W.E. Manis Collection

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titlestmt
titleproper A Guide to the W.E. Manis Collection
author Finding aid prepared by Daniel A. Reboussin
publicationstmt
publisher id uf Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries
address
addressline University of Florida
PO Box 117005
Gainesville, Florida 32611-7005
Phone: 352-273-2755
Email: special@uflib.ufl.edu
URL: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/
date normal 2004-08 August 2004
p University of Florida. All rights reserved
profiledesc
creation Finding aid encoded by John R. Nemmers, August 2004
langusage Description is written in language langcode eng English.
revisiondesc
change
2006-11 November 2006
item This finding aid was revised in November 2006 by John Nemmers so that it would be in agreement with the 2006 Florida best practice guidelines.
archdesc level collection did
head Descriptive Summary
unittitle W.E. Manis Collection unitdate type inclusive 19391941 1939-1941
unitid label Identification: US repositorycode MS Group 143
origination Provenance: persname Manis, W.E. (Wallace Eugene)
physdesc Extent
extent 2 Albums
repository Repository
corpname Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
abstract Abstract Includes photographic prints, letters and ephemera collected or created by W. E. Manis. The collection pertains to the collector's life and work as a Rubber Planter and later in change of the research department of Firestone Plantations Co. in Liberia, West Africa (1940-41). Manis took the photographs and selected items for inclusion in the two scrapbook albums that constitute this gift, complete in 80 pages of 224 black and white photographs, with about 133 sheets of mostly unpublished typescript letters, manuscripts, mimeos and telegrams.
acqinfo
Acquisition Information
The W. E. Manis Collection was donated by Will and Jean Manis of Sammamish, Washington in June 2003. The collection was acquired through the assistance of Rosemary Manis, Robin Poynor, Susan Cooksey and Dan Reboussin.
accessrestrict
Access
The collection is open for research, with access restriction applied only for a Firestone Plantations Company employee handbook ("General information for the information and guidance of staff and families of Firestone Plantations Company and affiliated companies in Liberia." June 15, 1941). Users with legitimate research interests should contact the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections to apply for research access to this item. This item may be quoted and cited, but it may not be reproduced until further notice. Patrons seeking access to the item must sign a copy of a restriction statement, confirming that they have read and understood the restrictions, and that they intend to comply with these terms.
processinfo
Processing Information
These materials were described in 2003 by Dan Reboussin. The following individuals provided assistance in administrative matters and descriptive work: Susan Cooksey, Svend Holsoe, Mandelyn Hutcherson, Erich Kesse, Fredline McCormack, Rosemary and Will Manis, John V. Miller, John Nemmers, Tim Nevin and Robin Poynor.
altformavail
Alternate Form of Material
Digital reproductions of the photos and documents in the W.E. Manis albums are available online via the extref href http:www.uflib.ufl.eduUFDCUFDC.aspxc africa1 University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC) Africana Collection. Please read the http:www.uflib.ufl.eduufdcdesignmiscpermissions.htm Permissions for Use statement for information on copyright, fair use, and use of UFDC digital objects.
prefercite
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], W.E. Manis Collection, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
bioghist
Biographical/Historical Note
Wallace Eugene ("Gene") Manis was born in Lewiston, Montana on May 20, 1913. He attributed his interest in international travel to the stamp collection hobby that his stepfather, Carl E. Magni, shared with him. He became interested in a career in science by volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton. He studied horticulture at the University of Montana, earning an AB degree in 1935 and completing a Master's (AM) degree at the University of Michigan in 1936.
Manis was working in the doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin School of Forestry when Firestone Plantations Co. offered him a position in November 1939. He accepted the position of Rubber Planter in the Research Department of Firestone Plantations Co. and traveled to Monrovia, Liberia on a freighter in December 1939. He returned to the US in November 1941.
His subsequent career included employment with several other commercial rubber interests as well as with the USDA in Brazil (1942-43), as a pathologist with the US-Costa Rican Cooperative Rubber Plant Program (1943-44) and in Uraba, Colombia (1944-46). He was in charge of the US-Costa Rican Cooperative Rubber Plant Experiment Sub-Station (1947-54) and was a hybrid seed and ornamental plant producer with Linda Vista, Ltd. in Costa Rica (1955-57). He was a plant breeder with the Rubber Research Institute and with USAID in Ceylon (1958-60).
He returned to Africa as rubber research officer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Western Nigeria and with USAID (1961-63). His professional service continued as a research horticulturist in charge of the US plant introduction station, New Crops Research Bureau (1964-73) and as Agricultural Research Officer with the International Programs Division, Agricultural Research Service of the USDA (1974-77). He was a consultant to the UN in Thailand and Burma in 1973, where he worked with the United Nations Program for Drug Abuse Control in Chiang Mai.
