The Charles and Patricia Buser Collection of Research Materials on Native American Cultures
A Guide and Inventory
Spec.RARE.CMS.319

INTRODUCTION

The Story of the Collection

Charles Aubrey Buser (1922-2010) and Ardis Patricia Anderson Buser had a strong personal interest in Wyandotte language and culture. They traveled widely, throughout the United States and Canada, making many enduring friendships along the way. They explored the history and traditions of the Wyandotte, as well as other native peoples, gathered genealogical information, and in the process sought to record as much as possible of the languages, both in text and audio recordings. Charles Buser‘s research proved to be valuable to the Wyandotte people on more than one occasion, and he was honored for his contributions.

Stephen Buser, former faculty member of the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, recognized the research value of his parents’ papers and offered to permit the OSU Libraries to scan the collection before the materials were donated to the Wyandotte Nation. He graciously contributed financial support for the scanning project. Scanning commenced in November of 2008, and the project was completed in July 2012, although students and outside researchers were able to access the collection as the finding aids began to appear on the web.

Content and Description

The Buser collection in its original physical state, which is now held by the Wyandotte Nation in Oklahoma, consists of 13 boxes of photocopies, notes, books, pamphlets, government documents, clippings, audio recordings, and a great deal of personal correspondence. The finding aids maintain the order in which the collection came to us for scanning, and thus they are divided into box and folder categories, arranged in two main alphabetical sequences that seem to reflect the contents of two separate filing locations rather than a clear categorical division. Additional binders and boxes of note cards were used to track historical events and form the beginning of a dictionary. The collection contains a wealth of information that will be an essential research resource for historians, linguists and genealogists. The contents are of value for researching the history of the Wyandotte people in general, and individual families in particular. Buser, who also documented cultural practices and details about clothing design, was at times consulted by the Wyandotte because of the extent of his knowledge in these areas. Buser’s handwritten language materials are the most readily available, as they may be retrieved directly via links in the finding aids for box 5.

How We Processed the Collection

In evaluating the collection and its potential research value, Rare Books decided to scan every item, except for books, pamphlets and journals, or clippings that include citations of their sources. These were only mentioned in the finding aids so that researchers can pursue those references if they wish to do so. This means that some more obscure clippings were scanned, as well as hand-typed and mimeographed newsletters. All of the notes and drawings of Charles and Patricia Buser, including the history and language note cards, are available on the web to interested parties connecting from any location. Official and personal correspondence and photographs were also scanned, and are listed in the finding aids. However, images of these items may only be viewed in the OSU Libraries, since the correspondence is relatively recent, and the individuals, or their immediate family members, may still be alive.

OSU Rare Books and Manuscripts would welcome contact from anyone who corresponded with the Busers or whose family members collaborated with the researchers and are willing to have the scans of their letters made public. These have been of particular interest for genealogical investigations.

Please use the search function within your browser to search each finding aid for particular subjects or individuals.

Lisa Iacobellis
Assistant Curator, Rare Books & Manuscripts

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Overview of the Collection:

Repository:	Rare Books and Manuscripts Library
Identification:	Spec.rare.cms.319
Creators:	Charles and Patricia Buser
Title:	The Charles and Patricia Buser Collection of Research Materials on Native American Cultures
Dates:	1700s (in photocopies) through 2005
Quantity:	13 boxes
Description:	The collection includes audiotapes, transcriptions, notes and research on the Wyandot language. In addition, there are many articles, as well as complete newsletters or other publications related to their study of the Wyandot tribe and other Native Americans. There is a significant amount of correspondence, both professional and personal, and a number of photographs.

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Box and Folder Listing:

Box 11

Caution: The following information has been pulled from the labels on these recordings, not from listening to the actual content. Copies of the recordings will be retained by Rare Books and Manuscripts.

