Homer Barnett (1906-1985) was an anthropologist who studied the indigenous people of the Palau Islands, and a professor at the University of Oregon from 1939 to 1974. The collection includes faculty papers, correspondence, student works, writings, research notes, sound recordings, microfilm, slides, photographs, and personal papers that reflect his life and career.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Homer Garner Barnett was born on April 25, 1906 in Bisbee, Arizona. He began his education at Stanford University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1927 for mathematics and philosophy. He then worked as a teaching assistant in anthropology for the University of California while continuing his education. He earned his Ph. D. in anthropology from the University of California in 1938. The following year in 1939 he was hired as an Anthropology instructor at the University of Oregon. In 1943 he became an assistant professor of Anthropology, and was promoted to associate professor in 1946.
Dr. Barnett belonged to many professional entities outside of the University of Oregon. He was an American Anthropological Association representative to the American Association for the Advancement of Science from 1947-63. As an elected representative of the American Anthropological Association, Dr. Barnett started the movement for reorganization of the association to establish it on a more professional basis. This program was modified and carried out by the Association as he recommended. He was also a member of the Pacific Coast Conference on Anthropology and Humanities in 1947.
Dr. Barnett conducted field research studying different Native American cultures in Southwestern Oregon (1934), Northwestern California (1938), British Columbia (1935-36, 1940), and Washington (1942-43). From 1947 to 1948 he conducted field research studying the indigenous people of the Palau Islands. Dr. Barnett had a long and distinguished career as an anthropologist, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. Dr. Barnett became an emeritus professor at the University of Oregon in 1971; he officially retired in 1974. After his retirement Dr. Barnett worked on writings and publications up until the time of his death in 1985.
Content Description
The Homer Barnett papers, which span the years 1937-1985, consist of papers, microfilm, photographs, and drawings relating to his career in anthropology. The collection documents his many years as a professor at the University of Oregon in the Department of Anthropology. The collection also includes records from his involvement in the professional anthropological community. Many documents in the collection pertain to his research throughout islands in the South Pacific. The material from this research includes recorded interviews with the native people of the islands, as well as microfilms and photographs.
The collection is organized into three series, two of which contain multiple subseries. The first series, Faculty papers, comprises five sub-series: Administrative, Course material, Correspondence, Correspondence-Students, and Student works. The next series is Professional papers which contains six sub-series: Correspondence, Writings, Associations and Committees, Research notes, Reference files, and Audiotapes, microfilm, slides, and photographs. The third and final series is small and contains personal papers.
Notable areas of the Faculty papers are the departmental faculty minutes, documenting meetings to discuss and shape the curricula for their courses year by year. This series also covers the events within the Anthropology Department Student Faculty Senate, which developed entities such as the Curriculum Revision Committee that became active Winter term 1969. Correspondence with Luther Cressman is an interesting file consisting of documented communication with Barnett while he was conducting research in the South Pacific. Their letters discussed the progress of Barnett’s research, and coordination of Barnett’s return to work at the University of Oregon.
A significant part of his professional life can be found in the Professional Correspondence about New Guinea. As seen in the correspondence, Barnett’s counsel and help provided essential wisdom and funding for the research to be conducted. Under the sub-series Research notes there is Barnett’s journal documenting his travels in the islands of the South Pacific. There are many of his writings in this series, including the “Qualitative Science Manuscript,” in which he makes the argument that science is built not on facts but on observations. Another notable topic within this series is the Fellowship materials documenting the Homer G. Barnett Graduate Teaching Fellowship. A fellowship intended to encourage the continuation of the high standards of teaching and scholarship set by Professor Barnett.
