ARCHIVES COLLECTIONS
The archives of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum consist of historical and modern collections collected from a variety of sources. Finding Aids (guides) to archival collections held by the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum vary by collection type and scope. Some collections may not be fully processed. Binders containing surrogate copies of historic photographs and postcards are available for perusal in the ACCM Library by appointment. Please note that smaller collections containing single or just a few items may not be represented below. However, reference interviews held to ascertain the nature of a research inquiry will take into consideration all of the Museum’s archival collections.
Photographs taken by ethnographer William Duncan Strong. A photographic study of the Luiseño, Cupeño, Mountain Cahuilla, Pass Cahuilla, Desert Cahuilla, and Serrano Indians. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2005.030
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photograph collection documenting the historic opening of the Spa Hotel in 1963. The collection also includes citation data to 6,150 news items relevant to Cahuilla life, originally clipped and collected during Flora Patencio’s lifetime.
Accession: #: 1992.001
Finding Aid: library photo binder & news citation list (.xls)
Materials belonging to Marcus Pete pertaining to the Indian Store (owned by Marcus Pete) on Section 14 and a 1930s trip to Washington DC in support of land allotments (including photos). Also includes World War II-related news items.
Accession #: 1900.017
Finding Aids: 1900.017.001 (.pdf) & library photo binder
Circa 10,000 color slides and photographic negatives documenting Native American rock art sites throughout California, the western United States, and beyond.
Accession #: 2007.074
Finding Aid: 2007.074.001: Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6 (.xls files)
Finding Aid: 2007.074.002: Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6 (.xls files)
Finding Aid: 2007.074.003 to 005: this portion of the collection has not yet been processed
“The Newspaper of the Southern California Indian” chronicles an important era of water rights, land allotment, land leasing, civil rights, and tribal sovereignty.
Accession #: 2007.111
Finding Aids: 2007.111.001 (.xls)
CIN was the political mouthpiece of the California Indian Rights Association; Newsletters contain articles on Court of Claims litigation, Indian rights, and similar topics. Editors of the newspaper were Thomas Largo (Cahuilla) and Rupert Costo (Cahuilla). Other participants and advocates included Julia Gardner, Stella Von Bulow (Luiseño), Andrew Moro, and Valentine Kolb. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2005.044
Finding Aids: 2005.044.001(.xls)
Correspondence and notes on legal issues relating to the use and leasing of tribal lands in Palm Springs. Important events described include the federal takeover of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, the arrest of the traditional leaders, and lobbying efforts of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce (a pre-incorporation, de facto city government) to take control of the Indian Canyons and Mineral Hot Spring.
Accession #: 2006.046
Materials concerning the investigation of illegal and irregular activities relating to the Palm Springs conservatorship / guardianship program, including a final report. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: A2006.038
Finding Aid: A2006.038.001 (.pdf) & supplementary guide to National Archives-San Bruno Collection #RG48 (.xls)
More than 50 videos highlighting and discussing the tribal arts of California Native Americans—including basketry, pottery, rock art, artifacts, and archaeology.
Accession #: 2005.025
Finding Aid: 2005.025 (.xls)
Recordings include Cahuilla vocabulary, stories, oral histories, and songs. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2004.08
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Originally collected on wax cylinders by J. P. Harrington, recordings include the Cahuilla creation story (told in Cahuilla) and a number of bird songs. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2005.026
Finding Aid: track list & supplementary documentation available; contact Archivist
Recorded by Richard Lando at the 1968 Malki Fiesta, recordings contain bird songs of Cahuilla oral literature performed by this traditional Agua Caliente tribal leader.
Accession #: 1990.003 (Surrogate collection)
Accession #: 2002.005 (Restored & Given by Paul Apodaca)
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Audio recordings collected from the Morongo Reservation and Malki Museum, Banning, California for use in the production of radio programs devoted to oral traditions as a means of presenting traditional and contemporary Cahuilla culture. Included are the final productions The Old Ways Are Gone and The Cahuilla Creation Myth, transcripts, ethnological notes of Arthur Harrington (surrogates), and related ephemera.
