Collection
M 121:
|
Years this material was
created: 1924-1991 (bulk 1964-1978)
Quantity: 17 linear shelf feet
(in
38 document cases, 2 flat boxes, and 1 oversize map folder)
©2002 by Fort
Lewis College Foundation, Center of Southwest Studies account
These are the related Hetzel collections at the Center:
|
|
|
| B 002 | Theodore Hetzel book collection (merged into the general collection) |
| M 121 | Theodore Hetzel papers |
| P 003 | Theodore Hetzel photograph collection |
| P 023 | Theodore Hetzel slide collection |
| U 005 | Theodore Hetzel audiotape collection |
| C 007 | USGS topographic maps of New York, from the Hetzel collection |
Links to contents of the Theodore Hetzel papers
Introduction/ Scope and contents
This collection consists of printed materials and other papers concerning Native Americans. Project staff began the processing of these papers by producing an abstract of thirty field notebooks maintained by Theodore Hetzel, because those notebooks, which are primarily travel journals, are a basic tool for accessing the subjects of his papers and the photographs he took.
Access terms:
Hetzel, Theodore, compiler
Hetzel family
Indian Rights Association
Indians of North America--Government relations
Federal-Indian trust relationship
Tribal government--United States
Tribes--United States
Biographical note
(Sources: manuscript of the obituary in the collection,
and correspondence in the collection case file)
These papers relate to Theodore B. Hetzel's his work with the Indian Rights Association, a humanitarian group dedicated to influencing federal Indian policy. As his daughter Janet Henderson wrote to the Center's director in 1991, "Although he was trained as an engineer, he was always interested in people, especially those who were not being treated fairly. He was fascinated by Quaker contact with American Indians throughout history... [and] was always anxious to learn from the American Indians." A prominent Indian rights activist, Hetzel also served as chair of The American Friends Service Committee's Committee on the American Indian. He testified before Congress on such issues as the return of sacred Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo. Mr. Hetzel died in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on May 27, 1990 at the age of 83.
Professor Hetzel was born in Germantown (outside Philadelphia), and lived most of his life in Delaware County and Chester County, Pennsylvania. He attended Westtown School and Haverford College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1928. He completed graduate studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, the Technical University of Munich (Germany), and Penn State University. He returned to Haverford College in 1936 as a member of the faculty and later chair of the Department of Engineering.
Throughout the years, Dr. Hetzel lectured widely on contemporary Native American
affairs, and (as an accomplished photographer) documented many aspects of
contemporary American Indian life across North America. As he traveled
throughout Indian Country, from Florida
to Alaska, he was
"facilitating
communication between disparate, sometimes uncooperative groups, making
contacts, relaying messages and setting up conferences" (source: an
undated issue of Indian Truth, page 5). His interest in
American Indian policy reform began as a director of American Friends Service
Committee (Quaker) (AFSC) summer work camps for high school and college-age
students. He served on the Indian committees of the AFSC and the
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. In
1955, the Indian Rights Association asked him to join its board of
directors. In 1969 the Association appointed him as its executive
director and editor of its publication, Indian Truth. In 1971 he
was named general secretary. He ran the Indian Rights Association office
in Philadelphia virtually single-handedly for a few years. When he retired from Haverford College in
1972, the college granted him its Haverford Award in recognition of his
teaching and humanitarian service.
