Stephen Leavitt Collection, 1984 - 1989 (MSS 27)

Restrictions: The collection may only be used with the written permission of Stephen Leavitt. Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.

Extent: 4.0 Linear feet (5 archives boxes and 11 card file boxes)

Digital Content

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Ethnographic fieldnotes, audio cassette recordings (1984-1986), and slides 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.

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.

The Stephen Leavitt Collection documents 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 UC San Diego.

Arranged in three series: 1) FIELDNOTES & IMAGES, 2) TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS, and 3) RECORDINGS.

Container List

FIELDNOTES & IMAGES

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) FIELDNOTES: 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.

Box 1 Folder 1-12
Books 1-12, 1984 - 1985
Box 2 Folder 1-10
Books 13-22, 1985 - 1986

House-by-house lists of inhabitants, including names, ages, educational levels attained, marriages, children, and kinship

Box 2 Folder 11
Census: Bumbita
Box 2 Folder 12
Census: Urita
Box 3 Folder 1
Census: Sa'unes
Box 3 Folder 2
Census: Buter/Aor
Box 3 Folder 3
Census: Indipi [Indibi]
Box 3 Folder 4
Language - drills. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh
Box 3 Folder 5
Language - Bumbita Arapesh word list. Tok Pisin to Bumbita Arapesh. A-S only; T-Z not listed
Box 3 Folder 6
Language - monologues. Bumbita Arapesh with Tok Pisin translations
Box 3 Folder 7
Topics: Causes of death
Box 3 Folder 8
Topics: Parents on children
Box 3 Folder 9
Topics: Children on children
Box 3 Folder 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
Box 3 Folder 11
Miscellaneous - Field note index
Box 3 Folder 12
Miscellaneous - Maps, genealogy charts and tables
Box 3 Folder 13
Miscellaneous - Urita court cases index
Box 16 Folder 1
Catalog of slides, 1984-1986
Box 16 Folder 2-6
Slides, A2-Z34 and AA1-AA30, 1984-1986

TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 2) TRANSCRIPTIONS OF RECORDINGS: Leavitt's transcriptions of selected recorded interviews with informants. Includes files on myths and dreams.

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

RECORDINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 3) RECORDINGS: Audiocassette 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 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.

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