A member of the Society for Economic Botany, he held concurrent positions as Adjunct Associate Professor (1966) and as Adjunct Professor with the University of Miami (1967-77). He and his wife, Rosemary, moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1977, and he died the following year.
scopecontent
Scope and Content
The collection consists of two scrapbook albums, dating from November 1939 to November 1941. Materials included begin chronologically with business correspondence by telegram and regular mail relating to his job offer and contract with Firestone Plantations Co., as well as a handful of personal letters prior to his travel, letters offering travel advice for living in the tropics, company manuals and policies, and personal photographs. A 22-page transcribed letter that he wrote to his mother, Mrs. Elsa Magni [his mother's name after remarriage], and his sister, Beth, soon after arriving in Monrovia is also included.
Several examples of informal typescript pamphlets from the company's Overseas Club recreational organization are included (excerpts from several newsletters, a play script, entertainment programs, etc.). Ephemera, mementos and scrapbook items include a small number of manuscript notes or letters from Liberian laborers under his supervision, offering a glimpse of the personal relationships established in the context of this global horticultural and industrial enterprise. Another example, rare in library collections, is a small pamphlet on Kroo (Kru) ethnic history published in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Other examples include two Bank of Monrovia checks with revenue stamps, luggage tags with a customs stamp and the emph render italic S.S. Acadia ship's menu for Thanksgiving dinner. An official letter on company letterhead confirms to Mrs. Magni the departure of her son on Nov. 7, 1941. A Playbill and program for Olsen and Johnson's New Hellzapoppin revue represent the collector's arrival in New York during November 1941.
The photographs are a rich source of visual information, but captions were not included. Descriptive information has been interpreted from the photographs themselves, from a letter written by Manis to his family in Montana (1940), from interviews with Manis and other knowledgeable persons, and from various reference sources. Subjects include scenes encountered and people met on the trans-Atlantic freighter S.S. Cathlamet (December 2-24, 1939), upon Manis's arrival in Monrovia on Christmas Eve Day, during his establishment as a staff member on the Firestone plantation, through his work and recreational activities while working there, and finally at his departure back to New York on November 7, 1941.
Approximately 48 prints are of Americans (ship passengers, plantation staff). About 112 prints depict Africans (primarily Liberians, either as plantation laborers or depicted in a variety of village-based activities such as cooking, construction, childrearing, but also as marketers, craftspeople, and celebrants in several kinds of ceremonial activities). Approximately 64 prints depict plantation or urban landscapes (Monrovia, [Harbel?], [Kakata?]) and a few residential interiors (the latter are presumably of Manis's bungalow, including the masks that served as its decor).
The majority of the photographs are of Liberian men, women and children at work or posing for the camera. Manis himself appears in a few of the photos. He identifies the primary Liberian ethnic groups with which he worked as Gio (who call themselves Dan), Mono (Mano, Ma) and Bassa. The Bassa people are Kruan speakers, like the Kru, while the Dan and Ma people are Mande speakers, as are the Mendingo (Manding), who Manis points out are mostly traders in this area.
relatedmaterial
Related Material
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company's archives are held at the University of Akron, where access may be restricted. For more information on the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company's official corporate archives, please contact: John V. Miller, Director of Archival Services, The University of Akron University Libraries, Polsky Building, 225 South Main Street, Room LL10, Akron, OH 44325-1702, (330) 972-7670
In addition, a portion of the Akron archives was photocopied with permission and deposited as a part of the Liberian Collections Project at Indiana University's Archives of Traditional Music. Information on these materials, identified as the Svend E. Holsoe Collection, is available at: http:www.onliberia.orgcollections.htm http://www.onliberia.org/collections.htm (e-mail: mailto:liberia@indiana.edu liberia@indiana.edu).
W.E. Manis and his wife, Rosemary, donated several important art objects from Liberia to the http:www.harn.ufl.edu Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida, including a Deangle masquerade ensemble pictured in the field at the time of its acquisition.
