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This file contains material about a meeting with Nancy Howe.
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Document identity
localId
1489424
label
6/10/75 - Alaskan Eskimo Basket
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document
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1
Source metadata
id
1489424
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
6/10/75 - Alaskan Eskimo Basket
description
This file contains material about a meeting with Nancy Howe.
citationUrl
collections
Sheila R. Weidenfeld Files (Ford Administration)
Sheila Weidenfeld's Daily Events Files
subjects
President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities. National Endowment for the Humanities. 9/27/1965-
Arts
Eskimos
Indians of North America
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1
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naId
1489424
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1975-06-30
month
6
year
1975
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1975-06-01
month
6
year
1975
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recordType
description
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nara-archive
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1
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0
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document
url
mediaId
d5c39984ac203f0d
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box 5, folder "6/10/75 - Alaskan Eskimo Basket" of
the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
Digitized from Box 5 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
NATIONAL
WASHINGTON
ENDOWMENT
20506
FOR
THE ARTS
A Federal agency advised by the
RU
National Council on the Arts
March 20, 1975
To: Sheila Weidenfeld
From: Florence Lowe Florence
Subject: Presentation to Mrs. Ford Alaskan Eskimo basket
A highlight of the statewide hearings sponsored by the
Alaska State Council on the Arts was presentation of an
Eskimo basket for Mrs. Ford. This was to be given to
Nancy Hanks to present to Mrs. Ford as a token of apprecia-
tion for the First Lady's interest in support of indigienous
American crafts. Nancy, however, became ill en route to
Alaska and the presentation was made to Michael Straight,
Deputy Chairman of the Endowment. This was a highlight of
the final dinner, attended by 120 arts, civic and education
leaders from throughout this vast state, representing
communities from Anchorage to the smallest and most remote
village.
The basket is a handsome example of Eskimo art; I have the
descriptive background and the name of the artist.
Confidentially, it is sold at the museum for $150, a price
described as a "bargain" by the arts experts. So much work
goes into these crafts that the prices are high and there-
fore there is a problem marketing them. Now that Alaska is
a boom town there is a growing interest in the arts,
particularly folk arts.
11
SUGGESTION: Nancy Hanks meet with Mrs. Ford to present the
basket as the nucleus for a White House crafts collection.
The purpose of the presentation would be to get pictures and
a story for Alaskan papers and possibly for specialized
publications such as CRAFTS HORIZONS. One thought might be
to invite the three-man Alaskan Congressional delegation to
coffee with Mrs. Ford and Nancy. There are many advantages
to latter idea; they could come with wives or perhaps wives
alone and media coverage could be broadened.
Let's talk about it and set up a date very soon. The entire
"ceremony" should take only 15 minutes.
NATIONAL
ENDOWMENT
FOR
U.S.MAIL
THE ARTS
Postage and Fees Paid
WASHINGTON
National Foundation on the Arts
D.C. 20506
and the Humanities
Official Business
Mrs. Sheila Weidenfeld
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
alashan Eshimo Bachet
presentation File
Daily Event
MO
Alaska State Council on the Arts
360 "K" Street, Suite 240
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 272-5342 or 279-3824
June 25, 1975
Patti Matson
Linda S. Smith
OFFICE OF PRESS SECRETARY TO MRS. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C.
Dear Ms. Matson & Smith:
The photographs of Nancy Hanks and Mrs. Ford have
arrived in good order and the enclosed press release is
being distributed with the pictures throughout the state.
We also sent a copy of the photo to Theresa Anthony, which
should be quite a thrill for her.
Thank you for your consideration and attention.
Sincerely,
Roy H. Helms
Executive Director
Enclosure
RHH : rwc
Alaska State Council on the Arts
360 "K" Street, Suite 240 o Anchorage, Alaska 99501 (907) 272-5342 or 279-3824
NEWS RELEASE
From: Margaret J. Firmin
Visual Arts Director
June 25, 1975
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS BASKET TO MRS. FORD
The Alaska State Council on the Arts has presented Mrs. Gerald
Ford with an Alaskan Eskimo grass basket. The basket was presented as
a token of appreciation for Mrs. Ford's continued support of and interest
in indigenous American crafts.
The basket, made by Theresa Anthony of Nightmute, Alaska, is an
example of traditional Eskimo grass basketry. The embroidered design in
dyed grasses depicts a man in a kayak on a seal hunt.
The gift to Mrs. Ford was displayed at the Governor's Awards
dinner which climaxed the three-day State Hearing on the Arts held in
Anchorage during March. The Hearing, which was sponsored by the
Alaska State Council on the Arts, was attended by over 200 arts professionals
and volunteers from throughout the state. Connie Boochever of Juneau,
Alaska, Chairman of the Alaska Council on the Arts requested Nancy Hanks,
Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts to present the basket to
Mrs. Ford in Washinton. Ms. Hanks presented the basket to Mrs. Ford
at the White House on June 10, 1975.
FLORENCE LOWE
9/5
Sheila dear,
Fill
\
This represents
virtually in L+K
paper
CORDOVA, ALASKA
TIMES
W. 1. 000
JUL 3 1975 Buffrelles
Mrs. Gerald Ford [left] receiving Eskimo basket from Nancy Hanks [right], chairman for the
National Endowment for the Arts, at the White House, June 10, 1975.
Council presents basket to Mrs. Ford
The Alaska State Council on embroidered design in dyed art professionals and volunteers
the Arts has presented Mrs. grasses depicts a man in a from throughout the state.
Ford. with em Alegken. leaen Connie. Boochever of Juneau
ALASKA CLIPPING
SERVICE
Anchorage Daily
Times
Anchorage, Ak.
JUN 30 1975
FIRST LADY SUPPORTS NATIVE ARTS
"For her and of the Nacha State
Alaska Clipping
Service
TUNDRA TIMES
Fairbanks, Alaska
LIBRARY
Weekly Circ. 2,098
JUL 9 1975
23
MRS. GERALD FORD (left) receiving Eskimo basket from Nancy Hanks (right), Chairman of the National Endowment
for the Arts, at the White House, June 10, 1975.
Council 23- Presents Basket to Mrs. Ford
The Alaska State Council on the design in dyed grass depicts a man volunteers from throughout
Arts has presented Mrs. Gerald
in a kayak on a seal hunt.
thestate.
Ford with an Alaskan Eskimo
The gift to Mrs. Ford was
Connie Boochever of Juneau,
grass basket. The basket was displayed at the Governor's Alaska, Chairman of the Alaska
a
Fairbanks
News Miner
Fairbanks, Alaska
JUL 10 1975
Betty Ford gets Alaskan basket
Arts council gives
basket 23- to Mrs. Ford
The Alaska State Council on the
the three-day State Hearing on
Arts has presented Mrs. Gerald
the Arts held in Anchorage
Ford with an Alaskan Eskimo
during March. The hearing,
becket The basket was
which was sponsored by the
-
ALASKA CLIPPING
SERVICE
All-Alaska
Weekly
Fairbanks, Ak
AUG 1 1975
Alaska Arts Council Presents
23 Basket To Mrs. Ford
The Alaska State Council on the three-day State Hearing
the Arts has presented Mrs. on the Arts held in Anchorage
Gerald Ford with an Alaskan
during March.
Eskimo grass basket. The basket
The hearing, which was
as
a
token
of
the
Alaska
State