Robert Conrad Papers, ca. 1960-1990 (MSS 732)

Restrictions: Original media formats are restricted. Viewing/listening copies may be available for researchers.

Extent: 3.4 Linear feet (1 archives box, 2 card file boxes and 2 flat boxes)

Papers and audio recordings of translator Robert Conrad document linguistic research on languages of Papua New Guinea, including Mufian, Mountain Arapesh and other closely related Arapesh dialects, as well as research on the May River Iwam language.

Linguist and Bible translator Robert J. Conrad received his BA in mathematics from Reed College before attending Moody Bible Institute and Summer Institute of Linguistics workshops. He later completed an MA in linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania.

From 1962-1965 and again from 1970-2004, Conrad and his wife Jo Ann lived in Papua New Guinea, working as missionaries and Bible translators. They were first stationed in the May River area of Sandaun Province, where they worked with the Iwam-speaking people. They later moved to the East Sepik Province, where they documented Arapesh languages of the Toricelli family, including Mountain Arapesh (Bukiyip), Mufian (Southern Arapesh) and Filifita (a dialect of Mufian). In addition to grammars, vocabularies and other linguistic works, the Conrads produced literary materials in vernacular languages. They translated the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament into four Arapesh languages, resulting in published versions for Mufian (1988), Bukiyip (1994), Filifita (1998) and Arapesh (2004).

Papers and sound recordings document Conrad's linguistic research in Papua New Guinea, particularly for the Mountain Arapesh (Bukiyip) and Mufian (Southern Arapesh) language. The collection is arranged in two series: 1) PRINTED MATERIAL and 2) RECORDINGS.

SERIES 1: PRINTED MATERIAL

The PRINTED MATERIAL series contains papers related to Conrad's linguistic research. These papers remain in the order in which they were arranged and inventoried by the donor. Copies of donor's detailed inventory remain in each folder.

Materials include phonology material, transcripts of legends, loose texts and computer printouts of Bukiyip texts. These Bukiyip texts were created from audio recordings of various adults in the Bubuamo area, recorded by Robert Conrad and transcribed by Kepas Wogiga. The inventory copy contains a history of the project as well as an explanatory guide to reading the texts.

Loose texts were numbered and described by Robert Conrad. These texts contain stories, testimonies, and notes on grammar. Maps from this group are stored in an oversize location.

SERIES 2: RECORDINGS

RECORDINGS include both audiocassettes and reel-to-reel recordings made by Conrad. The recordings are primarily in either Bukiyip or Mufian languages, with few recordings in Iwam and Filifita. They include narrations of everyday events, myths and other stories. A few of the recordings include music.

The titles of these tapes were taken from Conrad's inventory. The inventory - a copy of which is located in each box - contains a more detailed description of the contents of each recording.

Container List

PRINTED MATERIAL

Bukiyip texts - Computer printouts

Oversize FB-527 Folder 1-4
Key & pages 1 - 623
Oversize FB-528 Folder 1-4
Pages 624 - 1301
Oversize FB-528 Folder 5
Ten Mufian legends - Computer printouts, 1985
Box 1 Folder 1
Muhiang phonology materials, 1977-1978 & undated
Box 1 Folder 2-4
Loose texts, F1 - F11, 1962 - 1990
Oversize MC-039-08
Loose texts - Traced maps of the Upper Middle Sepik River, 1962-1965

6 maps.

RECORDINGS

Audiocassettes

Box 2 Folder 1
Ami songs, ca. 1981 - 1983
Box 2 Folder 2
May R[iver] survey story, March 1972
Box 2 Folder 3
Dugút, Matias, Anis on houses, gardens & misc. Also, exhortation to children - Bukiyip, ca. 1972 - 1976
Box 2 Folder 4
Awalef Mufiani - Last, sung by Ronnis, ca. 1972 - 1982
Box 2 Folder 5
Christlieb & Lia Tok Ples Song Buk Ami, ca. 1976 - 1982
Box 2 Folder 6
Awalef bandelefi ma dinga Mufiani - (Short songs in the Mufian language), ca. 1976 - 1982
Box 2 Folder 7
Bukiyip commentary on dragon pictures and Christ's death and resurrection - Kepas, October 5, 1973
Box 2 Folder 8
Sugamo, Kabliwen, Convers...; Lukas road work description - Bukiyip, ca. 1972 - 1976
Box 2 Folder 9
Good Buki music, ca. 1972 - 1976
Box 2 Folder 10
Peilúg nobat, naltagehw, onalukw... - (Speaker on dog, red-eyed lizard, cassowary...) - Bukiyip, ca. 1972 - 1976
Box 2 Folder 11
Mufian songs, ca. 1976 - 1983
Box 2 Folder 12
Paul Winyuwany Bonohitamo - killing... Kaboibus - Kelabwihas - Kemai..., ca. 1972 - 1976

Reel-to-Reel

Box 3 Folder 1
Kepas to Maprik & rtn. Kepas rtn. from Ukarumpa - Bukiyip, 1972
Box 3 Folder 2
May River Iwam texts, ca. 1963 - 1965
Box 3 Folder 3
Bukiyip of Bubuamo via Ruth (Pitt) and Amy (Skinner)..., ca. 1969 - 1970
Box 3 Folder 4
Ibara marriage and Wiyal fight... - Bukiyip from Bubuamo, 1972
Box 3 Folder 5
Music - Cheyenne songs by Mr. Flying Out; Mamboo flute music and singsing, ca. 1960 - 1965
Box 3 Folder 6
Chuaba building a house, Lumumbuli old work... - Bukiyip, 1971 - 1972
Box 3 Folder 7
Jochabed Jonah and songs - Bukiyip, 1971
Box 3 Folder 8
Kepas - story of Ukarumpa times and life. Chuaba story of getting a pig at Wosera - Bukiyip, 1971
Box 3 Folder 9
John Belegel trip, Ibara Yahaluk, Bodein, Yeldu... - Bukiyip, ca. 1971 - 1976
Box 3 Folder 10
Gabriel teaching terms, Igopwen story, Johnny garage bldg. story... - Bukiyip, 1971
Box 3 Folder 11
Kairiu women singsing, Dagua song Bubuamo women... - Bukiyip, 1971
Box 3 Folder 12
Unidentified, undated
Box 3 Folder 13
JoAnn text - Masina; Mattias house story; Anis folktale of ancestors - Bukiyip, ca. 1971 - 1976
Box 3 Folder 14
Jeligu Kaboibis, misc., September 8, 1971
Box 3 Folder 15
Iwam flute and singsing - May River Iwam, ca. 1962 - 1965
Box 3 Folder 16
Mokwot story - May River Iwam, ca. 1962 - 1965
Box 3 Folder 17
Munos story, Naimno from Aumi story, Inukwam from Aumi... - May River Iwam, ca. 1962 - 1965
Box 3 Folder 18
Belegel singsing, Kepas story from Ukarumpa to here, Igopwen story to Yangoru and back... - Bukiyip, ca. 1972 - 1976
Box 3 Folder 19
Taped Arapesh expressions - Petrus... - Bukiyip, ca. 1971