[Photographs of the Heard Museum Indian Fair]

Phoenix, Arizona, 1969. Near fine. 24 contact sheets each measuring 8" x 10", with a total of 196 images; three 8" x 10" photographs are also included. Most images measure 3" x 2½". Generally near fine or better; five of the contact sheets are trimmed and missing a few images each.

This is a collection of photographs related to an art fair and other events at the Heard Museum in April 1969. The museum was initially founded in 1929 and closed for eight months beginning in the summer of 1968. It reopened with a gala on March 29, 1969. Per contemporary news accounts, that reopening coincided with "a 10-day celebration featuring dances and arts and crafts displays by tribes from the United States, Canada and Mexico."

The photos here document the events of the celebration with all but a few showing Native Americans and/or their art. Approximately 85 shots are devoted to an arts and crafts fair where we see Native Americans exhibiting their works for sale. Identified vendors include Navajo Community College and Philip Cassadore. Cassadore was a musician who made several records related to Apache songs and music. Other images here include a sand painting demonstration, a woman weaving a rug, and several show Native artists sketching or painting.

The non-art show images show Native Americans in traditional clothing participating in dances, some show an awards ceremony, and others show some of the smaller events of the festival. The three 8x10s each show a Native American in traditional clothing.

Terrific images of an under-documented Native American event at the Heard Museum.