Restrictions

The collection may only be used with the written permission of Stephen Leavitt. Also, audio recordings in Series 3 are restricted; researchers must request user copies be produced. For more information contact the Mandeville Special Collections Library.

Abstract

Ethnographic fieldnotes and audio cassette recordings (1984-1986) created by Stephen Leavitt, American anthropologist and researcher in Melanesian culture. Included are fieldnotes, tape recorded interviews, interview transcripts, census materials, and Arapesh language materials related to the ethnography of the Bumbita Arapesh people of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Biography

Stephen Christopher Leavitt (1959- ), American anthropologist, graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1981. He attended the University of California, San Diego, where he earned his doctorate in anthropology in 1989. His dissertation, entitled CARGO, CHRIST, AND NOSTALGIA FOR THE DEAD: THEMES OF INTIMACY AND ABANDONMENT IN BUMBITA ARAPESH SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, was based on fieldwork in Papua New Guinea from 1984-1986, for which he received a Fulbright Research Grant. While in the field, Leavitt worked closely with Professor Donald F. Tuzin, whose own work centered on the neighboring Ilahita Arapesh. In 1989, Leavitt received a Rockefeller Fellowship in the Humanities, which supported his residence at the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawaii. Since then, he has taught at Washington University (St. Louis) and, currently, at Union College (Schenectady). His work has been published in ETHOS, ETHNOLOGY, SOCIAL SCIENCE AND MEDICINE, and THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOHISTORY. Leavitt is married to anthropologist Karen Brison, who also conducted fieldwork in the East Sepik Province with the Gawanga people.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Stephen Leavitt fieldnotes and recordings document ethnographic research conducted among the Bumbita Arapesh people of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, which formed the core of Leavitt's doctoral dissertation in anthropology at UCSD. The materials are arranged in three series: 1) FIELDNOTES, 2) TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS, and 3) RECORDINGS.

SERIES 1: FIELDNOTES

The FIELDNOTES series contains photocopies of notebooks arranged in chronological order. Several notebooks focus on specific topics, including children on children, parents on children, and causes of death. Also included are census and genealogical materials for several villages and files on the Bumbita Arapesh language.

SERIES 2: TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS

The TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS series is contains copies of Leavitt's transcriptions of selected recorded interviews with informants.

SERIES 3: RECORDINGS

The RECORDINGS series contains audio cassette recordings of field interviews and social events conducted in the Bumbita Arapesh language as well as recorded English translations of some of the sound recordings. The recordings were arranged in a numeric order by Leavitt. The box numbers in the container list reflect each cassette's location, and the folder numbers designate Leavitt's numeric order. In addition, an appendix to this guide, supplied by Leavitt, provides added description of the contents of each recording.

FIELDNOTES

Return to Menu
Box Folder Oversize
1 1 Book 1, 1984.
1 2 Book 2, 1984.
1 3 Book 3, 1984 - 1985.
1 4 Book 4, 1985.
1 5 Book 5, 1985.
1 6 Book 6, 1985.
1 7 Book 7, 1985.
1 8 Book 8, 1985.
1 9 Book 9, 1985.
1 10 Book 10, 1985.
1 11 Book 11, 1985.
1 12 Book 12, 1985.
2 1 Book 13, 1985 - 1986.
2 2 Book 14, 1986.
2 3 Book 15, 1986.
2 4 Book 16, 1986.
2 5 Book 17, 1986.
2 6 Book 18, 1986.
2 7 Book 19, 1986.
2 8 Book 20, 1986.
2 9 Book 21, 1986.
2 10 Book 22, 1986.
House-by-house lists of inhabitants, including names, ages, educational levels attained, marriages, children, and kinship.
2 11 Census: Bumbita.
2 12 Census: Urita.
3 1 Census: Sa'unes.
3 2 Census: Buter/Aor.
3 3 Census: Indipi [Indibi].
3 4 Language - drills. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh.
3 5 Language - Bumbita Arapesh word list. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh. A-S only; T-Z not listed.
3 6 Language - monologues. Bumbita Arapesh with Tok Pisin translations.
3 7 Topics: Causes of death.
3 8 Topics: Parents on children.
3 9 Topics: Children on children.
3 10 Sexual ideology and experience in a Papua New Guinea society - Journal article. Published in: Social Science & Medicine (1991) v. 3 n. 8: 897-907. Earlier version delivered at the 87th meeting of the American Anthropological Association, 1988.
3 11 Miscellaneous - Catalog of slides. [These slides are not included in the collection].
3 12 Miscellaneous - Field note index.
3 13 Miscellaneous - Maps, genealogy charts and tables.
3 14 Miscellaneous - Urita court cases index.

TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS

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Box Folder Oversize
4 1 Personal interview: Ahaurim.
4 2 Personal interview: Michael Kora.
4 3 Personal interview: Paul of Imbras.
4 4 Personal interview: Endyohimp.
4 5 Personal interview: Kuna'ara.
4 6 Personal interview: O'weriwa.
4 7 Personal interview: Sua'a.
4 8 Personal interview: Arehin.
4 9 Personal interview: Pihinguh.
4 10 Personal interview: Karauri.
4 11 Personal interview: Mungahan.
4 12 Personal interview: Robert.
4 13 Personal interview: Anien.
4 14 Personal interview: Antosiom.
4 15 Personal interview: Michael Uhiar. Revival and thinking of Christians and heathens.
4 16 Personal interview: Raikos.
4 17 Dreams.
4 18 Personal interview: Umbuahember.
4 19 Myths.

RECORDINGS

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Box Folder Oversize
5 1-2 Meeting of the Totems, 1984.
5 3 Ethnographic interview: Guria, Kumul myths, 1985.
5 4 Uritas Fight with Balanga.
5 5 Ethnographic interview: Bumbita villages rout Kamanakor, 1985.
5 6 Personal interview: Anien - On his illness, 1985.
5 7 Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 1, 1985.
5 8-9 Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 2, 1985.
5 10-11 Meeting of Salata and Balanga over land. Day 3 - Side B: Myths of routing Kwanga and Apu'u, 1985.
5 12 Komsio songs and a myth, 1985.
5 13-14 Letter to Mantandan telling of wife's death, 1985.
5 15 Ethnographic interview: Causes of Areli'wen's death, 1985.
5 16 Ethnographic interview: The Balanga gift and previous fight, 1985.
5 17-18 Meeting of Balanga, Salata over ground: Final mediation, 1985.
6 19 Kiap's meeting in Maprik with Urita, Salata and Balanga, 1985.
6 20 Ethnographic interview: Raikos on "Birua," Ua'hun / Traditional songs.
6 21 Informal discussion with Balanga at Salata, 1985.
6 22-23 Meeting at Sapimp over land, 1985.
6 24 Revival Banter / Ethnographic interview: Ambun myth, Arehin, 1985.
6 25 Meeting at Umbuahimin over land, 1985.
6 26 Meeting on a prospective marriage, at Mahines, 1985.
6 27-28 Meeting over land at Ambolip's house in Buter, 1985.
6 29 Ethnographic interview: Origin of fire, Ambun myths, 1985.
6 30 Ethnographic interview: Salinau on Maolomu Tambaran, 1985.
6 31 Personal interview: Michael Kora #1 - Guria myth, etc., 1985.
6 32-33 Urita court case: Ta'vanangas marriage / Sanguna meeting at Alawinge, 1985.
6 34 Personal interview: Mungahan #1 - Childhood, 1985.
7 35 Personal interviews: Ahaurim #1 - Father and land, 1985.
7 36 Personal interview: Mungahan #2 - On his wives and Christianity, 1985.
7 37 Ethnographic interview: MBana on magic, Tembaran myth, 1985.
7 38-39 Personal interview: Karari #1 - Life history, 1985.
7 40 Personal interview: Michael Kora #2 - Life history, 1985.
7 41-42 Meeting over land at Suru'wa, 1985.
7 43-44 Personal interview: Michael Kora #3 - On sorcery, 1985.
7 45 Funeral of Weipim at Matous, 1985.
7 46-47 Meeting over sorcery, at Maunite: The death of Waipi'eru's son, 1985.
7 48 Personal interview: Michael Kora #4 - On Buas and two myths, 1985.
7 49 Personal interview: Mungahan #3 - Exchange partners and Tumbuan, 1985.
7 50 Meeting at Alawinge: Departure of Ingalimbi, 1985.
7 51 Personal interview: Michael Kora #5 - Wa'hun history, 1985.
8 52 Personal interview: Michael Kora #6 - Conversion to Christianity, 1985.
8 54 Personal interview: Mungahan #4 - Revival and changes with Christianity, 1985.
8 55 Meeting over attempts to kill Raikos, at Atim, 1986.
8 56 Personal interview: Michael Kora #7 - Missionaries and myths, 1985.
8 57 Personal interview: Michael Kora #8 - Tatangohom myth and the past, 1985.
