Are you interested in learning more about the Arapaho language?  You might be interested in a new digital collection from the American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming.The AHC has digitized and made accessible online over 1,600 English-Arapaho dictionary cards and audio recordings of Arapaho language and music from the Zdeněk Salzmann Arapaho Indian research papers. Zdeněk Salzmann was a leader in the field of anthropological linguistics. His primary research interests focused on American Indian linguistics, Czech and Slovak languages and cultures, and Czech settlements in Romania. His study of the Arapaho language began in 1949, when a faculty member in the Sociology Department at Indiana University suggested it for Salzmann’s thesis work. Salzmann traveled to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming for the summers of 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, and 1962 where the project was conducted. In 1963, he finished his thesis entitled “A Sketch of Arapaho Grammar.”

English-Arapaho dictionary card, Zdenek Salzmann papers, #10396, Box 19. UW American Heritage Center

The Zdeněk Salzmann Arapaho Indian research papers, 1851-1986, include photocopied materials from United States and foreign published journals and books, personal notes and research cards, cassette tapes, and film reels that document Dr. Salzmann’s research and life’s work on Native American cultures and languages.

English-Arapaho dictionary card, Zdenek Salzmann papers, #10396, Box 20. UW American Heritage Center

Links to digitized items and additional information about the Zdeněk Salzmann Arapaho Indian research papers can be found in the on-line finding aid at: https://rmoa.unm.edu/docviewer.php?docId=wyu-ah10396.xml or through our digital collections at: https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~29~29

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jamie Greene in the AHC’s Digital Programs Department jgreene@uwyo.edu or 766-3704.