CDs

1. Language Study
   Phillips/Cross/Buser At Mohawk Reserve. Caughnawaga Quebec, Canada 1968-1969 Compares Mohawk, Huron, and Wyandot vocabularies and usages.
2. Language Study
   Phillips/Cross/Buser At Mohawk Reserve. Caughawaga Quebec, Canada 1968-1969 Compares Mohawk, Huron, and Wyandot vocabularies and usages.
3. Language Study
   1911 A few of the oldest recordings of Huron/Wyandot singers in Canada and the U.S. Copies of the work done by Dr. Marius Barbeau. His recordings were made on wax cylinders
4. Language Study
   At Caughnawaga Mrs. Esta Kelly (age 93) and Mrs. Esther Phillips October 1968
5. Language Study
   First portion recorded in Oklahoma (Seneca, Quapaw, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Wyandotte) Another portion in Maryland in 1971 and final portion in Oklahoma in 1972. Eddie King visits in Maryland.
6. Iroquois Songs, Songs of the Long House
   1) “Great Feather Dance” 2) “Dream Song of Our Two Uncles” 3) “Dream Song of the Creator at The White Dog Sacrifice” 4) “Oneida Tracker’s Boasting Song” 5) “Thanksgiving Chant” 6) “Medicine Men’s Celebration Group of Songs” 7) “False Face Company ON ON DAGA” 8) “Corn Song-Cayuga” 9) “War and Peace Songs” 10) “War Dance of 1812-Cayuga” 11) “Scalp Dance” 12) “Eagle or Striking Dance” 13) “Social Dances”14) “Warrior’s Stomp Dance” 15) “Women’s Shuffle Dance”
7. Language Study
   Small gathering of members of several tribes in vicinity of Wyandotte, OK. Including: Seneca, Quapaw, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Wyandotte. Ottawa song by Eddie King (Maryland), Minnie Thompson-Seneca, Mary Redeagle-Quapaw Mary Woodruff-Chippewa, and Artie Nesvold-Wyandotte
8. Language Study
   Cross/Buser At Mohawk Reserve. Some work on vocabulary by Mary Cross. Part one of “The Deer and the Owl”
9. Language Study 1969
   Cross/Buser Mrs. Mary Cross compares Wyandot to Mohawk vocabulary. Includes first portion of Translation of “The Deer and the Owl”
10. Language Study
    Cross/Gros-Louis/Buser 1969 Mary Cross and part two of “The Deer and the Owl” at Mohawk Reserve 1973 M. Gros-Louis at Lorette sings old time Huron songs
11. Copies of Barbeau tapes 1983
    Reels 25 through 29 Made for Leaford, Barbara and Leland Bearskin
12. Language Study 1968 Esther Phillips at Mohawk Reserve, Caughnawaga, Quebec, Canada
13. Language Study 1968
    Continuation of disc “L” Comparison of Wyandotte and Mohawk vocabularies at the home of Mrs. Esther Phillips at Caughnawaga, Quebec, Canada
14. Language Study 1968
    At Caughnawaga. Vincent, Madelyn and Betty. Then Mrs. Esta Kelly. Then Mrs. Esther Phillips with a comparison of Mohawk and Wyandot vocabularies.
15. Eddie King
    Eddie King is son of current Ottawa chief, he talks about Ottawa Religion. Then a group of Maya painters at Parkside. We got to know them and they agreed to have us record some Of their cultural and religious beliefs. (“O plus”, a separate CD is the conversation with painters) There is a CD entitled MAYA from 1970 that is an additional recording of the painters’ discussion
16. Mrs. Cecile Boone Wallace and Mrs. Artie Nesvold 1972
    Discussion about some old times in Oklahoma. And a conversation with Mrs. Higginbotham at her home.
17. Mrs. Higginbotham
    She had much Wyandotte blood. Related to Cecile Boone Wallace and to Bertie Walker. She had a lot of Wyandotte historical material.
18. Language Study
    Mrs. Mary Cross reading “The Deer and the Owl” in Mohawk for comparison with Wyandot. Recorded at home of Mrs. Cross at Caughnawaga, Quebec, Canada
19. 1969 Mr. George Long, former 2nd chief
    Mr. Edgard Groh-Louis, Huron-Lorette 1973 Mr. Groh-Louis
20. Language Study
    Mary Cross, Mohawk friend at Caughnawaga, Quebec Translates old Wyandot stories and helps with vocabulary comparisons
21. Language Study
    Mary Cross, Mohawk-Caughnawaga, Quebec. Translating old Wyandot stories and Assisting in vocabulary work. Children sing some songs and then Mary and Mathew sing the Beatle song “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in Mohawk
22. Vocabulary Comparison
    Mary Cross, Mohawk
23. Language Study and Vocabulary 1968
    Mrs. Esther Phillips, Mohawk, Caughnawaga
24. Vocabulary Comparison
    Mrs. Esther Phillips, Mohawk, Caughnawaga


A CD with no letter for identification is labeled April 24, 1983 and includes a practice session of duets by Pat Buser and Gladys Irvin

AUDIO CASSETTE TAPES

1. Side 1 and 2 is Mrs. Higginbotham.
2. Side 1 is Eddie King and side 2 is Mayan.
3. Side 1 is dated 1972 and includes Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Nesvold. Side 2 is Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Higginbotham.
4. Only entry is on side 1. It is dated 1973 and includes Mr. Edgar Groh-Louis.
5. Side 1 is dated 1973 and includes Indian Cassette for grandchildren. Side 2 is dated 1973 and includes preliminary tape.
6. Side 1 is dated 1973 and includes Mary Cross and the “Deer and the Owl”. Side 2 includes Mary Cross and various stories including “Big Turtle” and “Bugs Tree”
7. Only includes an entry on side A. It includes “Marches” by Lee Diamond.
8. Only includes an entry on side B. It includes Artie.
9. Side 1 includes oldest known recordings of Wyandot/Huron songs. Recorded in 1911 in the U.S. and in Canada by Dr. Marius Barbeau. Side 2 includes Wyandot Vocabulary and a 1968 study by C. A. Buser comparing Wyandot and Mohawk dialects.
10. Side 1 is dated 1987. Includes at Steve and Cathy’s, with children and Chief Bearskin. Side 2 is dated 1987 and includes Chief Bearskin at Columbus and Zanesfield with Patt and Aubrey.
11. Side A is dated 1985 and includes the Oklahoma Choctaw Traditional Gospel Singers. Side B is dated 1985 and includes the Oklahoma Modern Style Gospel Singers.
12. Only includes an entry on side A. It is dated May 1987 and includes Chief Bearskin at Mt. Tabor Church, OH
13. Side A includes Cecile’s song and others. Side B includes Iroquois songs
14. Side A includes Barbeau reel 25 and 1st part of reel 26. Side B includes part of reel 26 and reel 27 thru 43.
15. Side A includes the last half of the Barbeau reel 30 and all of reel 31. Side B includes Barbeau reel 32 and specimen of Wyandot language selected from reels 33, 34 and 35.

