p2312 HENRY SISSON ELY: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Kathryn A. Johnson Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Dennis Meissner May 23, 2006Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Ely, Henry Sisson, 1847-1908. Henry Sisson Ely papers. undated, 1907-1908. Translations of reputed Ojibwe legends from the Duluth area, and other miscellaneous writings by Ely on Ojibwe customs, religion, child rearing, games, and other cultural aspects. They are supplemented with some biographical and genealogical information, largely from published sources. 0.1 cu. ft. (2 folders in partial box). See Detailed Description for shelf location. BIOGRAPHY OF HENRY SISSON ELY

Ely, an accountant by profession, was born in LaPointe, Wisconsin on May 22, 1847, the son of Edmund F. and Catherine (Goulais) Ely. After his father ended his work as a missionary, the family moved to Duluth (1854), becoming pioneer settlers of the town. He served as assistant postmaster of Duluth (1872-1875), lived in St. Paul and Florida (1875-1894), and then returned to Duluth where he died November 23, 1908. Additional biographical and genealogical information is found in the collection.

 RELATED MATERIALS

Edmund F. Ely and family papers are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

 OTHER FINDING AIDS

A print version of this finding aid is available in the repository; filed as P2312.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Frontier and pioneer life -- Minnesota -- Duluth. Fur trade -- Minnesota. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Boats. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Games. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Legends. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Religion and mythology. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Social life and customs. Ojibwa children -- Minnesota. Pioneers -- Minnesota -- Duluth. Persons: Ely, Edmund Franklin, 1809-1882. Ely family. Places: Duluth (Minn.). Occupations: Missionaries. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Henry Sisson Ely Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples

 Accession Information:

Accession number: 6419

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, September 1998

Catalog ID number: 005325028

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION P2312 Folder 1:

The folder's contents are divided into small sections, each enclosed in a separate sub-folder.

 Biographical materials, 1885, 1908.

Obituaries of Ely from the Duluth Evening Herald (November 23, 1908) and the Duluth News Tribune (November 24, 1908), and a typed extract relating to the Edmund F. Ely family from Nathaniel Ely and His Descendants (1885), which traces the family from 1605.

 "Translations of Certain Birch Bark Manuscripts Now in the Possession of Henry S. Ely, Duluth," 1907. 20 pp., typed.

The birch bark originals contained pictographs of animals and other figures the meaning of which were deduced in 1907 by two white ministers who met with the chief of the Nett Lake Band of Ojibwe. The message deals mainly with religious beliefs.

 Blueprint copies of the birch bark manuscripts, undated.

Copy of the original pictographs translated in the preceding section. There are five numbered sheets, though the translation states there were six items in all.

 "Some of the Customs of the Ojibwa Indians," undated. 12 pp., typed.

Information on courtship rituals, marriage ceremonies, medicine men, and death and burial customs.

 "Manners and Customs of the Ojibwas," undated. 7 pp., typed.

More information on courtship rituals, marriage ceremonies, medicine men, and death and burial customs.

 Narrative number 1: "The Origin of the Grand Medicine," undated. 6 pp., typed.

Describes many aspects of the Grand Medicine ritual.

 Narrative number 3: "By 'Shining Light'," undated. 3 pp., typed.

Contains information on how women were initiated into the Grand Medicine.

 Narrative number 4: "Charles Moulton's Personal Experience with Grand Medicine," undated. 1 p., typed. "Route Travelled by Indians from Leech Lake to Rainy Lake," Photocopy of handwritten text, 4 pp.

A brief description of the route, noting portages and including a sketch map. The original, which is in fragile condition, follows in a separate sub-folder.

 "Naming Children and Other Customs," undated. Photocopy of handwritten text, 7 pp.

Customs used in naming children, fasts, and games including moccasin and ring. The original, which is in fragile condition, follows in a separate sub-folder.

 Unidentified fragment, undated. 1 p., typed.

More information on the Grand Medicine.

 "An Indian Legend Taken from the Papers of Edmund F. Ely," undated. Photocopy of handwritten text, 6 pp. "Manuscript on Indian Boats," undated. Photocopy of handwritten text, 1 p.

A description of the construction of Ojibwe boats. The original, which is in fragile condition, follows in a separate sub-folder.

 "The Indian and the Bear," undated. Photocopies of handwritten original and typed transcription, 6 pp.

A legend relating to Chief Loon's Foot, from the Duluth area. The original, which is in fragile condition, follows in a separate sub-folder.

 Folder 2: Untitled manuscript by Henry Ely, undated. Photocopy of handwritten text, 127 pp.

Contains a biographical sketch of Edmund F. Ely and information on his arrival in Minnesota (1833). There is also information concerning Indian bands, legends, the fur trade, and Indian hunting and fishing activities, all in the Duluth area. These are followed by extracts from Edmund Ely's diaries (1833-1837), with insertions of more Indian legends and other background information. Pagination is confused.

A biographical sketch of Edmund Ely by Henry Ely, undated. Handwritten original and photocopy, 4 pp.

The biography is supplemented by other handwritten documents (9 pp.) concerning Ojibwe names for various places, things, and other Indian groups.