The series consists primarily of material accumulated and/or created by Gillian Darling Kovanic during her travels abroad, both as a student of anthropology and a filmmaker. This series includes field research conducted by Kovanic with the Kalash in Pakistan, the Kom/Kati tribes in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Orissa in India, the Haida on the Queen Charlotte Islands [Haida Gwaii], British Columbia and the Kwakwaka’wakw in Alert Bay, British Columbia. Much of her fieldwork is made up of a study of the languages and cultural practices of the people being studied.

Included in the series are eleven field notebooks, a handwritten Kalash’a dictionary, a notebook containing information on the ethnographic materials collected by Darling, which now reside with the Royal Ontario Museum, and approximately 4502 photographs, including slides, negatives, prints and digital photos. Also included are a number of academic and popular articles collected by Kovanic, which compliment her field research, including a unique, handwritten article by Wazir Ali Shah, secretary to the last ruler of Chital, Mehtar, in 1977, which was written after the original manuscript was lost. The series also contains published material, comprised of a teaching kit titled “Kalash Bread-making: From Field to Feast” and the Wakhi Language Book by Haqiqat Ali.

[rr_0004t1a] Item is a recording of the opening of the exhibition Cycles: The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson, presented by Dr. Michael Ames. Speakers include exhibition curator Marjorie Halpin, Hilary Stewart, Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joe David, Cline Davidson (father of Robert Davidson) and Robert Davidson. Item dated dated October 30, 1979.

[rr_0004t3a] Item is a recording of a CBC Radio review of Hilary Stewart's book Robert Davidson, Haida printmaker and Audrey Hawthorne’s book Kwakiutl Art. Item dated November 12, 1979.

[rr_0004t4a] Item is a recording of Marjorie Halpin in discussion with Robert Davidson in the UBC MOA Theatre Gallery. The event was the first in a four part MOA Public Series event titled Art As Language, which was held in conjunction with the exhibition and publication of Cycles: Graphic Art of Robert Davidson, curated by Marjorie Helpin. Item dated November 11, 1979.

[rr_0004t2a] Item is a recording of Marjorie Halpin in discussion with Robert Davidson in the UBC MOA Theatre Gallery. The event was the second in a four part MOA Public Series event titled Art As Language, which was held in conjunction with the exhibition and publication of Cycles: Graphic Art of Robert Davidson, curated by Marjorie Helpin. Item dated November 11, 1979.

File contains images of Heiltsuk masks housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum. It also contains an image of an "Egyptian head with curly hair," and two postcards from the Field Museum of Natural History.