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Robert Rankin papers

National Museum of Natural History

Object Details

Creator
Rankin, Robert Louis, 1939-
Topic
Indians of North America -- Southern states
Indians of North America -- Great Plains
Kansa Indians
Kansa language
Yuchi language
Yuchi Indians
Language and languages -- Documentation
Provenance
This collection was transferred to the National Anthropological Archives by Robert Rankin's wife, Carolyn Rankin, in 2014.
Creator
Rankin, Robert Louis, 1939-
Culture
Quapaw Indians
See more items in
Robert Rankin papers
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Wenner-Gren Foundation. Digitization and preparation of sound recordings for online access has been funded through generous support from the Arcadia Fund.
Summary
The Robert Rankin papers, 1886, 1914, 1956-2011, document his field work, research, and professional activities, primarily in relation to his work studying American Indian languages. Rankin was professor of linguistics at the University of Kansas from 1969 until his retirement in 2005. The collection consists of sound recordings, field notebooks, vocabulary lists and bibliographies, dictionaries, research files, slip files, word lists, correspondence, ephemera, notes, readings and reprints, writings, drafts, and teaching materials. This includes materials from Rankin's work with the last native speakers of the Quapaw and Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) languages and subsequent research, writings, and collaborations with tribes and fellow linguists.
Biographical Note
Chronology 1939 -- Born January 17 1960 -- Graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Romance Languages 1966-1968 -- Fulbright Fellowship in Romania researching Romanian dialects 1968 -- M.A. in Linguistics, University of Chicago 1969 -- Started at the University of Kansas as an Acting Assistant Professor of Linguistics 1972 -- Ph.D. in Linguistics, University of Chicago 1972 -- Became an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Kansas 1973 -- Language work with the Quapaw 1973-1974 -- Began work with the Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) language that continued for the rest of his life 1986 -- Became a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Kansas 2005 -- Retired from the University of Kansas 2014 -- Died on February 24 Robert Rankin was a professor of linguistics at the University of Kansas who spent the majority of his career working with American Indian languages in the Siouan language family. He began his career studying romance languages as part of his undergraduate and graduate work and completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Romania (1966-1968) examining regional linguistic differences. He began teaching at the University of Kansas in 1969 and was introducted to the Choctaw language in Summer 1972 while teaching a field methods course. He became fascinated with American Indian languages and started working with the remaining native speakers of the Quapaw tribe in early 1973. When there were no more native speakers left, he started working with the Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) language. When he began this research in 1973-1974, there were only four fluent speakers of Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) left. He continued studying the language until well after his retirement from the University of Kansas in 2005. Rankin died on February 24, 2014 in Kansas City, MO. Sources consulted: "Robert L. Rankin obituary," Lawrence Journal-World, March 1-5, 2014 http://obituaries.ljworld.com/obituaries/ljworld/obituary.aspx?pid=169905179
Extent
31.77 Linear feet (55 boxes, 1 map folder)
196 Sound recordings
Date
1886, 1914, 1956-2011
Archival Repository
National Anthropological Archives
Identifier
NAA.2014-16
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Field notes
Citation
Robert Rankin papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Arrangement
The Robert Rankin papers are arranged in 9 series: Series 1. Quapaw, 1972-1991, undated; Series 2. Kaw (Kansa, Kanza), circa 1970-2011, undated; Series 3. Field notebooks, 1981-1983, 1995, undated; Series 4. Subject and correspondence files, 1886, 1956-2007, undated; Series 5. Conferences and professional associations, 1974-2010; Series 6. Writings, 1975-2010, undated; Series 7. Teaching and academic files, 1973-2006, undated; Series 8. Romanian study, 1914, 1962-1972, undated; Series 9. Sound recordings, 1963-1987, undated.
Processing Information
The papers of Robert Rankin were received loosely labeled by topic, but required extensive rearrangement during processing to deliniate series. Files were mostly well labeled and original file titles were maintained throughout the majority of the collection. This includes Rankin's file titles regarding American Indian languages and tribes, however the archivist used standardized names for tribes and languages in the front matter and notes. Sound recordings 075-076 were discovered to be copies of other material, so these numbers no longer exist in this collection. Processed and encoded by Katie Duvall, 2016
Rights
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Selected Bibliography
1978. -- Word final high vowels in Rumanian: problems in synchronic and diachronic dialectology -- . with J. R. Swanton. 2002. -- An Ofo grammar sketch. -- [Kansas]: University of Kansas. with Cumberland, Linda A. 2012. -- Kaanze Ie Wayaje: an Annotated Dictionary of Kaw (Kanza). n.d. "The Unmarking of Quapaw Phonology: A Study of Language Death". -- Kansas Working Papers in Linguistics -- . with Richard T. Carter, Willem de Reuse, Randolph Graczyk, A. Wesley Jones, John E. Koontz, David S. Rood, Patricia A. Shaw, and Paul Voorhis. "Comparative Siouan Dictionary." Comparative Siouan Dictionary. Accessed November 17, 2016. http://csd.clld.org/.
Genre/Form
Sound recordings
Field notes
Scope and Contents
The Robert Rankin papers, 1886, 1914, 1956-2011, document his field work, research, and professional activities, primarily in relation to his work studying American Indian languages. The collection includes sound recordings, field notebooks, vocabulary lists and bibliographies, dictionaries, research files, slip files, word lists, correspondence, ephemera, notes, readings and reprints, writings, drafts, and teaching materials. The 196 sound recordings include material from Rankin's work with the last native speakers of both the Quapaw and Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) languages. The collection includes extensive research on these languages along with research on other facets of the Siouan language family. Rankin's close collaboration with colleagues and tribes is well documented, especially his work with linguists John E. Koontz and W.L. Ballard, as well as his contributions to language documentation efforts including the Handbook of North American Indians, the Annotated Dictionary of Kaw (Kanza), and the Comparative Siouan Dictionary. The collection also includes sound recordings and notes from Rankin's study of the Romanian language as part of his graduate study.
Restrictions
The Robert Rankin papers are open for research. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice. Computer disks are currently restricted due to preservation concerns. Access to the Robert Rankin papers requires an appointment.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1503510308966-1503510308986-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw3257614ac-03d5-427a-a906-23acf35a60c6

