Register to the Records of the Society for Visual Anthropology,

Transcription

1 Register to the Records of the Society for Visual Anthropology, Lorain Wang August 2013 National Anthropological Archives Smithsonian Institution 4210 Silver Hill Road Suitland, Maryland

2 CONTENTS ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY... 3 LIST OF SVA PRESIDENTS... 4 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE... 4 RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS... 5 RESTRICTIONS ON USE... 5 EXTENT... 5 PROVENANCE... 5 RELATED COLLECTIONS... 5 PROCESSING NOTE... 6 LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS NOTE... 6 SERIES DESCRIPTION AND CONTAINER LIST... 6 SERIES 1. PETER BIELLA SERIES 2. RICHARD CHALFEN. 1988, SERIES 3. MALCOLM COLLIER , SERIES 4. FADWA EL GUINDI. 1987, , UNDATED... 7 SERIES 5. JAY RUBY SERIES 6. JOANNA SCHERER SERIES 7. ANNE ZELLER. 1988, 1990, , , SERIES 8. PUBLICATIONS SERIES 9. POSTERS. 1991, 2000,

3 Administrative History The Society for Visual Anthropology (SVA) was founded as a section of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in It was formed to promote the study and use of visual media in anthropological research. The history of SVA can be traced back to the Program in Ethnographic Film (PIEF), a committee of AAA founded in 1966 by Richard Gardner and Asen Balikci at Harvard University. The mission of PIEF, which was formed through funding from the Wenner- Gren Foundation, was to encourage and support teaching, training, and production with respect to ethnographic films. PIEF moved to Temple University in 1969 when Jay Ruby assumed leadership of the program. A newsletter was established and film screenings became part of AAA's scholarly program at its annual meetings. In response to a growing interest in other forms of visual media, several members of PIEF at the 1971 AAA annual meeting discussed forming a new organization that would have a broader reach and encompass all who were interested in the cultural dimensions of visual communication and behavior (Ruby, 1974). The following year the formation of this new organization was discussed in further detail at the Summer Institute of Visual Anthropology (SIVA), sponsored by PIEF and funded by the National Science Foundation. As a result, PIEF was dissolved at the 1973 AAA meeting, and the Society for the Anthropology of Visual Communication (SAVICOM) was established in its place. The PIEF newsletter became an official publication of SAVICOM, which also began publishing a new journal called Studies in the Anthropology of Visual Communication. In 1984, SAVICOM was dissolved and replaced with SVA as an official section of AAA. SVA established a newsletter and Studies in the Anthropology of Visual Communication ceased publication in In 1990, SVA Newsletter was briefly renamed SVA Review before it became the peer-reviewed journal Visual Anthropology Review the following year. Since 1985, SVA has sponsored the Visual Research Conference, held annually a few days before the official AAA meeting. The society also holds a film and media festival during the AAA conference, at which the works of students, professional anthropologists, and professional filmmakers are screened. In addition to serving as a forum for members interested in visual anthropology, SVA has advocated the use of visual media for satisfying promotion and tenure requirements. In 2001, AAA formally approved guidelines created by SVA for the professional evaluation of ethnographic visual media. Sources Consulted The New Society. Society for Visual Anthropology Newsletter 1(1): 1. Society for Visual Anthropology. <accessed July 3

4 17, 2013>. Ruby, Jay Editorial. PIEF Newsletter 3 (2): 1. Ruby, Jay PIEF Annual Meeting PIEF Newsletter.4 (2): 14. Ruby, Jay Picturing Culture: Explorations of Film and Anthropology. University of Chicago Press. Ruby, Jay and Richard Chalfen The Society for the Anthropology of Visual Communication is Formed. PIEF Newsletter. 4 (2): 13. Worth, Sol and Jay Ruby A Proposal for the Founding of a Society for Visual Anthropology. PIEF Newsletter 3 (3): 1-2. List of SVA Presidents Jack Rollwagen, Tom Blakely, Karl Heider, Richard Chalfen, Joanna Scherer, Fadwa El Guindi, Emilie de Brigard, Malcolm Collier, Harald Prins, Carol Hermer, Peter Biella, Anne Zeller, Mary Strong, Karl Heider, Liam Buckley, Scope and Content Note These records document the history and activities of the Society for Visual Anthropology. The collection consists of the files of past presidents, most of whom served in various capacities on the organization's board. Consequently, the files of each individual may cover periods outside his or her presidency, and duplication of files may exist across series. Materials in the collection include correspondence, both within SVA and with AAA representatives; by-laws; board meeting agenda, minutes, and reports; election nominations and results; financial statements; programs and materials 4

5 documenting preparations for the annual Visual Research Conference, the film and media festival, and AAA program sessions; and SVA publications and related correspondence. The collection also contains materials pertaining to the predecessors of SVA: PIEF and SAVICOM. These include Jay Ruby s files documenting the activities of both organizations as well as their publications. Restrictions on Access No restrictions on access. Restrictions on Use Contact the repository for terms of use. Extent 5 linear feet (12 document boxes) and 1 oversize box, 1 map folder, and 1 digital storage media (DVD-R) Provenance These records were transferred to the National Anthropological Archives by the Society for Visual Anthropology through various deposits since Jay Ruby's files comprise the first deposit at the archives. The records of other past presidents were collected by Joanna Scherer, who served as archivist and historian for SVA. These were in turn transferred to the archives. Related Collections The records of the American Anthropological Association (AAA), the parent association of the Society for Visual Anthropology, as well as other AAA sections are held at the National Anthropological Archives. 5

