The fonds consists of records created and/or accumulated by Sawyer, predominately during his time as a professor and as a researcher at the University of British Columbia. Presently, there are two series in this fonds reflecting Sawyer’s research on the artifacts of Northwest Coast First Nation communities, including the: Tlingit; Haida; Tsimshian; Gitxsan; Nisga’a; Kwakwaka’wakw (formerly Kwakiutl); Nuxalk; Nuu-chah-nulth (formerly Nootka); and Coast Salish First Nations. The series contains slides, scrapbooks, photographs, textual records, and ephemera.
Series consists of the video recordings about, by, or related to the Museum of Anthropology. Video recordings can be found in many collections and fonds in the MOA Archives; the recordings in this General Media collection are those that do not belong to a more specific archival collection, usually because their provenance is not known.
List of classroom rules from the Morley Residential School, likely typed up by Telfer. There are rules for the children and for teachers. The document is typed on letterhead for "Indian Residential School, United Church of Canada, Rev. E.J. Staley, Principal, Morely, Alta."
Programme for an "Indian Musical Festival, held yearly. Three bands competing: Chiniki, Wesley and Bearpaw Bands." Includes times of performances and songs sung. Songs are mostly Christian hymns.
Document describing the Owl Dance, a lodge, and a method of torture. The specific culture/place related to these descriptions is not clear. "Catlin" is written at the bottom, either as the author of the document or the source of the information.
Document contains an account of a visit to Cardston, Alberta, likely to St. Paul's St. Paul's Anglican Residential School on the Blood reserve. The author of the document is unknown.
Description of the Stoney Nakoda Nation, likely from the perspective of Telfer. Includes observations about the Stoney reserve, homes, seasonal activities, payments to the Stoney from the federal government and the Calgary Power Company, dress, gender dynamics, religion, food, the Annual Singing Festival, and names.