dsc combined
c01 otherlevel Scrapbook Album 1
c02 One handbook for employees of the Firestone Plantations Company. dao http:www.uflib.ufl.eduUFDCb UF00005172&m hd1J title View Page
c03 "Handbook for Employees of Firestone Plantations Company." http:www.uflib.ufl.eduUFDCUFDC.aspxi 52358 Item
Job offer via telegram and contract letter. hd2J
Western Union job offer telegram stamped Nov. 17, 1939. UF00074656
Firestone Plantations Co. contract for Junior Planter position. UF00074657
Three telegrams with envelopes. hd3J
Telegram 1: personal note from Mother (Mrs. Elsa Magni). UF00074658
Telegram 2: personal note from Betty. UF00074659
Telegram 3: personal note from Beth (Manis's sister). UF00074660
Three letters from Health Service scientists whom Manis met while volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana. hd4J
Personal ms. letter from Cornelius B. Philips on US Public Health Service letterhead. Nov. 26, 1939. UF00074661
Typescript letter from Dr. Gordon E. Davis, US Public Health Service. Nov. 26, 1939. UF00074662
Ms. letter from H.R. Herman dated "Tuesday noon." UF00074663
Photographic prints. S.S. Cathlamet freighter, passengers, tugboats, etc. The ship left Pier 17 in Brooklyn on Dec. 2, 1939. Ports of call were Dakar on the 18th and Freetown on the 21st, arriving at Monrovia on the 24th. hd5J
Photo: S.S. Cathlamet from shore or dock (small lighter boats are alongside). UF00074664
Photo: View of tugboat from aboard S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074665
Photo: Three passengers on deck of S.S. Cathlamet. Mac, a West Highland Terrier, belongs to Perry and Olive Jester UF00074666
Photo: View of S.S. Cathlamet's tugboat from aboard ship. UF00074667
Photo: Crewman on deck of S.S. Cathlamet freighter. UF00074668
Photo: Passenger on deck of S.S. Cathlamet freighter. UF00074669
Photo: S.S. Cathlamet freighter. UF00074670
Photographs of passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet. hd6J
Photo: Olive and Perry Jester, Fran and John Diefenback, Dewey and Mary Miller, Eddie and Helen Kloke, Gravey and Kit Graves, "Mac." UF00074671
Photo: Three passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074672
Photo: Four passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074673
Photo: A passenger on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074674
Photo: Two passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074675
Photo: A passenger on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074927
Photographs of S.S. Cathlamet and the passengers on board. hd7J
Photo: Six passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet (with Mac). UF00074676
Photo: Two passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074928
Photo: One passenger on board S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074677
Photo: Three passengers on board S.S. Cathlamet (with Mac). UF00074678
Photo: Crew and laborers on deck of S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074679
Photo: S.S. Cathlamet from shore or dock (lighters pulled alongside). UF00074680
Photograph of ship, a Kroo pamphlet, and a postcard of African woman. hd8J
Photo: Ship arriving in port (taken from S.S. Cathlamet). UF00074681
"Reasons why Kroo people were never slaves: an historiette of the Kroo Confederacy." UF00074682
Postcard portrait of African woman in traditional dress. UF00074683
Bank of Monrovia check with Firestone watermark, 2 one cent revenue stamps. hd9J
Bank of Monrovia check with Firestone watermark, 2 one cent revenue stamps. UF00074684
Photographs of an African crewman and an urban street scene. Also a folded letter to Elsa Magni. hd10J
An African crewman poses in dress whites on board the S.S. Cathlamet. UF00074685
Typescript letter dated 12/27/1939 advising Mrs. Elsa Magni that her son arrived in Liberia on Dec. 24. UF00074686
Photo: Monrovia (Water Street?). Many pedestrians, African man in white suit, pith helmet. UF00074687
Two photos of palm trees. hd11J
Photo: Palm trees bordering a rural road. UF00074688
Photo: Top of a palm tree against the sky (showing rows of many bird nests on the fronds?). UF00074689
Letter dated Feb. 21, 1940 to Manis from Johnny Cooper requesting work. hd12J
Ms. letter dated Feb. 21, 1940 to Manis from Johnny Cooper requesting work. UF00074690
Seven photos on grounds of plantation guest house with portraits of Liberian servants or workers. hd13J
Photo: Stone guest house with galvanized roof, elevated first floor. UF00074691
Photo: Liberian man in white shirt and shorts posing with long handled brush and shoes. UF00074692
Photo: Liberian man in white shirt and pants posing. UF00074693
Photo: Liberian man in white shorts and t-shirt posing. UF00074694
Photo: Liberian man in khaki shorts and white t-shirt posing. UF00074695
Photo: Young boy in shirt and shorts posing in front of a plantation pickup truck. UF00074696
Photo: Adolescent boy in Western clothes posing with foot on running board of pickup truck. UF00074697
Letter dated Feb. 19, 1940 to Mr. Manis from "Momo" requesting a job. hd14J
Ms. letter dated Feb. 19, 1940 to Mr. Manis from "Momo" requesting a job. UF00074698
Four photos with Liberian children depicted. hd15J
