Summary: Over a hundred years ago a Franciscan friar and self-taught photographer, Simeon Schwemberger dramatically captured the life of Catholic clergy, Navajo people, and others in the Southwest. Curatorial Museum Specialist Karrie Porter Brace, Curator of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center Joyce Martin, and University Archivist Rob Spindler promote Schwemberger Photographs, an exhibition of large format images taken between 1902 and 1909 by Brother Simeon Schwemberger of St Michael’s Mission in northeastern Arizona. Karrie gives us background on Simeon from his time as a missionary at St Michael’s Mission, to his later life after he left the mission, which is still one of the highest rated Navajo Catholic schools in the southwest. Joyce discusses the natural settings of the images and compares Schwemberger’s photographs to his contemporaries like Edward S. Curtis. Rob explains how ASU received and took curatorial charge over this large collection of glass plate negatives. He also talks about the amazing trip moving 1700 pieces of 100 year old glass from the mission in Window Rock, Arizona to Tempe. We also hear about Katharine Drexel, the United States second canonized saint, who funded the mission. Download Podcast MP3 Audio The true story of the Schwemberger Photographs is one of trust and collaboration. The fact that these photos have survived this long and are being preserved and made available here at ASU is really a testament to the beautiful trust relationship built between the Franciscans of St Michaels Mission and the Navajo Nation. – Rob Spindler The exhibition will be on display in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center (2nd floor) and the Luhrs Gallery (4th floor) of the Hayden Library for the Spring 2011 semester. Episode 112 Host: Fred McIlvain Guests: Karrie Porter Brace, Joyce Martin, Rob Spindler Running Time: 21:52 Image information: Church, CP SPC 331.50: 578, Schwemberger Franciscan Southwest Mission Collection, Arizona Collection, ASU Libraries Music: Chemma Chi (Disturbed)by DJ_Rkod