6 Processing Note The original organization of the deposits was retained. Thus, the collection is organized by individual rather than by the functions and activities of SVA. Files were rehoused in acid-free folders. Original folder titles were retained with titles assigned by the archivist placed within square brackets. Oversized materials were separated and replaced with separation sheets indicating new locations. Processing of the collection was funded by the Society for Visual Anthropology. Language of Materials Note English Series Description and Container List Series 1. Peter Biella /4 inch Peter Biella served as president in This small series consists of reports for the 2004 board meeting, financial statements, and the AAA film screening program for Of particular interest in this series are Biella s files documenting the controversy surrounding fees levied on SVA for AnthroSource (an online repository of AAA publications) and the publication of Visual Anthropology Review (VAR). Box 1 SVA Board Rept [SVA financial statements] [Anthrosource expenses] 2005 [Film screening program] 2005 Series 2. Richard Chalfen. 1988, /4 inch Richard Chalfen served as president in This series consists of one folder containing an assortment of SVA files. These include AAA memos, financial statements, 1991 election results, a letter by Chalfen regarding SVA subscription rates, materials relating to AAA/SVA sponsored workshops, and Chalfen s 1988 annual report to the Board of Directors. 6

7 Box 1 (continued) [SVA files] 1988, Series 3. Malcolm Collier , inches Malcolm Collier served as treasurer in and as president in The bulk of Collier s files consists of SVA financial statements. Additional materials include board meeting minutes and reports from 1997 and 1998 and SVA by-laws. Box 1 (continued) Finance SVA [1 of 2] Finance SVA [2 of 2] SVA Budget 1994, 1998 SVA Board SVA 1998 finance 1998 [SVA finance] 1999 Series 4. Fadwa El Guindi. 1987, , Undated 5 inches Fadwa El Guindi served as president in This series covers various areas of activities within SVA. Materials include correspondence; copies of SVA by-laws and proposed amendments; board meeting agenda, minutes, and reports; financial statements; election results; conference and film festival planning materials; and correspondence regarding publication issues. Box 2 [SVA correspondence] [SVA By-laws] 1987, 1995, undated [SVA Board meetings] [SVA finances, 1 of 2] [SVA finances, 2 of 2] 1995 [SVA conference] [SVA conference and pre-conference photos] undated 7

8 [SVA publications] [SVA Film Festival] [SVA officers] [SVA elections] [SVA member/subscriber ads & reports] 1994 Series 5. Jay Ruby inch Jay Ruby managed PIEF and founded and served as the first president of SAVICOM. This small series provides a partial documentation of the activities of the predecessors to SVA. Box 3 Wenner Gren Conference on Ethnographic Film New York March 22 New York Film Festival AAA Film Program (71) 1968, 1971 Smithsonian Anthropological Film Conference May , 11, 12 Record of Planning Committee Meeting, February 16, 1973 Series 6. Joanna Scherer linear feet Joanna Scherer served as archivist ( ), secretary-treasurer ( ), program chair ( , 1994, and 1998), president ( ), and historian (2011-present). Due to her role as archivist and historian for SVA, the bulk of the organization s records are from her files. Her files consist of board meeting agenda, minutes, and reports; election results; financial statements; materials relating to SVA related conference programs; publication related documents; and correspondence relating to administrative issues and SVA publications. In addition, this series contains files relating to her article, The Society for Visual Anthropology's Visual Research Conference: The First Twenty- Four Years ( ), published in Visual Anthropology Review in 2012 (volume 28, issue 2). These materials include a photocopy of the article, editorial notes, conference schedules and abstracts, and her research and correspondence with those who presented at the Visual Research Conference since its inception. SUBSERIES: BOARD MEETINGS SUBSERIES: ELECTIONS 8

9 SUBSERIES: FISCAL SUBSERIES: CONFERENCES SUBSERIES: COMMUNICATION SUBSERIES: PUBLICATIONS SUBSERIES: VISUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE ARTICLE Box 3 (continued) Subseries: Board Meetings SVA Board Meeting Minutes SVA Board Meeting 1988 SVA Board Meeting Includes cassette tape labeled "SVA Board Meeting 11/1989" JCS - SVA Board Meeting SVA Board of Director's Meeting & Open Forum SVA 1992 Board Meeting & Open Members Meeting 1992 SVA Board Meeting SVA 1994 Board of Director's Meeting AAA Board of Director's Meeting 1991 AAA Board of Director's Meeting AAA Board of Director's Meeting 1993 Box 4 Subseries: Elections SVA 1987, SVA 1988 Elections SVA Elections SVA Elections & by-law changes 1992 & Subseries: Fiscal SVA Fiscal [1 of 2] SVA Fiscal [2 of 2] SVA Fiscal SVA 1994 Budget Subseries: Conferences 9