Photo: Two Liberian children, one in Western and another in local dress. UF00074699
Photo: Liberian boy with tethered monkey. UF00074700
Photo: Two Liberians posing in front of elevated (guest house?) residence. UF00074701
Photo: Young Liberian displaying underwing plumage of an African Harrier-hawk. UF00074702
Letter dated March 21, 1940 from R. F. Nyan. hd16J
Ms. letter dated March 21, 1940 requesting transfer to another position. UF00074703
Eight photographs of plantation laborers and one of a plantation office building. hd17J
Photo: Liberian rubber tappers with latex collection buckets. UF00074704
Photo: Plantation building (divisional office?) UF00074705
Photo: Plantation workers in front of collection station. UF00074706
Photo: Plantation workers in open building (divisional collection station?). UF00074707
Photo: Young Liberian man in Western clothing and with glasses. UF00074708
Photo: Liberian man in white shirt and overalls. UF00074709
Photo: Rubber tapping, or possibly tapper training. Tappers appear to be practicing on the stumps of thinned trees. UF00074710
Photo: About 15 rubber tappers sitting on bench in front of tapping buckets at collection station. UF00074711
Note dated Feb. 9, 1940 ("Dear Boss, Please come help immediately..."). hd18J
Ms. note requesting medical help for a fellow worker wounded by a razor in a fight. UF00074712
Five photos of the rubber plantation depicting a road, tapping techniques and saplings. hd19J
Photo: Rubber tree with 30 degree, 1 mm. cut for tapping, porcelain collection bowl attached (cuts deeper than a millimeter may damage the tree). UF00074713
Photo: Rubber tree and tree stump with cuts in bark (possibly the result of test tapping and thinning or an example of a training tool for tappers?). UF00074714
Photo: Dirt road through new plantations of rubber saplings. UF00074715
Photo: Plantation of small rubber trees. UF00074716
Photo: A sapling (2 year old trees are 12-14' tall). UF00074717
Ms. letter from Henry Cooper dated Feb. 26, 1939 (sic--must have been 1940). hd20J
Letter from Henry Cooper requesting a pass for his wife to leave the hospital and return home. UF00074718
Five photos of plantation office buildings in a cleared area. hd21J
Photo: Plantation office buildings. UF00074719
Photo: Plantation building. UF00074720
Photo: Possibly nursery areas? (Thousands of acres between Du and Farmington Rivers felled, cleared, burned in mid-1930s). UF00074721
Photo: Plantation office building. UF00074722
Photo: Plantation office buildings on ridge above cleared area. UF00074723
Letter dated March 13, 1940 from Henry Cooper. hd22J
Letter from Henry Cooper, begins "Dear Boss..." Requests help after "a Vai man" named Boymah beat writer's wife. UF00074724
Four landscape photos. hd23J
Photo: Falls on a river in the bush. UF00074725
Photo: Dirt track road with apparently abandoned building (roof has no thatch). UF00074726
Photo: Clearing a forested area. UF00074727
Photo: Reed or cane screens erected on three sides of a leveled earthen floor. UF00074728
Ms. letter dated Sept. 26, 1941 to W.E. Manis from Edward Urey. hd24J
Letter from Edward Urey regarding his pay. UF00074729
Four photos depicting plantation landscapes. hd75J
Photo: Plantation landscape with buildings in background. UF00074870
Photo: Plantation landscape with road, building in background on a hill. UF00074871
Photo: Wide plantation landscape with fence in foreground, buildings behind. UF00074872
Photo: Plantation landscape with large executive residential building on hill in background. UF00074873
Typescript: "Staff assignments. June 2, 1941." hd76J
Staff assignments June 2, 1941 (p. 1 shows Manis in change of research dept.) UF00074874
Ms. Letter dated Feb. 21, 1940. hd27J
Ms. Letter from "Fireman" requesting a hospital pass for his daughter. UF00074735
Five photos of small round houses in different settings. All appear to be built by Firestone rather than indigenous construction. hd28J
Photo: Set of ten or twelve houses set close together on cleared hillside. Apparently company housing or work camp buildings? UF00074736
Photo: Liberian man in Western clothes posing in front of a round thatched house. UF00074737
Photo: Twenty five or more round thatched houses closely set together on flat, cleared land with three Liberians standing. Good example of company built housing, almost military in its straight lines. UF00074738
Photo: Several open, round, thatched buildings (palaver houses or "plava huts"). These outbuildings or kitchens traditionally use "river thatch." UF00074739
Photo: Eighty+ small round thatched houses on cleared hillside (possibly a Firestone plantation work camp?). UF00074740
Five images of house construction. Apparently these are not residences but "plava huts" or kitchens, employing "river thatch." hd29J
Photo: Four men in Western clothes sitting and making construction materials. UF00074741
Photo: House frame without thatch or wall covering. UF00074742
Photo: Two houses, background house framed only, foreground example is thatched. UF00074743
Photo: Thatching the roof on a house. UF00074744
Photo: Man posing in front of a house with frame completed. UF00074745