Each summer during the middle decades of the 20th
century, Hetzel visited Native American communities around the United
States, as a representative of the Indian Rights Association and other
groups advocating for Native American rights. All the while, he was
taking pictures, along with writing field reports. His photos were
used in issues of the IRA's periodical, Indian Truth, for more than
20 years. He wrote,
"When we traveled, (my wife) Becky and I would go to the agency and ask for an interview, to talk with the tribal chairman, if he'll talk to us, or whoever's available ... I had a card with my name, address and Indian Rights Association on it, and it made a whale of a difference. Even the people who couldn't read, I mean, their eyes weren't even good enough to read . . . but they put it in their pocket and it was a record of who I was. I was responsible to them, in a sense. And Becky was helpful, particularly if I was taking pictures, she'd be keeping the conversation alive. Usually we got to see whoever we asked for. They seemed open to us. The Indian Rights Association was a good name." (quoted in an issue of Indian Truth)
Hetzel's work on behalf of the Papago Indians [now known as the Tohono O'odham] was instrumental in their securing the mineral rights for their reservation, and his photographs were effective in obtaining improved health and sanitation facilities for American Indians. In 1961, he traveled throughout Alaska urging tribal leaders to seek title to their aboriginal lands. He also worked extensively on behalf of the Seneca Indians of New York and Pennsylvania to prevent the flooding of their tribal lands by the Kinzua Dam, and when those efforts were unsuccessful he worked to obtain funding to relocate the reservation. Along with Myra Ellen Jenkins (former State Historian of New Mexico, whose papers are adjacent to the Hetzel papers at the Center of Southwest Studies), Hetzel was an advocate for the Taos Pueblo in obtaining the return of Blue Lake, which Native American regard as sacred. He frequently testified before Congressional committees on matters relating to the Federal budget for Indian affairs and Indian health care, and in recognition for these efforts he was formally adopted as a member of the Seneca and Tuscarora tribes.
Placement of the Hetzel materials at the Center of Southwest Studies is appropriate because of Hetzel's lifelong interest in liberal arts education (he taught mechanical engineering at Haverford College) and because of the Native American focus of the collection. Fort Lewis College is one of two institutions of higher education in the U.S. which qualified Native Americans can attend tuition-free. Fort Lewis College emphasizes undergraduate use of primary materials, and a significant volume of student research projects focus on Native American topics.
Administrative information
Acquisition information: Over a period from 1990 to 1992, the Hetzel Collection was donated by Hetzel's widow, Rebecca Wills Hetzel, a resident of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, with the gracious assistance and cooperation of her children, one of whom lives close to the Fort Lewis College campus. The Center has purchased a microfilm copy of the Indian Rights Association Papers and also has many selected Bureau of Indian Affairs federal records on microfilm which complement the Hetzel materials.
Related collections: Three related collections at the Center of Southwest Studies are:
- collection P 003, the Theodore Hetzel photograph collection,
- collection M 061, the Indian Rights Association pamphlets, and
- collection I 035, the Indian Rights Association papers microfilm, 1864-1973 (162 rolls) (click here for OPAC record in TALON). That collection includes 136 rolls filmed by UMI (with a printed guide dated 1975, 233 p., which is located in collection M 129), and also a less comprehensive earlier filming by the Microfilming Corporation of America of 26 rolls of 15 outgoing letterpress copybooks (1886-1901, roll #s 1-10), early letters (1868-86, roll #12), and incoming correspondence (1887-1901, roll #s 12-26). The originals of those records (approximately 250 linear feet) are at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (at the HSP site, scroll down to read the Society's description of this collection #1523), as are the papers of Herbert Welsh, who was active in the IRA (collection 702).
Processing information: Center of Southwest Studies student archival assistant Debra Lehl produced the abstract of Dr. Hetzel's notebooks in September-December 2001, and processed the collection in March-April of 2002. Student archival assistant Virginia Collins produced the abstract of the 1958 Tucson workcamp notebooks in October 2006. The collection inventory and web mastering were by Todd Ellison, C. A.
Arrangement scheme/ about the organization of this collection: The series groupings are numbered consecutively. Series are organized from highest hierarchical level to lowest; from most general to most specific. Items within each series are arranged chronologically, unless noted otherwise.
Series descriptions
| Record Group 1: Theodore Hetzel personal papers |
| Record Group 2: Indian Rights Association records and correspondence compiled by Theodore Hetzel |
Record Group 1: Theodore Hetzel personal papers
Series 1.1: Field notebooks, 1954-1985 (bulk 1954-1980). 30 volumes. Arranged chronologically. The notebooks are primarily Theodore Hetzel's travel journals, describing many meetings Dr. Hetzel attended in his work for Indian rights.
Series 1.2: Subject files, circa 1954-1990. 23 document cases. Printed materials broadly compiled by Theodore Hetzel. Organized topically, then chronologically within each topic. The topical organization is as follows:
Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general. Note: printed materials on a given topic are filed under the particular region if they are specific to that region. For example, a folder on Navajo arts and crafts is with other materials pertaining to Navajos in the Southwest region category.