10 1985 SVA Conference at AAA meeting 1985 SVA Meeting Philadelphia AAA SVA Chicago 1987 Paper 1987 Box Visual Research Conference SVA Conf. Washington, D.C AAA meeting including Photo-Elicitation session/discussion SVA Visual Research Conference 1990 Conference on Visual Anthro (COVA) - Phila March Visual Research Conference Notes 1991 AAA Meeting Chicago SVA Program 1991 Committee Final 1992 SVA Program AAA meeting SVA program Chairing 1993 Volunteer Session Subseries: Communication Office of Communication from AAA to SVA AAA official communication to SVA AAA Official Communication to SVA Box 6 AAA Official Communication to SVA AAA Official Communication to SVA Communication with Richard Chalfen Correspondence with Karl Heider SVA - New members , SVA Unit Column in AAA Newsletter SVA Proposal Outstanding Museum Exhibit SVA/SAVICOM Misc. Corresp , , 1990 Communication Rec'd & Sent as President & Ex President, Misc Subseries: Publications SVA - Newsletter discussion

11 SVA Review 1992 & SVA Review Newsletter - Back issue sales , Also regarding requests for back issues for SVA archive Box 7 Subseries: Visual Research Conference Article SVA Participants Adra - Barr SVA Participants Becker - Carpenter Biella Blakelys SVA Participants Cartwright - Dennison Chalfen 2009, 2012 Box 8 SVA Participants Diawara - Fiorini SVA Participants Fischer - Guimarin SVA Participants Guthrie to Homiak El Guindi, Fadwa 2009, Goodwins 2009, Heider, Karl SVA Participants Horiuchi, Lynne to Korpan, 2009, Cynthia Box 9 Kendon 2010, SVA Participants Kumar to Mykytyn [1 of 2] 2009, Anita Kumar to Laura Litten SVA Participants Kumar to Mykytyn [2 of 2] 2009, Peter Loizos to Courtney Mykytyn SVA Participants Naimark to Prins [1 of 2] 2009, Michael Naimark to Forrestine Paulay SVA Participants Naimark to Prins [2 of 2] 2009, Sara Perry to Harald Prins SVA Participants Read to Sherlick Box 10 SVA Survey Responses Steele-Young

12 Zeller, Anne DVD-R separated from folder Liam Buckley correspondence 8/ / , SVA/VRC Reviewer Comments 2012 History of Visual Anthropology bibliography sources, Ruby s , Biella 1988, 1990, 1998, , , 2011, 2013 SVA Visual Research Conf. Proj. Photos Request 1992, 1998, SVA/VRC Photo Permissions 2012 Correspondence regarding abstracts/programs 2009 Box AAA Meetings (from Joan Williams) 2000, undated Report to SVA directors 2009 SVA/VR Conference Schedule & Abstracts [1 of 2] SVA/VR Conference Schedule & Abstracts [2 of 2] [VAR article] 2012 Series 7. Anne Zeller. 1988, 1990, , , inches Anne Zeller served as president in Most of Zeller s files are organized by year and arranged chronologically. The folders contain a mix of files such as annual board meeting agenda, minutes, and reports; financial statements; conference materials; lists of board members; election materials; and photos. Box 11 (continued) [SVA 1988] 1988 [SVA 1990] 1990 [SVA 1996] 1996 [SVA 1997] 1997 [SVA 1998] 1998 [SVA 2001] 2001 [SVA 2004] 2004 [SVA 2005] 2005 [SVA 2006] 2006 [SVA 2007] 2007 [SVA 2008] 2008 [Inquiry letters] [Lists of SVA board members] 1998, ,

13 [SVA election slates] 2000, 2006 Box 12 [Copy of copyright form for "Liberty: Three Stories 2009 about Life and Death"] [ s with Zeller's commentary regarding SVA 2011 contributions] [Photos SVA meeting and 2000 film jury] 1998, 2000 [Photos of Canadian Premiere of "Kalahari Family" 2003 at University of Waterloo" Includes photos of John Marshall and Richard Lee [SVA Film & Video Film Festival posters] 2000, 2005, 2006 See Series 8. Posters, Oversize Box Series 8. Publications inches This series contains publications of SVA. These include a complete run of SVA Newsletter and a photocopy of the 1989 Directory of Visual Anthropology. In addition, the series contains a complete run of the newsletters of PIEF and SAVICOM, as well as issues of Studies in the Anthropology of Visual Communication. Box 12 (continued) [PIEF newsletters] [SAVICOM newsletters] [Studies in the Anthropology of Visual 1974 Communication - Handbook of Proxemic Research] [Studies in the Anthropology of Visual Communication] [SVA newsletters, 1 of 2] [SVA newsletters, 2 of 2] 1989 Directory of Visual Anthropology 1989 Series 9. Posters. 1991, 2000, This series contains posters from SVA s annual film and video festivals at AAA. Oversize Box 13

14 [SVA Film & Video Film Festival posters] 1991, 2000, 2005, 2006 Map Folder [SVA Film & Video Film Festival poster]