Five river and landscape photos, two with construction project. hd30J
Photo: River rapids with American man standing in khakis. UF00074746
Photo: River rapids from above, tree stumps in foreground, three figures by the bank. UF00074747
Photo: Construction project behind earthen dam (possibly a dam or bridge?) with a crane and truck. UF00074748
Photo: Two Liberian men entering a cleared area. UF00074749
Photo: Construction project on bank of large river. UF00074750
Six photos of Manis's residence in Liberia, two of exterior and four of interior. hd31J
Exterior photo (bungalow house as provided for American staff at Firestone Plantations). UF00074751
Exterior photo of residence (pickup truck in front). UF00074752
Photo: Manis residence interior with 15+ masks (shows Deangle costume for masquerade now in Harn collections). UF00074753
Photo: Manis residence interior with 12+ masks, Deangle costume for masquerade (now in Harn collections). UF00074754
Photo: Manis residence interior with mask over fireplace, carved figures and other objects on mantle. UF00074755
Photo: Manis residence interior with 19+ masks, Deangle costume for masquerade (now in Harn collections). UF00074756
Photograph of two American women inside a residence. hd32J
Photo: Portrait of two women, one seated other standing holding carved figure. UF00074757
Portrait and two small photos with newsletter clipping from "Planter's Punch" Dec. 15, 1940. hd33J
Photo: Portrait of an American woman in a lounge chair holding a cocktail. UF00074758
Letter to "Dear Miss Fortune" from "Senorita", Research, printed in "Planter's Punch" Dec. 15, 1940. UF00074759
Photo: Plantation guest house with elevated first floor. UF00074760
Small photo of kitchen items (canned ham and other goods, sliced bread) on a table. UF00074761
Three photos of termites: the queen, a mound and surface tube across a road. hd34J
Photo: Large termite mound. UF00074762
Photo: Termite queen held up for camera on a light colored piece of paper. UF00074763
Photo: Termite surface tube crossing a dirt road. UF00074764
Four photos of Americans posing with animals. hd35J
Photo: American man in hunting khakis and pith helmet with rifle, posing with a large unidentified bird. UF00074765
Photo: Manis on boat posing with a barracuda. He loved fishing, but wasn't very interested in hunting. UF00074766
Photo: American man with two young chimpanzees. UF00074767
Photo: Two young chimpanzees hugging photographer's pant leg. UF00074768
Two photos, primarily Liberian men. hd36J
Photo: Young Liberian man posing in front of a Traveller's palm in residential garden. UF00074769
Photo: Roadside group of Liberian and American men with two pickup trucks near thatched roof houses. UF00074770
Three photos of Americans. hd37J
Photo: Two American men and a woman, seated. UF00074771
Photo: An American man and woman, standing. UF00074772
Photo: Two American men and a woman, seated. Manis is on the right. UF00074929
Four photographs: three of land clearing and one of an American couple. hd38J
Photo: American woman posing on a Caterpillar Diesel bulldozer. UF00074773
Photo: An American man and woman, standing at top of a steep hill. UF00074774
Photo: A bulldozer, parked in felled and cleared area. UF00074775
Photo: Bulldozers and other heavy equipment for clearing, with a few Liberian workers. UF00074776
Four photos of Americans at the beach. hd39J
Photo: Three American men and an American woman at a picnic on the beach, three wear pith helmets. Manis is in left foreground. UF00074777
Photo: An American man and woman in pith helmets and bathing suits at the beach. UF00074778
Photo: Three Americans at the beach. UF00074779
Photo: Four Americans, three men and a woman picnic on the beach, all wearing pith helmets or a hat. UF00074780
"Planter's Punch, Firestone Overseas Club newsletter. Harbel, Liberia. Vol. 2, No. 4." hd40J
"Planter's Punch, March 1 and 15, 1941." http:www.uflib.ufl.eduUFDCi 54486
Two photos and a clipping. hd41J
Photo: Street scene, African urban buildings (possibly Kakata, site of the Booker Washington Institute vocational and agricultural school). UF00074782
Newsletter clipping: "New Kakata Road Open" from Division 26 to Kakata. 54365
Photo: Landscape photograph with forest, plantation building in background with water tower. UF00074784
Two photos and a cover of minstrel show program. hd42J
Photo: American men and women seated separately on small set of bleachers (at a sporting event?). UF00074785
"Minstrel show" program: "Firestone Overseas Club presents the Greater Minstrel Shows 9:30 p.m. Sept. 27, 1941. Clubhouse." UF00074786
Photo. American woman on porch of a plantation building, two Liberian employees in background. UF00074787
Three photos of rubber plantation laborers. hd43J
Photo: Long line of Liberian men entering a plantation building. UF00074788
Photo: Large group of Liberian plantation workers with rubber saplings behind them. UF00074789
Photo: Several Liberian men display cloth, other items for sale in front of field of rubber saplings. UF00074790
Three photos of a public event (on the Firestone plantation parade grounds or athletic fields?). hd44J
