The Peoples of the Pirá-Paraná Collection of Stephen Hugh-Jones and Christine Hugh-Jones
Scope and Contents Note
The Peoples of the Pirá-Paraná Collection of Stephen Hugh-Jones and Christine Hugh-Jones is divided into two series: Audiocassette Tapes and Open Reel Audiotapes. The first series, audiocassettes, is divided into eight subseries. Those subseries are: Reunión San Miguel ACAIPI, Barasana Tapes, Unmarked tape circa 1980, Desana - Rio Papuri (Brasil), Colombia 1991, Recoya Hido, Message Hilda -> Mother 08.96; Ika~ra keti, and Umero Myths. The open reel audiotapes are also divided into eight subseries. Those subseries are: Myth, Description, Conversation, Music, Ritual, Commentary, Chant, and Miscellaneous. It is important to note that a single open reel audiotape can fall into multiple subseries due to the various recordings on a single tape.
Boxes 1, 2, and 3 are stored in Library Storage Facility container A. Boxes 4 and 5 are stored in Library Storage Facility container B. Boxes 6 and 7 are stored in Library Storage Facility container C.
Hyperlinks to the digitized AILLA files are provided within the finding aid.
Dates
- Creation: 1968-1996
Language of Materials
English, Barasana, Bará, Makuna, Tatuyo
Access Restrictions
This collection is stored remotely. Advance notice is required for retrieval. Please contact bensonspecialcollections@austin.utexas.edu
Use Restrictions
Intellectual property rights and indigenous community rights restrictions apply.
Historical Note
Stephen and Christine Hugh-Jones were social anthropologists and published authors of many works concerning history, ethnicity, and the Amazon Forest. Stephen and Christine’s first trip to the Amazon was in 1968, and most recently in 2017. The couple were dedicated to their research, and went to great lengths to incorporate themselves into the culture when conducting participant observation in the field. Stephen and Christine continued to visit the Amazon and the Pirá-Paraná People after their PhD studies, and in 1979 even brought their two children with them. In 1980 Christine began to pursue a medical degree while Stephen continued his work as a social anthropologist with a focus on Amazonia. Both Stephen and Christine have consulted on documentary films on the peoples of the Amazon such as War of the Gods and Ignacio’s Legacy. Stephen is now a Life Fellow at King’s College in Cambridge and Christine is a medical doctor for the unhoused population.
This archival collection contains audio recordings relating to the languages, culture, society and history of the Tukanoan-speaking Barasana, Bará, Eduria, Itana, Karapana, Makuna and Tatuyo peoples living in and around the basin of the Río Pirá Paraná in the Departamento del Vaupés in Southeastern Colombia.
The archival collection is the outcome of the Hugh-Jones’ repeated visits to the Pirá Paraná region from 1968 to 2017 for anthropological and linguistic research, for work relating to culturally-appropriate education in collaboration with the Asociación de Capitanes y Autoridades Tradicionales Indígenas del Río Pirá Paraná (ACAIPI) and for film-making in collaboration with Brian Moser, Howard Reid and Wade Davis. Funding for these visits was provided by the Social Science Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, King’s College, Cambridge, the Firebird Foundation, the British Museum, La Fundación Gaia-Amazonas, UNESCO, Granada Television and Central Television.
Full Extent
3 linear feet
Abstract
This collection consists of audiocassette and open reel audiotape recordings of the Tukanoan-speaking people of Southeastern Colombia.
Acquisition Information
Donation.
Additions
No further materials are expected for this collection.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Grace Bonilla, 2023.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- The Peoples of the Pirá-Paraná Collection of Stephen Hugh-Jones and Christine Hugh-Jones
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection
- Date
- 2023.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Dacs)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2025 July: Revised by Ryan Sullivant to fix validation errors prior to ingestion into ArchivesSpace.
Repository Details
Part of the Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Repository
2300 Red River Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4578
bensonspecialcollections@austin.utexas.edu