The Personal series is a very small series containing biographical information, and personal correspondence between family and friends.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public, but selected files are closed due to confidentiality of student records.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Archivist in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Homer Barnett Papers, UA 002, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series:
Series I: Faculty Papers
Series I, Subseries A: Administrative, 1953-1977
Series I, Subseries B: Course Materials, 1943-1975
Series I, Subseries C: Correspondence, 1944-1974
Series I, Subseries D: Correspondence-Students, 1965-1974
Series I, Subseries E: Student Works, 1949-1974
Series II: Professional Papers
Series II, Subseries A: Correspondence, 1937-1986
Series II, Subseries B: Writings, 1938-1981
Series II, Subseries C: Associations and Committees, 1939-1982
Series II, Subseries D: Research Notes
Series II, Subseries E: Reference File
Series II, Subseries F: Audiotapes, Microfilm, Slides and Photographs
Series III: Personal Papers
Processing Note :
Collection processed by Greg Childs and Emily Hartsfield, Archives Processors.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
“Explorations in Social Change” Publication Correspondence
1962-1985
11
7
“Indian Shakers” Publication
1956-1986
11
8
“Indian Shakers” Publication
1956-1986
11
9
“Innovation” Publication
1952-1985
11
10
General Correspondence (career)
1980-1982
11
11
General Correspondence/Photographic
1986
11
12
New Guinea
1960-1962
11
13
New Guinea
1960-1962
12
4
North West Indians
1937-1951
12
5
North West Indians
1937-1951
11
4
Palau Miscellaneous
11
15
Research
1940-1950
11
16
Research
1940-1950
11
17
Research
1940-1950
11
18
Research
1940-1950
11
19
Research
1940-1950
11
20
Reprints
1962-1980
12
6
Request for Permission to Copy
1981
12
7
Request for Permission to Copy
1981
11
21
U.S. Government Correspondence
1964-1965
Chronological
1937-1986
Box
Folder
13
1
Professional Correspondence
1944-1958
13
2
Professional Correspondence
1959
13
3
Professional Correspondence
1960
13
4
Professional Correspondence
1961
13
5
Professional Correspondence
1961
13
6
Professional Correspondence
1962
13
7
Professional Correspondence
1963
13
8
Professional Correspondence
1963
13
9
Professional Correspondence
1964
13
10
Professional Correspondence
1964
13
11
Professional Correspondence
1965
13
12
Professional Correspondence
1966
13
13
Professional Correspondence
1967
13
14
Professional Correspondence
1968
14
1
Professional Correspondence
1969
14
2
Professional Correspondence
1970
14
3
Professional Correspondence
1971
14
4
Professional Correspondence
1972
14
5
Professional Correspondence
1973
14
6
Professional Correspondence
1974
14
7
Project Correspondence
Subseries B: Writings
1938-1981
Box
Folder
14
8
Administration Problems in New Guinea
1955
14
9
Applied Anthropology – Papers and Publications
1942-1951
14
10
Ainu
undated
14
11
Articles I
1942-1961
14
12
Articles I
1942-1961
14
13
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
14
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
15
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
16
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
17
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
18
Articles and Papers II- by Homer Barnett and Others
1954-1961
14
19
Coordinated Investigation of Micronesian Anthropology “CIMA”
1963
15
1
Culture/ Change/ Innovation Papers and Publication
1954-1963
15
2
Culture/ Change/ Innovation Papers and Publication
1954-1963
15
3
Culture/ Change/ Innovation Papers and Publication
1954-1963
15
4
Cultural Survival in Retrospect
1956
15
5
Indians of British Columbia
1941-1944
15
6
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
7
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
8
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
9
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
10
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
11
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
12
“Qualitative Science Manuscripts”
1981
15
13
Northwest Coast Potlatch
1938
15
14
Pacific Sociological Society
1942
16
1
“Pacific Island” Plates for Book
15
15
Reviews
1940-1942
15
16
Reviews
1940-1942
17
1
"Science & Moral Judgments"
undated
17
2
"Yakima Indians in 1942"
undated
17
3
"Yakima Indians in 1942"
undated
17
4
"Yakima Indians in 1942"
undated
17
5
"Yakima Indians in 1942"
undated
Subseries C: Associations and Committees
1939-1982
Box
Folder
18
1
Applied Anthropology, Society of
1942-1968
18
2
Applied Anthropology, Society of
1942-1968
16
2
American Anthropological Association
1946-1953
16
3
American Anthropological Association
1946-1953
18
3
American Association for Advancement of Science Correspondence
