Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials

Collection

Identifier: RC2021-009

Staff Only

Finding Aid for the Arthur & Shifra Silberman Native American Art Collection

Scope and Contents

The Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials is arranged by material type: stereographs and graphic materials. The original order of the materials (presumably created by either McHalley or Arthur Silberman, who gifted her the items) was maintained. The stereographs are grouped by subject. Some alternate photographic materials - cabinet cards, postcards - are mixed in at the end of the run. The graphic materials are currently stored in the portfolio binder they were originally donated in, with multiple objects grouped on some pages. To see the layout, please view the Box 5 digital object at the top of the page.

Note to Researchers: This collection contains sensitive materials that include biased and outdated language. The Dickinson Research Center has presented the materials as-is to maintain their historical context.

Dates

circa 1875-circa 1950

Creator

McHalley, Arleen (Person)
Silberman, Arthur, 1929-1995 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials has no restrictions and is available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials is the property of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Materials, even if owned by the NCWHM, may be protected under third party copyright. It is the patron’s responsibility to research and secure any such additional copyright and pay any required fees or royalties. It is not the intention of the NCWHM to impede upon any third party rights, and the NCWHM cannot be held responsible if the patron is involved in legal action due to violation of third party copyright claims.

Biographical / Historical

This collection was given to Arleen McHalley by Arthur Silberman for research purposes. At the time of his death in 1995, Arthur Silberman was engaged to Arleen McHalley. Arthur Silberman and his first wife, Shifra, founded the Native American Painting Reference Library in 1975, to collect and preserve the history of Native American art, particularly the Kiowa Six.

The stereographic materials in this collection are specifically related to Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. Fort Marion, which is now referred to as its historical name of Castillo de San Marcos, was the site of an United States Army base. While an Army base, Fort Marion was used as a prison to incarcerate members of various Native American tribes. The style of Native American art known as Ledger Art originates from this period of imprisonment.

For more information about Arthur Silberman, the Native American Painting Reference Library, Fort Marion, or ledger art, please visit the finding aid for the Arthur & Shifra Silberman Native American Art Collection, which is linked at the top of this page.

Extent

2.50 Linear Feet (4 stereograph boxes and one oversized binder (row 10))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials contains 349 stereographs and a selection of Native American-themed advertising and graphic materials.

Processing Information

The Arleen McHalley Collection of Arthur Silberman Native American Materials was donated to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 2021 by Arleen McHalley.