In the Collection

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  • Sound recordings

  • Subject and correspondence files

  • Sound recordings

  • Sound recordings:

  • Skagit:

  • Sound recordings

  • Kaw (Kansa, Kanza)

  • Kansa: Pow wow dances, Ralph Pepper

  • Yuchi: Corn speech, island speech; Stories

  • Tape 5: Bill Staley; Nancy Harry

  • Skagit texts, story told in Skagit language (Mrs. Louise Joe)

  • 1. Jiwele Baxoje, book 1; Robert Moore, conversations and sentences (basic unedited material for book 1)

  • Abaza texts II

  • Unlabeled sound recordings

  • Tape 1: Nellie Cahivi ?, Ekalarney Cahivi ?; Madison Bucktroo ?, Nancy Wildcat

  • Skagit texts, stories and songs recorded by Mrs. Anderson

  • Kiowa songs

  • 4. Joe Younge, Otoe, cont.; Sermons and songs, Ioway, Otoe

  • Moldovian dialects, fieldwork

  • Tape 3: Addie and Locher Green; Locher Green text

  • Skohomish Salish 1-3

  • Addie's texts

  • #11 Mrs. Liza George conversations; Polly and Ida Clinton's conversation, Ida's text

  • Ponca gospel hymns, Joe Standing Bear

  • Mrs. Loches Green, Ida Clinton

  • Abaza texts I

  • Ponca 1-5

  • Moldova, Cerngau, and Maramures

  • Ponca vocabulary

  • Quapaw vocab and texts

  • Maude Supernaw "Quapaw Prayer"

  • Quapaw vocab (includes Mrs. Mary Redeagle, Miami, Oklahoma)

  • Tape 2: Seymour Frank, John Tiger, Sarah Felix, 3 Waxing Tiger stories, Goldie Littlehead; John and Acey Snow, Segie Bighead

  • #3 and #6: E. Sheline Couley, Eliza Washburn, Sapulpa

  • Moldova folklore and texts

  • Transylvania dialectology

  • Addie George, Columbus, GA

  • Tape 4: Liza George; Louvanna Barnett

  • Abkhaz and Kabardian (words and numerals)

  • Polly Long 1-2

  • Bucovina dialects

  • Muntenia (Muntenian dialectology)

  • Basarabian dialects from Radio Chrisinau

  • Two repetitions of the Lord's Prayer in the Kansa language; One repetition of the story of the man and the snake and part of the English translation of the story

  • Kansa, Ralph Pepper I-IV

  • Stomp dance, Kellyville Sq, Oklahoma

  • Kansa 1-14

  • Skagit language texts I-VIII

  • 2. Robert Moore, cont.; Sarah Roubadeaux, et al, Ioway

  • 3. Sarah Roubadeaux, cont., Northern Ioway; Joe Younge, sentence analysis, Otoe

  • Audio iconMeglenite texts I, Cerna, Dobrogea (Megleno-Rumanian)

  • Tape 6: John Brown; Ada Harry

  • Tubatulabal

  • Kansa Dictionary 1-14

  • Folk dance II-III

  • Questions and answers on the Skagit negative, Mrs. George informant

  • Bihor and Crisana (Bihor dialects)

  • Madison Bucktroo ?, with Addie interpret

  • W.L. Ballard

  • Quapaw

  • Romanian study

  • Ioway, Otoe:

  • Sound recordings

  • "Muskogean pronominal affixes"

  • Quapaw names

  • Headstone (photographic prints of)

  • Siouan and Caddoan Languages Conference (SCLC):

  • RLR publications and manuscripts

  • Timucua

  • Quapaw paper from Haas Festival

  • Comparative linguistics workshop, University of Michigan

  • University of Colorado, Siouan word lists

  • Morpheme concordance, GSU computer center printouts

  • RLR, Oneota and ling.

  • Bird names

  • Kaw grammar notes

  • Linguistics 910, S.E. seminary handout

  • Typology (Linguistic Institute)

  • Vocabulary card file (unlabeled)

  • Quapaw handbook article draft from Michael Hoffman

  • Slip files: Muskogean

  • Omaha music

  • Nicklas; Crawford

  • Comps I dictionary project

  • Osage plants

  • 747

  • Kansa-English, English-Kansa lexicon

  • EPH 'tongue'

  • Unlabeled (probably Azerbajani Turkic)

  • Ergativity papers

  • Mandan long vowels

  • CAIL (Center for Advanced Liguistics)

  • Musk. Natural History terms, Broadwell, M.S.

  • 6th Siouan conference handouts

  • Siouan statives

  • Ioway, Otoe II

  • Preliminary sketch of the Omaha-Ponka language

  • "In Remembrance" from funeral of Maude Rowe

  • Pat Shaw

  • Maps

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View Finding aid

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