Nicholas Curchin Peterson Vrooman received his bachelor's degree at State University of New York, Plattsburgh in 1973 with concentration in American Indian studies and environmental studies.  In addition to a M.S. degree from State University of New York at Oneonta in 1979 in education; he was a Clark Fellow at State University of New York at Cooperstown where he earned a M.A. degree in 1979 in a combined program in history museum studies and American folk culture.  In 1980 he became North Dakota's first State Folklorist with the North Dakota Council on the Arts.  He is the author of numerous articles and books, including Iron Spirits (1982), Turtle Mountain Music (1984), "Land of Vision: Folklore/Folklife and History on the Northern Plains" in North Dakota History (1989), Plains Chippewa/Metis Music from the Turtle Mountains (1992), and Songs for Asking (1997).

Vrooman's collection consists primarily of his recorded interviews on cassette tapes with accompanying transcripts with members of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota.  Automated versions of the transcripts were also donated and are on file.  The interviews deal mostly with Metchif music, but some of the other topics discussed in the interviews are Chippewa music and baskets, dance, woodcarving, storytelling, medicine, and the history of the Metis in the upper midwest and Canada.  Vrooman conducted the interviews over several years (see folder 2 for specific dates).  The collection also includes documents related to other projects/proposals dealing with the Metis in North Dakota. 
 

Literary, Music and Theater