Virginia Hash Collection

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NAU.PH.640.1–223

Volume:: The collection consists of 223 black and white photographs, 77 black and white copy photographs; some with negatives. Some photographs were produced by a panoramic camera then in popular use.
Views include:: Images include Hopi Indian Snake Dances; Hotevila, Arizona; Hopi Indian Reservation; Beaver Creek Schoolhouse; Payson, Arizona townscapes — all ca.1915; Havasupai Indians, Havasupai Canyon, Grand Canyon, Clarkdale, and Jerome, Arizona. Also, portraits of Mary Funston Hash; Edgar Hash and family; Funston family; Hernandez family 1920; Snody family; Northern Arizona Normal School group portrait of 1902, and other campus scenes.
Portrait(s):: Mary Funston Hash; Edgar Hash and family; Funston family; Hernandes family, 1920; Snody family; Northern Arizona Normal School group portrait, 1902
Biographic Note:: Virginia Hash, 1913 – 1988, a third generation Arizonan, was a member of a family prominent in the formative years of Flagstaff. During World War II she enlisted as a WASP – the Womens Airforce Service Pilots. After the war, Virginia secured a J.D. degree at the University of Arizona, was admitted to the bar in 1949, and became senior partner in a Phoenix law firm. She was one of the first women to enter private practice in Arizona. However, Virginia's early interest in aviation never left her. She also headed and served on various boards and committees dealing with development of the Phoenix airport and of aviation generally.
Her grandparents, C. M. and Harriett (Snody) Funston, moved to Flagstaff in 1891, and purchased the Arizona Champion newspaper. Besides publishing the leading newspaper, C. M. Funston became active in the Board of Trade and other business developments in the pioneer community. As a result, the Funstons met and entertained many of the visitors who came West to see the wonders of the Grand Canyon and Hopi Snake Dances. Frequently among these were educators from New Mexico and California. This association may have encouraged Funston to become a founder of the Northern Arizona Normal School (now known as Northern Arizona University), and his daughter Mary, in 1902, was a member of its second graduating class. She married Edgar Hash, formerly manager of Babbitt Bros. general store, who later moved to Phoenix. Mary was the mother of Virginia, and Edgar, Jr. Mary had two sisters, Harriett and Hannah; Harriett married Fred Hernandez.
Restrictions:: See the Curator of Photography regarding permission to duplicate images of Hopi religious ceremonies.
Related Material:: NAU Manuscript Collection #206

Cline Library
Special Collections and Archives Department
Northern Arizona University