Photo: A large group of Liberians and Americans surrounds a group of Liberian women. UF00074791
Photo: Acrobats of the Snake Society toss a child between them. UF00074792
Photo: A large group of Liberians and Americans watches a Snake Society acrobat toss child above his head. UF00074793
Two photographs of Liberians. hd45J
Photo: Liberian couple stands for (wedding?) portrait in front of round thatched roof house, man in Western suit. UF00074794
Photo: 31 Liberian men pose for group portrait, three at center in western dress (for wedding?). UF00074795
Eight photographs: return from the hunt. A forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) trophy is displayed. hd46J
Photo: American man with rifle poses over "bush cow" or buffalo trophy. Note Liberian man in hammock, who died, as Will Manis recalled, when the buffalo charged and gored him. UF00074796
Photo: Second American man with rifle poses over buffalo trophy. UF00074797
Photo: Two American men (Manis is on the right) pose over trophy, Liberian men and boys, American woman and children in background. UF00074798
Photo: Three American men, two women, two children in fore with Liberians behind (one in uniform). UF00074799
Photo: American girl about 6 years old in pith helmet stands on carcass holding rifle (with her mother?). UF00074800
Photo: The hunting trophy displayed on ground. UF00074801
Photo: American woman and two children pose in front of raised trophy supported by Liberian men. UF00074802
Photo: Liberian men supporting the trophy. UF00074803
Snapshot of an American woman standing at a tourist site. hd47J
Photo: American woman standing with river falls in background, cabana with hammock, leans on chain fence. UF00074804
A newsletter clipping announcement and a script for "The bride wore red pyjamas." hd48J
"One act play Sunday." Dec. 15, 1940 newsletter clipping. UF00074805
Play script: "The bride wore red pyjamas." UF00074806
Photograph of two American women walking along a dirt road. hd49J
Photo: Two American women walking along a dirt road, Plantation residence in background. UF00074807
Pamphlet entitled: "General Instructions" hd50J
Typescript: "General information for the information and guidance of staff and families of Firestone Plantations Company and affiliated companies in Liberia. UF00074808
Scrapbook Album 2
Three photos of Liberians in local dress. hd51J
Photo: Liberian woman carrying a baby on her back, row of houses in background. UF00074809
Photo: Man in Muslim clothing, probably of Mandinka ethnicity, with white turban or head covering and white robe. UF00074810
Photo: Three Liberians, a woman and two men with baby in older man's arms and on woman's back. UF00074811
Three photos of Liberian adults and children. hd52J
Photo: Two women, an adult man and three children in a cleared forest area. UF00074812
Photo: Two children and an infant in a recently cleared area. UF00074813
Photo: Man in Muslim clothing poses with a woman in local dress (same people as on previous page). UF00074814
Two photos of Liberian men performing traditional tasks. hd53J
Photo: Liberian man making "men's weave" strip cloth with a traditional loom. UF00074815
Photo: Liberian man cutting strips of reed or palm (for house construction?). UF00074816
Three photos of women and children in village. hd54J
Photo: Seated woman beside a sleeping infant and dog. She wears chalk on her face, which is used as a traditional cure and after Sande initiations. UF00074817
Photo: Child with distended belly standing with a crying toddler. UF00074818
Photo: Woman bathes baby in enamel bowl, preadolescent child stands nearby. Houses, mortar, pestles behind. UF00074819
Three photos of Liberians gathering (for market?) in village. hd55J
Photo: Liberian group in village on market day. Women seated with baskets under tree at center. UF00074820
Photo: Liberian group in village. Men seated on cloths spread on ground in foreground. Houses behind. UF00074821
Photo: Liberian group in village. Most people in this image are standing or walking except for two sitting children. UF00074822
Three photos of Liberian men manually sawing planks from large timber. hd56J
Photo: Two men use a large saw to cut a log set in a lashed wooden frame to allow saw to work vertically. UF00074823
Photo: Four men operating two-man saw with large cleared area in background. UF00074824
Photo: Close up view of lashed frame apparatus for sawing timbers into planks. UF00074825
Three photos of Liberian women making crawfish trap baskets and carrying them to market. hd57J
Photo: Young woman emptying crawfish from her traps, long narrow baskets, into a bucket. UF00074826
Photo: Two women carrying crawfish traps on their heads, and holding bouquets of flowers. UF00074827
Photo: Two women and a child seated in front of a house. Younger woman tends a cooking pot while the older woman makes a large flat basket, shares stool with child. UF00074828
Two photos of young Liberians working. hd58J
Photo: Five young Liberian men and women carrying goods on roadside. Several use handmade back packs. UF00074829
Photo: Three young men appear to be carrying bundles or sheaves of rice on their heads. Possibly to shade the sun? UF00074830