1949-1963
18
4
American Ethnological Society
1949-1950
18
5
American Philosophical Society
1939-1949
18
6
Fellowships
1978-1984
18
7
History of Technology, Society for Correspondence
1958-1962
18
8
National Anthropological Archives
1975
18
9
National Science Foundation Letters, Reports
1959-1968
18
10
National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
1961-1963
18
11
NIH Trainees
18
12
National Science Foundation Grant- Study to Displaced Communities in the Pacific
18
13
National Science Foundation Grant- Study to Displaced Communities in the Pacific
18
14
Northwest Anthropology conferences
1940-1950
16
4
Northwest Anthropology Conferences, programs
1951-1969
18
15
Organizations, General
1938-1950
18
16
Professional Anthropological Society, proposed
1939-1947
18
17
Professional Anthropological Society, proposed
1939-1947
18
18
Professional Anthropological Society, proposed
1939-1947
19
1
Society & History, Comparative Studies
1958-1960
19
2
Trust Territories of The Pacific
1951-1952
19
3
Washington Committee, American Anthropological Association
1946
19
4
Washington Committee, American Anthropological Association
1946
Subseries D: Research Notes
Box
Folder
20
1
I- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1969
20
2
I- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1969
21
1
II- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
21
2
II- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
21
3
II- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
21
4
II- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
3
III- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1957-1976
20
4
III- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1957-1976
20
5
III- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1957-1976
20
6
IV- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
7
IV- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
8
IV- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
9
IV- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
10
IV- Cultural Change/ Innovation: Hand Written Notes, and Clippings
1942-1975
20
11
Interviews
1960-1961
20
12
Invention
1960-1982
20
13
Invention
1960-1982
20
14
Journal, Travels
1961
20
15
Logic
1962-1979
22
1
Manipulation of People
1979
22
2
Pacific Islands – Trust Territory
1952-1953
22
3
Palauan Journal
1947-1948
22
4
Palauan Journal
1947-1948
22
5
Photographic/ Film Record
1947-1948
22
6
Photographic Record
1955
Subseries E: Reference Files
Box
Folder
23
1
Eskimo, Aleot, Tlingit, etc.- Captions for Photo Display>
23
2
Eskimo, Aleot, Tlingit, etc.- Captions for Photo Display
21
5
Galapagus Islands Misc. and Correspondence
23
3
“Native Money of Palau” Ritxenthaler, Robert E.
1954
21
6
Oceania-Articles, Clippings, Reports
21
7
Oceania-Articles, Clippings, Reports
23
4
“Shakers & Indian Shakers” Thompson, Darryl
1987
23
5
Shakers Inventions and Improvements
23
6
South Pacific Art
1987
23
7
“The Indian Shaker Church” and Two Photos >
1940
23
8
“Yakima Reservation in 1957” Wilson, Netta
1957
Subseries F: Audio Tapes, Microfilm, Slides, and Photographs
Audio Tapes
Box
Tape
24
1
News- Pidgin & English Broadcast, 7” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, Speed Unknown
24
2
Side 1: Government Autobiography- Karibanang 35min., “Karakin Ten Tabotu”- Eretabeta 15min. Side 2: Royoroyon Kawai- Eretabeta 8min., Autobiography- To The End, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
24
3
Autobiography (Continued)- Tebano, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
24
4
Autobiography- Toben, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
24
5
Gilbertese Interview, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
24
6
Side 1: New Guinea news Broadcast- Pidgin & English, Side 2: Pidgin- Solomon, Kara From Malaita, Pidgin News, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
August 1973-September 1973
24
7
Song and Dance- Titiana, Komaliae, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, 2 Sides, Monophonic
December 1962-June 1963
24
8
Side 1: Song and Dance- Titiana, Kami, Side 2: Song- Nemaia, Teebi, Kaitaia, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, Side 1, 1 7/8 ips Side 2, Monophonic
August 1963
24
9
Side 1: New Years Day Dancing- Titiana, Side 2: Interviews- Toben, Tabora, Tabee, 5” Open Reel Magnetic Tape, 3 ¾ ips, Side 1, 1 7/8 ips Side 2, Monophonic
January 1963-September 1963
Microfilm
Box
Reel
24
1
Ujelang Notes Recorded, pp 1180-1850
24
2
Kili Notes Recorded, pp 1-1250
24
3
Kili Notes Recorded, pp 1251-2419
25
4
Kili Notes Recorded, pp 2420-3091
25
5
Kili Notes Recoreded, pp 3092-3222
25
6
Ujelang Notes Recoreded, pp 1-1179 and pp 1851-2037
25
7
Ujelang Notes Recorded, pp 2038-2088 and Five un-typed Notebooks
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.