Arts and crafts
Education and youth issues
Historical/ cultural/ general, and museums
Legal and legislative issues, 1945-1990
Reference sources: includes bibliographies, followed by book reviews, then fact sheets, directories, lists, and calendars.
Social and economic issues
Spiritual and ceremonial issuesRegional issues pertaining to Indians of North America.
Alaska
Canada
Pacific Northwest and West Coast (includes areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Montana)
High Plains/ Plains (includes areas of Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, etc.)
Southwestern (includes Hopi, Navajo, Papago, Pueblo, Ute, et al.)
Midwestern and Eastern U.S. (includes Delaware, Iroquois, Mohawk, Onondaga, Seminole, Seneca, Sioux, et al.)Series 1.3: Periodicals pertaining to Native American issues, circa 1953-1991. 4 document cases.
Series 1.4: Correspondence, circa 1954-1990. 4 document cases. Incoming and outgoing correspondence of Theodore Hetzel. See also Series 2.8, for Dr. Hetzel's correspondence directly pertaining to the Indian Rights Association.Series 1.5: Notes for lectures on American Indian topics, circa 1950-1983. 900 note cards in 1 small box.
Series 1.6: Ephemera, circa 1950-1970. Includes 1 small microfilm box containing 11 pins declaring various Indian issues.
Series 1.7: Conferences records and correspondence, circa 1955-1988. 5 folders.
Series 1.8: Student papers, circa 1970-1991. 5 folders.
Series 1.9: Oversize maps and other items, circa 1965-1977. In one flat box and one map case folder.
Record Group 2: Indian Rights Association records and correspondence compiled by Theodore Hetzel.
Series 2.1 Bylaws, circa 1972-1986. 4 folders.
Series 2.2 Board meetings minutes and notes, circa 1964-1986. 25 folders.
Series 2.3 Committee reports, circa 1972-1981. 4 folders.
Series 2.4 Taos-Blue Lake issue records, correspondence, and printed materials, circa 1953-1972. 5 folders.
Series 2.5 Indian Truth newsletters, 1946 September-1986 January (Vol. 23, No. 3 through No. 266). 6 folders.
Series 2.5 Indian Rights Association publications, circa 1924-1980. 5 folders.
Series 2.7 Financial records, circa 1954-1986. 7 folders. Includes finance meeting minutes and spreadsheets.
Series 2.8 Indian Rights Association correspondence of Theodore Hetzel, circa 1954-1988. 13 folders.
Container list
Record Group 1: Theodore Hetzel personal papers
Box 1: Series 1.1: Field notebooks, in one document case.
Box 5: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Legal and legislative issues, circa 1945-1968. 4 folders.
Box 6: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Legal and legislative issues, circa 1970-1978. 45 folders.
Box 7: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Legal and legislative issues, circa 1978-1990 and undated. 23 folders.
Box 8: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Reference sources: bibliographies, circa 1931-1974. 20 folders.
Box 9: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Reference sources: bibliographies (continued), followed by book reviews, circa 1965-1988. 13 folders.
Box 10: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Reference sources: facts sheets, directories, lists, and calendars, circa 1882-1990. 34 folders.
Box 11A:
Series 1.2: Subject
files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Social and
economic issues, circa 1950-1978. 37
folders.
Box 11B:
Series 1.2: Subject
files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Social and
economic issues, circa 1977-1979. 13
folders.
Box 12: Series 1.2: Subject files: Issues and topics pertaining to Indians in general: Spiritual and ceremonial issues, circa 1911-1991. 44 folders.
Box 13: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Alaska, circa 1892-1992. 30 folders.
Box 14: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Alaska (continued): Rampart Dam and energy issues, circa 1956-1990. 10 folders.
Box 16: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Pacific Northwest and West Coast (includes areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Montana), circa 1941-1982. 24 folders.
Box 17: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: High Plains/ Plains (includes areas of Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, etc.), circa 1952-1978. 32 folders.
Box 18: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Southwestern (includes general topics and Arizona through Navajo), circa 1948-1992. 41 folders.