8 58 Personal interview: Michael Kora #9 - Childhood, father, first marriage, 1985.
8 59 Ethnographic interview: Origin of sorcery, on sorcerers, 1986.
8 60 Personal interview: Michael Kora #10 - On the war, 1986.
8 61 Meeting over death of a Wa'hun woman, at Atim, 1986.
8 62-63 Personal interview: Ahauim #2 - Childhood and father, 1986.
8 64 Personal interview: Karauri #3 - Kwar Tambaran, 1986.
8 65 Ethnographic interviews: Antosiom on sorcery, 1986.
8 66 Ethnographic interview: Ahaurim #3 - Adolescence and marriage, 1986.
8 67 Personal interview: Pihinguh #1 - Life history, 1986.
8 68 Personal interview: Pihinguh #2 - Childhood and girls, 1986.
8 69 Meeting over exhange partners' dispute over land, at Bumbuinga, 1986.
9 70-71 Personal interview: Michael Kora #11 - Origins of scorcery; life history after war, 1986.
9 72 Urita court - Swambien's wives and Sam against Wa'hun, 1986.
9 73 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #3 - Childhood and eating food, 1986.
9 74 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #4 - More childhood visinettes, 1986.
9 75 Personal interview: Karairi #4 - On losing customs and Christianity, 1986.
9 76 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #5 - Court, plantations and children, 1986.
9 77 Some songs, Ya'utes, 1986.
9 78 Meeting over land between Sa'unes and Buter, at Niuh, 1986.
9 79-80 Meeting over death of Kuniari's baby, at Mahines, 1986.
9 81 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #6 & 7 - Christianity and revival, 1986.
9 82-83 Meeting on compensation to Wa'hun over deaths, 1986.
9 84-85 Meeting to mark a new boundary for Sa'unes and Buter / Lua'i on Yam magic, 1986.
9 86 Pihinsuh #7 (concluded) / Personal interview: Pihinsuh #8 - Fathers, mothers, 1986.
10 87 Personal interview: O'weriwa #1 - Fight with husband, life history, 1986.
10 88 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #10 & 11 - 10: Tamboran 11: Self-image, 1986.
10 89 Meeting over land between Salata and Balanga, at Balif, 1986.
10 90 Ethnographic interview: Ta'vanangus land dispute with Inakor, 1986.
10 91 Urita court: Sorcery changes between Batin and Ausera of Wa'hun, 1986.
10 92 Personal interview: Pihinsuh #9 - Bighead, plantations and marriage, 1986.
10 93 Ethnographic interview: Ta'vanangas clan myths and history, 1986.
10 94 Ethnographic interview: Lua'i on Tambaran Kwar, 1986.
10 95 Personal interview: Ahaurim #4 - Lehin Tambaran and the dead, 1986.
10 96 Personal interview: Arehin #1 & 2 - Plantation experiences; Hunting, 1986.
10 97 Slit Gong calls, whistle talk and Slit Gong songs, 1986.
10 98 Slit Gong songs, 1986.
10 99 Men's cult sounds and music: Trumpets, whistles, flutes, etc..
10 100 Keening at Arehiwen's death, 1986.
10 101 Personal interview: Arehin #2 - Pig hunting and pig magic, 1986.
10 102 Ethnographic interview: Paikos on Kwar Tambaran, 1986.
10 103 Urita court - Me'in's compensation for custom, 1986.
11 104 Personal interview: Endyohimp #1 - Childhood and reactions to customs, 1986.
11 105 Divination for MBana'a illness, 1986.
11 106 Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Me'in's compensation, 1986.
11 107-108 Ethnographic interview: Teimo on sorcery, 1986.
11 109 Personal interview: Arehin #3 - On Yams, 1986.
11 110 Personal interview: Pihinguh #11 & 12 - On self / Sorcery of the dead - Part 2.
11 111 Personal interview: O'weriwa #2 - Life history after marriage, 1986.
11 112 Discussion over food at MBana's funeral, 1986.
11 113 Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Wahitineri Tambaran and music, 1986.
11 114 Personal interview: Sua'a #1 - On menstruation, 1986.
11 115 Personal interview: Kuna'ara #1 - Belief and relations with men, 1986.
