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Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library© 2000 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department
The collection is without restrictions.
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Henry H. Presler, Papers, 1949-1989, Accession #11208, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
The Dr. Henry H. Presler Archives were given to the University of Virginia Library by Marion C.A. Presler, Fargo, North Dakota, on October 18, 1995, and are unrestricted.
This collection consists of research materials, 1949-1989, ca. 350 items (53 Hollinger boxes and ca. 170 oversize items, ca. 40 linear shelf feet) including bound volumes, picture albums, maps and binders of computer print-outs, pertaining to basic case studies of ca. 4,010 religious institutions in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India and its immediate environs, conducted by Dr. Henry Hughes Presler, Fargo, North Dakota, and his associates. Dr. Presler received his education at the North Dakota State University (B.S.), the Boston University School of Theology (B.D.), and the University of Chicago (Ph.D.).
The case studies were based on field work observations made since India's independence in the region of Jabalpur, in central India, a valley three miles wide and seven miles long, with the west end opening upon the Narmada River, one of India's seven sacred rivers. Dr. Presler, director of the Department of Organized Research (D.O.R.) supervised about 100 field workers, seven typists, and about 200 student helpers in this endeavor from 1949-1972. Each field worker attempted to describe and explain the religious institutions and practices in his own section. The case studies include much information valuable to the historian of Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Tribal religions in India.
The type of information included in each individual case study may include: "Geographical location, natural area, religion, sect, dimensions of structures, name of institution, functionaries, functions, income, daily rituals, festivals, constituency (single caste, mixed castes, social status, economic grade, formal education, language), management special week days, whether dead, deserted, or living property ownership, endowment if any, religious experiences (apparitions, ecstasy, cures, etc.), images (human form, animal form, stones), signs (colors, slogans, symbols, ornaments, astral, geological formations), sacred trees and shrubs, ritual accouterments (books, sounds, smokes, etc.), magic, evil eye, legends, myths, testimonies, stories, history, plus whatever respondents wanted to tell about their religion."
Dr. Presler organized and analyzed his data in ways most useful to quantitative sociologists of religion. In his research, Presler employed statistical analysis and emergent computer technology that has since become somewhat obsolete. A bound volume called by Presler the Key Book (found in Box 1 with his other guides to the collection), 762 pages, contains codes referring to locations on [computer] cards and electronic computer tapes and cassettes. To use the Key Book and the computer print-outs, the researcher should read Presler's pamphlet "Catalogue of Mid-India Field Research (gray binder), especially pages 10-22, which explain the contents of the binders of computer print-outs. In order for researchers to use this collection, they should consult Presler's own guides to this material located in Box 1 and should be allowed to keep Box 1 with them in the Reading Room while using other boxes from the collection.
The Archives follow the original arrangement by Presler
into seven series:
I) Serially bound case studies, Department of Organized
Research (D.O.R.) Reports (Boxes 1A-14);
II) Geographically arranged case studies D.O.R. Reports
(Boxes 14-31);
III) Serially arranged picture albums D.O.R. Reports
(Boxes 31-41);
IV) Bound Ward Summaries (Boxes 42-47);
V) Bound Coding Minutes (Boxes 48-52);
VI) Oversize computer print-outs and maps; and
VII) Oversize volumes of the Kanpur Analyses.
Reading Room staff, please allow researchers to keep Box 1 for reference in the Reading Room as part of the guide and not a box of the collection.
No sixteen hundreds exist
No three thousands exist in these volumes
Numbers 5000-5100 exist only on tape
No sixteen hundreds exits
No three thousands exist in these albums
A dissertation offered for a degree to Yale University, Department of Religion or Anthropology. Estimated to have been written around 1938-1940. xvi, 309 pages, illustrated with black and white photos, biblio, chart in pocket at back. The following is handwritten in ink on the inside cover: "Donated to the University of Virginia in memory of Herman M. Reynolds and Mildred Prichett Reynolds by their children Joyce Reynolds Coupal, Virginia M. Reynolds Nolan, Dr. Roger P. Reynolds. They were missionaries to India 1927-1959"
Binder numbers refer to those numbers assigned by Presler to the computer print-out and written on the cover; for Presler's description see his gray pamphlet "Catalogue of Mid-India Field Research" pages 10-22.