Three photos of adult Liberians at work. hd59J
Photo: Liberian woman tends a market stall in village or work camp. She has bitter ball, cola and rice among other things for sale. UF00074831
Photo: Young men sewing with a treadle sewing machines on a porch. Note ceiling mats above. UF00074832
Photo: Seated man at work, perhaps making shoes. He has a kit of leather material at his side. UF00074833
Three photos of Liberian men and women using mortars and pestles. Apparently posed. hd60J
Photo: Young Liberian woman pounds grain in front of house. Two women stand behind, one with winnowing basket. UF00074834
Photo: Two Liberian men using a mortar, each with a pestle. UF00074835
Photo: Two Liberian women using a mortar, each with a pestle. They are posed in front of a reed or bamboo fence. UF00074836
Three photos of Liberians in village setting. hd61J
Photo: Four Liberian adult men eat cassava from a bowl. Cooking fire with pot suspended from tripod is nearby. Underexposed image. UF00074837
Photo: Two Liberian men and a woman holding an infant surround a cooking fire with several metal pots. UF00074838
Photo: Five Liberian men sit on a mat around a bowl. Two houses, a cooking pot, sandals are nearby. UF00074839
Single closeup portrait of a Liberian woman. Her face is adorned with white powder. She wears a batik dress and a plaid headscarf. hd62J
Photo: Portrait of Liberian woman in batik dress with plaid headscarf. She wears chalk on her face, which is worn for Sande Society initiation ceremonies and as a traditional cure. UF00074840
Two photos of Liberian women. hd63J
Photo: Liberian woman with an enamel bowl balanced on her head, carrying an infant on her back. UF00074841
Portrait of a Liberian woman standing with arms folded. She is in front of a house and smiles broadly. UF00074842
Two photos of Liberians. hd64J
Photo: Liberian man posing along a path in the bush, with several women standing in background. UF00074843
Photo: Adolescent girl in ceremonial dress. She may be dressed for a Sande initiation ceremony. UF00074844
Two photos of Liberian men in village. hd65J
Photo: Liberian man displays scarification pattern on his back. Possibly a Poro Society marking? UF00074845
Photo: Two seated Liberian men playing Mancala or "Poo" with pebbles or seeds placed in holes in the ground. UF00074846
Two photos of Liberians in village setting. hd66J
Photo: Liberian man and woman pose standing up for portrait in front of a house. UF00074847
Photo: Liberian man standing with two young women and two older women in front of a house. Possibly the women are this man's wives? UF00074848
Three photos of houses and people in a Liberian village. hd67J
Photo: Large house with a thatched roof, with two women in front. UF00074849
Photo: A group of nine children in the village. Small photo is damaged in lower left. UF00074850
Photo: A group of three young boys in the village, with a preadolescent boy. UF00074851
Three photos of Americans and Liberians handling snakes. Members of the Snake Society keep snakes in their villages. hd68J
Photo: American man in short khakis and pith helmet handles a large snake. UF00074852
Photo: American man in short khakis and pith helmet poses with a large snake. UF00074853
Photo: Manis poses with a Liberian man and woman, each of whom holds a snake. UF00074854
Three photos of Liberians and an American in pith helmet handling snakes. hd69J
Photo: American man in pith helmet and with a holstered pistol poses with several Liberians handling two large snakes. UF00074855
Photo: Liberian man in ceremonial Snake Society dress holds a snake's head in his mouth. American man holds a second snake. UF00074856
Photo: Liberian man in ceremonial Snake Society dress handles a snake. Three musicians with small slit drums, rattles, play amongst several observers. Houses apparently "Gio" or Dan. UF00074857
Four photos of acrobats of the Snake Society performing. Young girls typically are the ones tossed. hd70J
Photo: Adult in ceremonial costume stands over two children performing backbends. Drummers are nearby. UF00074858
Photo: Snake Society acrobatic performance accompanied by several musicians amongst the audience. UF00074859
Photo: Acrobatic performance attended by a group of Americans standing in front of their pickup trucks. UF00074860
Photo: Acrobatic performance with drummers and observers. African and Western style buildings behind. UF00074861
Three photos of Snake Society acrobatic performances. hd71J
Photo: Adult acrobat raises one hand to support a child standing on one leg. UF00074862
Photo: Acrobatic performance with child standing on adult's shoulders. African and Western style buildings behind. UF00074863
Photo: Acrobatic performance with child sitting on adult's shoulders. African and Western style buildings behind. UF00074864
Three photos of an acrobatic Snake Society performance. hd72J
Photo: Adult acrobat prepares to catch a child performer. Drummers are behind with a small audience. UF00074865
Photo: Adult acrobat prepares to catch a child performer. He holds a large knife in one hand. UF00074866
Photo: Adult acrobat prepares to catch a child performer. Drummers are behind with a small audience. UF00074930