Accession #: A2006.029
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Documentation pertaining to the military life of Robert Saubel (Cahuilla) who served in the United States Marine Corps and fought against Japanese forces on Saipan during World War II.
Accession #: 2007.147
Finding Aid: 2007.147.001 (.pdf)
Audio recordings of Cahuilla songs as performed by Ignacio Costo, Thomas Largo, and Faustio Lugo at the Sherman Institute Indian School in Riverside, California. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2007.039
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Cahuilla recordings collected at Banning, California. These recordings contain peon songs, deer songs, and other songs as performed by William Pablo and Ramon Garcia. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2005.032
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Mountain Cahuilla language audio recordings featuring Calistro Tortes in 1958 and Cahuilla language recordings collected by Hansjakob Seiler in 1955. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2006.057
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Ephemera relating mainly to the donor’s educational experiences at Palm Springs High School.
Accession #: 2007.146
Finding Aid: 2007.146.001 (.pdf)
Federal documents and publications relating to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Included are Senate and House hearings transcripts and bills. Publications include testimonies told in the first person by Tribal members, federal employees, attorneys, and others.
Accession #: A2006.040
Created by staff at the Palm Springs Desert Museum (now Palm Springs Art Museum), collection contains audio and video recordings, transcripts, and notes that were collected in preparation for an exhibition pertaining to Cahuilla history and culture.
Accession #: A2004.032
Finding Aid: paper only, contact Archivist
Letters addressed to the Carrie McCoy (Pierce) Estate, originating largely from F.G. Collett of the group Indians of California, Inc. Correspondence contains updates from the organization's delegates in Washington DC, largely in regards to claims and enrollment legislation.
Accession #: 1996.008
Finding Aid: 1996.008.001 (.pdf)
Federal hearings publications, reports, transcripts, and letters as collected by Lawrence Pierce.
Accession #: 1996.007
Finding Aid: 1996.007.001 (.pdf)
Articles written by Paul Wilhelm, largely published by the Indio Daily News. The collection also includes a number of hand-written manuscripts.
Accession #: 1995.005
Finding Aid: 1995.005.001(.pdf)
Historic photographs of Agua Caliente and other Cahuilla individuals from the early 1900s.
Accession #: 1990.001
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Historic photographs of Agua Caliente and other Cahuilla individuals from the early 1900s.
Accession #: 1990.002
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photographs documenting the U.S. Indian Service Water Project working in Palm Springs on the construction of the Tahquitz Ditch for water irrigation in the early 1900s. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 1994.018
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photographs documenting the widening of Indian Avenue (now Indian Canyon Way) and capping of the Agua Caliente Hot Spring..
Accession #: 1994.019
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photographs taken by The Desert Sun newspaper documenting the 1955 all-women Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council.
Accession #: 1997.003
Finding Aid: library photo binder
School photographs documenting R. Pennington’s public education experience at Francis Stevens School and Nellie Coffman Junior High School. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2006.049
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photographs documenting the life of Flora Patencio and R. Pennington’s childhood in Palm Springs. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2007.102
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Documents through photographs L. Riggs’ childhood and family life at Pala Indian Reservation. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2008.102
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Historic photographs pertaining to the life of Lawrence Pierce, the Pierce family, and other historic photographs pertinent to Agua Caliente history. Surrogate collection.
Accession #: 2008.062
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Oversized color photographs of individuals dressed in Native regalia, believed to have been photographed for Arizona Highways magazine.
Accession #: P2006.028
Finding Aid: library photo binder
Photographs portraying life at the Agua Caliente bathhouse and on Section 14 in the 1930s.
Accession #: 2008.111
Finding Aid: library photo binder
For further information concerning scheduling research appointments, reproduction requests, and fees, please visit the main archives page.
| © 2006 Agua Caliente Cultural Museum | Back to top | Sitemap | Terms of Use |