relates the kind of priest to the functions he performs using Discriminant Analysis
discovers how the divinities cluster in small complexes using Factor Analysis
Analysis of Variance re the relationship of socio-economic status to divinities and rituals
Arrays of specific date on tribes, caste mohullas, divinities, etc. with percentages
Arrays of Means or Averages on social status, economic grades, and education by divinities
measures association of functionaries and their functions
explores questions related to cooperation vs. conflict between divinities, functionaries and laymen, and castes
shows the divinities of all religions in the reports, labelled by each institution, with summaries
for Signs only
for Major and Minor Geographical Sections
for Caste Mohullas
for Natural Areas
re Indices for Hindu D.O.R.'s Serialized
re Indices for private, semi-private & public Hindu sites
re Indices for all other religions than Hinduism, each separately
Symbols Program for all 3596 Hindu D.O.R.'s, unrestricted
Project XII pertaining to 4631 functionaries, 37 kinds, all religions
Indices Program applies to gerographical sections (by ward)
Symbols Program applied to geographical sections (by ward)
contains copies of the many programs used on computer, itemwise
examines functionaries using 3 approaches--Indices, Symbols & Labels
examines Clean Shudras & their institutions using 3 approaches--Indices, Symbols & Labels
examines Unclean Shudras & their institutions using 3 approaches--Indices, Symbols & Labels
examines Scheduled Castes (Untouchables and Pariahs) & Tribals using 3 approaches--Indices, Symbols & Labels
applies Indices program to each dimensional class (15 types) of worship buildings
applies the Symbols program to each dimensional class of worship buildings
Likelihood index for analysis of divinities' symbols
applies comparison programs to specific divinities by site and caste
five comparisons of divinities in Project XII
shows which functionaries serve which divinities who are ranked according to spiritual hierarchy and actual usage hierarchy
Presdata Tape Output
re the goddess Khermai
applies Indices program to about three dozen divinities, kinds of religious experience, and forms of magic
applies Symbols program to five different divinities
Individual Functions of functionaries
relates functionary to chains of sits he serves, etc.
shows how many kinds of functionaries normally perform this function
answers question "What kind of functionary do the various castes employ?"
answers question "What does a particular functionary do for a particular caste?"
answers question "What does a kind of fucntionary regard as proper and traditional functions for him to perform?"
uses Project XV only
answers question "What kind of clients invite what kind of functionary to perform for them at the client's site or sacristy?"
answers question "What characteristics distinguish religious institutions with which professional functionaries are connected?"
a comparison program to show what each gropu is supposed to do as religious operatives
roles played by functionaries
roles played by functionaries continued
Symbols program run for sites with professionals only
Symbols Program run for sites with professionals only
explores what each functionary does at private, semi-private & public D.O.R. sites
applies the Indices program to the groups in Binder #1012 for comparison
applies the Indices program and the Labels-Sums-9 Comparison program to D.O.R. sites as noted in Presler's catalogue
Indices, Symbols, Labels-Sums Comparisons for Functionary 1, divinity 1, and caste 1 per site
explains how Presler recorded the Indices program, Symbols program, & Labels-Sums-10 Comparison program on computer tapes
records how Presler used Statistical Analysis System on some data
Documentation for PRES 10 & 11
Library Listings
explains the logic and procedures for creating the D.O.R. library of data inputs on tape
listing of all Fortran and PL 1 programs used to prepare Presdata file of D.O.R. data
applies the Labels-Sums program to D.O.R. sites with 2-15 divinities per site
relates functionaries to their clienteles by traits of the latter
answers various questions re dimensional classes of sacristies using Jabalpur Valley data
copies of the computer programs written by Presler, listed topically and chronologically
copies of the computer programs written by Presler, listed topically and chronologically (continued)