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Henry Schnautz letters

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSS 6288

Scope and Contents note

Series I: The Henry Schnautz letters and correspondence collection includes one archival series, “Henry Schnautz Incoming letters from Eve Ball.” Materials found in Series 1 include seventy-six (76) letters, as well as photographs and newspaper clippings, from Eve Ball to Henry Schnautz. Letters discuss Schnautz’s art work, life on the Apache reservation, activities in New Mexico, and Eve Ball’s work.

Dates

  • 1956-1980

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use note

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Henry Schnautz letters must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Henry Schnautz (1910-) was very interested in the Apache Tribe of south central New Mexico. He painted a series of well-known portraits of Apache leaders and tribal members.

Henry Schnautz was born in 1910 in Evansville, Indiana, to August Schnautz and Ann Ferstel Schnautz. He was involved with the American Communist and American Socialist parties in the 1930’s. Schnautz was also a body guard to Leon Trotsky and his wife Natalia in Coyoacan, Mexico, a suburb of Mexico City, and was with Trotsky on August 20th, 1940, the day he died. He served in the United States Army during World War II, and fought in France and Germany. In the late 1940s Schnautz left the Communist and Socialist parties when ideological debate and conflict developed between the two organizations. Henry Schnautz was deeply interested in Native American history and culture, especially the Apache Tribe of south central New Mexico. In 1956, he wrote the well-known historian of Apache culture, Eve Ball. Schnautz and Ball became friends and collaborators, and their correspondence dates from 1956 – 1984. Schnautz painted a series of well-known portraits of Apache leaders and tribal members; in addition, he contributed financially to a series of Apache projects. Schnautz’s art and his interest in Apache culture and history were frequent topics in their correspondence. Schnautz’s art is located in various churches and institutions throughout the southwestern United States.

Biographical History

Katherine Evelyn Daly Eve Ball (1890-1984) was a well-known historian of Apache culture.

Katherine Evelyn Daly (Eve Ball) Eve Ball was born March 14, 1890 in Kentucky. In 1918 she received a BS degree in education from Kansas State Teacher’s College. Eve’s husband, Joseph P. Ball, was a Captain in the Kansas National Guard, and died in the First World War. In 1934 she received a master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas. She taught school, for a period of time, in Kansas and Oklahoma. In addition she also owned businesses in Hobbs, New Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona. In 1942 she moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico where she devoted herself to the study of Southwest history. A noted oral historian, Ms. Ball authored a series of influential articles and books on the history of the Apache Indians and the American Southwest. She died December 24, 1984.

Extent

1 box (0.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A collection of correspondence from Eve Ball to Henry Shcnautz from 1965-1980, discussing personal dealings, assosciations, and the affairs of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, with whom Ball was closely assosciated.

Other Finding Aids note

More detailed finding aid available in repository.

Custodial History note

Donated by Henry Schnautz and Donna Miller.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated, Henry Schnautz and Donna Miller.

Appraisal note

Utah and American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).

Related Archival Materials note

MSS 6288; Henry Schnautz letters; 20th century western manuscripts; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.

Title
Register of Henry Schnautz letters
Status
Completed
Author
Alicia Lynn Harris, student manuscript processor, John M. Murphy, curator
Date
2009 May
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States