REELS

1. Side 1 includes Seneca, Quapaw, Chippewa (1969), Ottawa (1971) and Wyandot (1972). And side 2 Includes Mrs. Cecile Boone Wallace (1972) and Mrs. Artie Nesvold.
2. Both sides include Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Higginbotham and Mrs. Nesvold. All dated 1972
3. One side only. The reel includes copies of the Barbeau tapes. The second part of reel 30, all of 31 and all of 32 and 1st part of reel 33.
4. One side only. The reel includes copies of Barbeau tapes. The 2ndpart of reel 33 and all of 34 and 35.
5. Side one only. Oldest known recordings of Wyandot and Huron singers (1911). Recorded in Canada and in Oklahoma by Dr. Marius Barbeau. The recordings are part of a vocabulary comparison of Mohawk and Wyandot. Also includes old time Iroquoian songs.
6. Recordings in 1969 and 1973 by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buser. Side 1 includes a continuation of language comparison by Mrs. Mary Cross and the 1st part of “The Deer and the Owl” Side 2 is a continuation of “The Deer and the Owl” plus Edgard Gros-Louis—Huron of Lorette 1969. And an old Huron song by Mr. Gros-Louis.
7. Both sides include Mrs. Mary Cross discussing Mohawk and Caughnawaga stories and vocabulary.
8. Buser-Cross. June, 1973. “The Deer and the Owl”
9. Side 1 only. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buser collected Indian songs. The 1st part was recorded in Miami, Oklahoma (1969). The tribes included are: Seneca, Quapaw, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Wyandot. Some of the recordings were done in Maryland (1971) and a small portion in Wyandotte, Oklahoma (1972).
10. Includes a short passage by Eddie King and a discussion with Mayan painters.
11. Side 1 includes Eddie King—Ottawa (1971). Side 2 includes Cherokee singers—Oklahoma singing Christian hymns in Cherokee.
12. Side 1 includes Mimmie Thompson (Seneca), Mary Redeagle (Quapaw), and Mary Woodruff (Chippewa)—all recorded in 1969. Also includes George Long (Wyandot). The 2nd side includes George Long continued, Edgard Groh-Louis (Huron) from 1969 and Edgard Groh-Louis again in 1973.
13. One side only. Copy of Barbeau recordings. Reels 25, 26, and 27 (Huron) 1911.
14. One side only. The reel includes copies of the Barbeau tapes 25 through 29. They were made for Leaford, Barbara, and Leland in 1983 but later on decided to send them on cassettes.
15. One side only. The reel includes copies of the Barbeau tapes. Also two Mary McKee songs From reel 27, all of reel 28 and 29 and part of reel 30 are also included.
16. Side one only. The reel is dated 1987. Includes a copy of a cassette by Paul Youngman on the reel. The cassette was a speech given by Len Engels (8-22-86). Engels is head of the Administration for Native Americans.
17. Dated October-November 1985. Copy of a tape by Richard Zane Smith.
18. Both sides. Duplicate of recordings made in 1968-1969 by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buser, Bethesda, Maryland; recorded at Mohawk Reserve, Caughnawaga. Mrs. Esther Phillips, Mohawk translation of English words and comparison with combined vocabularies of Wyandot word lists. “The Big Turtle” etc. at the home of Mrs. Mary Cross, Mohawk translation of stories recorded by Dr. Marius Barbeau in Oklahoma.
19. One side only. Dated 1968. Vocab-Mohawk and Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Phillips.
20. Both sides only. Dated 1968. Duplicates of recordings made by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buser. Recorded at home of Mrs. Esta Kelly and later at the house of Mrs. Esther Phillips-all at Caughnawaga, Quebec Province, Canada. Mohawk reserve near Montreal.
21. Dated 1968. Side 1 includes Caughnawaga, Quebec – Cross children and Betsy; Mrs. Esta Kelly age 93- Mohawk and vocabulary comparison by Mrs. Esther Phillips. Side 2 is a continuation of Mrs. Phillip’s vocabulary comparison.
22. Dated 1968. Side 1 is a continuation of Mrs. Esther Phillip’s vocabulary comparison. Also Valley thru Life and Death. Side 2- Life and Death