1983
25
Rountree SR 25 side 1
Rountree SR 25 side 2
Pamunkey
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Chickahominy
Ritual (events)
Language and languages -- Documentation
Chickahominy Tribe -- Rites and ceremonies
Powwows -- Virginia
Interviews
Mattaponi Reservation Speech and Interview with Curtis Custalow
Archival Resource Key
Custalow, Curtis
Custalow, Curtis
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
1 Sound cassette
Duration: 90 minutes
1983 April 16
26
Rountree SR 26 side 1
Rountree SR 26 side 2
Interviews
Speeches
Mattaponi
Indians of North America -- Northeast
Language and languages -- Documentation
Unidentified
Archival Resource Key
Rountree, Helen C., 1944-
undated
27