Single photo of W. E. Manis standing with Mano performer, who wears a Deangle mask and costume. hd73J
Photo: Manis purchased this Deangle mask and costume after the wearer performed in it for a boys' initiation ceremony. Manis and his wife Rosemary donated it to the Harn Museum of Art in 1978. UF00074867
Two photos of a masked and costumed dancer known as a "Country Devil" or "Bush Devil." hd74J
Photo: A masked and costumed dancer. Thatched buildings are visible in background. UF00074868
Photo: Dancer in mask and costume. Thatched building behind, with photographer's shadow visible on ground. UF00074869
Two photos of a dancer in masquerade. hd25J
Photo: Thirteen men and boys pose behind seated masquerade, one with a drum. UF00074730
Photo: Dancer in masquerade performs in front of a male audience. UF00074731
Three photos of a masqueraded dancer, one with a group of Liberian men, women and children behind. hd26J
Photo: Nine Liberian men, women and children pose with drum, flag, other objects behind a masquerade. UF00074732
Photo: Masquerade sitting in front of a small thatched structure (kitchen or shrine?). UF00074733
Photo: Standing masquerade posed in front of a small structure. UF00074734
Two photos of a masked, costumed dancer. hd77J
Photo: A masked and costumed dancer performs in front of drummers and an audience of mostly young men. UF00074875
Photo: A masked and costumed figure performs (possibly a dancer supporting another on his shoulders). UF00074876
Two photos of a masked, costumed dancer (or dancers). hd78J
Photo: A masked and costumed figure performs. UF00074877
Photo: A masked and costumed dancer performs in front of drummers and an audience. UF00074878
Photograph of a masked performer on tall stilts. The "stilt devil" is associated with Snake Society ceremonies. hd79J
Photo: A masked figure on stilts performs in front of a large male audience. UF00074879
Three photos of a masked dancer performing on tall stilts before a large audience of 70 or more men. hd80J
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts in front of a large audience of more than 70 young men. UF00074880
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts. An American squats in the foreground. UF00074881
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts. An American man squats in the foreground. UF00074882
Three photos of a masked dancer on tall stilts. hd81J
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts in front of a large audience. UF00074883
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts. One leg is raised up. UF00074884
Photo: Masked dancer performs on tall stilts. Performer is bending low or kneeling on the stilts. UF00074885
One photo of masked dancer on stilts, resting against a thatched roof. hd82J
Photo: Masked dancer on stilts, resting against a thatched roof. UF00074886
Six photos of masks (objects on plain white background). hd83J
Photo: Mask 1. Tufted figure. UF00074887
Photo: Mask 2. Figure with two horns. UF00074888
Photo: Mask 3. Figure with short curved horns. UF00074889
Photo: Mask 4. Bird figure. UF00074890
Photo: Mask 5. Monkey figure. UF00074891
Photo: Mask 6. Figure with six protruding teeth. UF00074892
Six photos of masks (objects on plain white background). hd84J
Photo: Mask 1. Almond-shaped figure with six teeth. UF00074893
Photo: Mask 2. Mustached figure with tusks. UF00074894
Photo: Mask 3. Almond-shaped figure. UF00074895
Photo: Mask 4. Mustached figure. UF00074896
Photo: Mask 5. Figure with crocodile shaped mouth. UF00074897
Photo: Mask 6. Figure with bird beak shaped mouth. UF00074898
Two photos, one depicting three masks and the other with four masks. hd85J
Photo: Four bearded or mustached masks appear to be suspended from nails on a white wall. UF00074899
Photo: Three masks, one with a long beak, another with four sharp metallic teeth, are suspended on a white wall. UF00074900
Travel mementos: luggage tag and customs stamp. hd86J
Luggage tag for stateroom passage on S. S. Acadia. UF00074901
Customs stamp and round luggage sticker. UF00074902
Three photos, ship's dinner menu and a typescript letter. hd87J
Photo: Passenger ship (S.S. Acadia ?) from lighter with Liberian oarsmen. UF00074903
Photo: Group of American men, women and Liberian men (departing passengers, those awaiting arrivals?). UF00074904
Photo: Departure of lighter, ferrying passengers from shore to moored ship. UF00074905
Ephemera. S.S. Acadia menu for Thanksgiving dinner, en route to New York. Nov. 20 1941. UF00074906
Typescript letter dated Nov. 7, 1941 to Mrs. Elsa Magni advising her that W.E. Manis sailed from Liberia on Nov. 6. UF00074907
"The Playbill for the Majestic Theatre" (describing "Olsen and Johnson's New Hellzapoppin") hd88J
"The Playbill for the Majestic Theatre." UF00074908
Brochure for "Olsen and Johnson's New Hellzapoppin" hd89J
"Olsen and Johnson's New Hellzapoppin" brochure. UF00074909
Transcribed letter that Manis wrote after arriving in Monrovia. hd104J
Transcribed letter that Manis wrote to his mother, Elsa Magni, and his sister, Beth, soon after arriving in Monrovia (22 pages, dated January 1940). UF00074911