Box 19: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Southwestern (continued) (includes Papago through Ute), circa 1927-1991. 22 folders.
Box 20: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Midwestern and Eastern U.S. (includes general topics through Delaware), circa 1946-1989. 19 folders.
Box 21: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Midwestern and Eastern U.S. (continued) (includes Delaware, continued, through Iroquois), circa 1887-1988. 25 folders.
Box 22: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Midwestern and Eastern U.S. (continued) (Lenape through Powhatan) (includes Mohawk, Onondaga, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, et al.), circa 1950-1985. 31 folders.
Box 23: Series 1.2: Subject files: Regional issues pertaining to Indians of North America: Midwestern and Eastern U.S. (continued) (Seminole through Wisconsin) (includes Seminole, Seneca, Sioux, et al.), circa 1951-1985. 27 folders.
Box 24: Series 1.3: Periodicals pertaining to Native American issues: American Indian Journal, January - 1980 May (Vol. 3, No. 1 through Vol. 6, No. 5, 1977), circa 1953-1980. 8 folders.
Box 25: Series 1.3: Periodicals pertaining to Native American issues: Indian Historian, 1970 Fall - 1978 Summer (Vol. 3, No. 4 through Vol. 11, No. 3), circa 1970-1975. 5 folders.
Box 26: Series 1.3: Periodicals pertaining to Native American issues: Journal of American Indian Education, 1961 June - 1977 January (Vol. 1, No. 1 through Vol. 16, No. 2), circa 1961-1977. 5 folders.
Box 27: Series 1.3: Periodicals pertaining to Native American issues: National Geographic, various issues pertaining to Native American topics, circa 1947-1991. 11 folders.
Box 28: Series 1.4: Correspondence, circa 1954-1990. 23 folders.
Box 29: Series 1.4: Correspondence, circa 1954-1988. 19 folders.
Box 30:
Series
1.4: Correspondence, circa 1954-1985. 32 folders.
Box 31:
Series
1.4: Correspondence, circa 1954-1985. 28 folders.
Box 32: Series 1.5: Notes for lectures on American Indian topics, circa 1950-1983. 900 note cards in 1 small box.
Box 33: Series 1.6: Ephemera, circa 1950-1970. 1 microfilm box (inside Box 31), containing 11 pins declaring various Indian issues.
Box 34: Series 1.7: Conferences records and correspondence, circa 1955-1988. 6 folders.
Box 35: Series 1.8: Student papers, circa 1970-1991. 5 folders.
Box 36: Series 1.9: Oversize maps and other items, circa 1965-1977. In one flat box (= box 34) and one map case folder (in map case 10:5).
Record Group 2: Indian Rights Association records and correspondence compiled
by Theodore Hetzel
Box 37: Series 2.1 Bylaws, 1972-1986. 4 folders.
Box 37 (continued): Series 2.2 Board meetings minutes and notes, 1964-1976. 15 folders. Includes two folders of minutes of the Philadelphia Committee.
Box
38: Series
2.3
Committee reports, 1977-1986. 10 folders.
Box 38(continued):
Series
2.3 Committee reports, 1972-1981. 4 folders.
Box 38 (continued):
Series
2.4 Taos-Blue Lake issue records, correspondence,
1959-1971. 5 folders.
Box 39: Series 2.5 Indian Truth newsletters, 1946-1986. 6 folders.
Box 39(continued): Series 2.6 Indian Rights Association publications, 1960-1980. 10 folders.
Box 40: Series 2.7 Financial records, 1954-1986. 7 folders. Includes minutes and spreadsheets.
Box 41: Series 2.8 Indian Rights Association correspondence of Theodore Hetzel, 1954-1988. 13 folders.
Doing your own research: This description of a portion of the collections at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies is provided to inform interested parties about the nature and depth of the repository's collections. It cannot serve as a substitute for a visit to the repository for those with substantial research interests in the collections.
This collection is located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Researchers wanting more information about using this material at the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center may email the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu or click here to use our E-mail Reference Request Form (or phone the archivist at 970/247-7126). The Center does not have a budget for outgoing long-distance phone calls to answer reference requests, so please email if you wish to receive a response from the Center. To request reproductions/copies, click here for instructions.