11 116 Personal interviews: Umbuahember on ghosts, etc., 1986.
11 117 At Korogo village, Iatmul: Myths, war stories, initiation, 1986.
11 118 Personal interview: Arehin #4 - Magic and death of father, 1986.
11 119 Urita meditation, 1986.
11 120 Urita court - Arahin and Sunduhu man / Speeches, keening at Arehin's death, 1986.
12 121 Urita court : Yaroku and girl's adoption; Manihueren sorcery change, 1986.
12 122 Personal interview: Endyohimp #2 - Fight with Ma'arien, marriage attitiudes, 1986.
12 123 Personal interviews: Sua'a #2 & 3 - Early life, courtship / Later life, convers, 1986.
12 124 Ethnographic interview: Raikos on his conflict with Mandro, 1986.
12 125 Ethnographic interview: Michael Uhiar on the revival, Christianity, 1986.
12 126 Ethnographic interview: Raikos on Sisilhu myth and totem.
12 127 Ethnographic interview: Mandro on Raikos' claim to Urita land, 1986.
12 128 Personal interview: Ahairim #5 - Hallucination about me, 1986.
12 129-130 Meeting at Indahroa over water and land, 1986.
12 131 Meeting at Atim over attempts to kill Raikos - Part 2 (continued from tape 55), 1986.
12 132 Personal interview: Endyohimp #3 - Life history and the dead, 1986.
12 133 Personal interview: Kora #1 & 2 - Life history, 1986.
12 134 Personal interviews: Ahairim #6 - Reflections on his illness, 1986.
12 135 Speeches at feast for Raikos over attempts to ensorcel him, 1986.
12 136 Personal interview: Karairi #5 - Dreams and the dead, 1986.
12 137 Two myths: How women bear children; Piupatu and flying foxes, 1986.
13 138 Personal interview: Kairen #1 - Start of life history, 1986.
13 139 Personal interview: Endyohimp #4 - Revival and death of father, 1986.
13 140-141 Personal interview: Karauri #6 - Penis bleeding, Tambaran, music; getting rid of music, 1986.
13 142 Personal interview: O'weriwa #3 - On her beliefs and attitudes towards me, 1986.
13 143 Personal interview: Ahaurim #7 / Ahaurim and Amboim fight, 1986.
13 144 Ethnographic interviews: Buas Musik - Start to end, 1986.
13 145-146 Personal interviews: Paul of Imbras on his beliefs, myths, and Christianity, 1986.
13 147 Meeting at Ombuit over Swambien's illness, 1986.
13 148 Urita court: Two cases on sorcery rumors, changes, 1986.
13 149 Ethnographic interview: Antosiom on Wa'hun disputes, 1986.
13 150-151 Urita court: Wehnenimp of Imbras leaves husband; other cases, 1985.
13 152 Personal interview: Ousim Komburi (child) - Dreams, fears.
13 153 Bumbita songs. Saliman's songs; tape demo.
13 154 Bumbita Arapesh language drills.
14 155 Story survey: Endyohimp and Kuna'ara.
14 156 Story survey: Arehin and Pihinguh.
14 157 Story survey: Sambohim and Sua'a.
14 158-159 Story survey: Saliman and O'weriwa.
14 160-161 Translation of tapes 1, 2.
14 162 Translation of tapes 1, 2 / Translation of tape 143.
14 163 Translation of tape 8 (discussion before Balanga meeting).
14 164 Translation of tape 14 (letter to Mantandan, part 2).
14 165-167 Translation of tape numbers 46, 47 (sorcery meeting at Maunite).
14 168 Translation of tape numbers 46, 47 (conclusion) / Translation of tape numbers 41.
14 169 Translation of tape numbers 41, 42 (meeting at Suru'wa land) - Part 2.
14 170 Translation of tape numbers 41, 42 - Translation of tape numbers 32, 33 (Alawing) - Part 3, Part 1.
14 171 Translation of tape numbers 32, 33 (Alawinge sorcery meeting) - Part 2.
15 172 Translation of tape numbers 22, 23 (meeting at Sapimp over land).
15 173 Translation of tape number 69 (exchange partners' dispute, Bumbuinge).
15 174-175 Translation of tape number 61 (meeting at Atim over Wa'hun death).
15 176 Translation of tape number 147 (finding Swambien's illness).
15 177 Post - Fieldwork letter from Aines of Sa'unes.


Finding aid generated: 2011-01-31