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William Sherwin Broadhead papers, 1836-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Broadhead, William Sherwin, 1930-2004
Title
William Sherwin Broadhead papers
Dates
1836-1989 (inclusive)
1960-1980 (bulk)
Quantity
10.62 cubic feet (10 boxes)
Collection Number
6177 (Accession No. 6177-001)
Summary
Papers related to Broadhead's various roles in organizations dedicated to Indian affairs
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

William Sherwin Broadhead was born Thomas, Idaho on October 15th, 1930. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Broadhead attended Idaho State University and graduated in 1956. He continued on to Law School at Montana State University and George Washington University. He worked as a police officer during his time in Law School and, after graduation, served as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Ralph Harding. In 1963, Broadhead was admitted to the Idaho Bar Association.

Broadhead was instrumental in creating the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) group, a Peace Corps off-shoot which helped to fight poverty around the US. During his work with VISTA, Broadhead witnessed the appalling living conditions in Native American reservations. He made it a mission to reform government treatment of Native Americans, including a plan to promote Native Americans to positions of power within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Broadhead became the Superintendent of the Colville Confederated Tribes during the Nixon Administration. Bin the mid-1970s, Broadhead moved to DC and began working as Legislative Assistant for the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs under the direction of Senator Jim Abourezk.

Broadhead began working with the American Indian Policy Review Commission and helped to establish a new policy towards Native American Tribes known as “self-determination”. He also advocated on behalf of tribes for improved healthcare, education, and welfare programs. During this time, Broadhead worked with or in connection with other organizations including the Institute for the Development of Indian Law (IDIL) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

In 1975, Broadhead moved to Reardon, Washington and in 1981, he purchased a small grocery store, which he ran with his wife, Carol. Broadhead died on January 30th, 2004.

Adapted from: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=w-sherwin-broadhead&pid=1877436

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Content Description

Collection contains materials related governmental organizations and offices, legal organizations, and Native-run organizations to which Sherwin Broadhead was either a member or supported. Collection also contains materials related to individual tribes throughout the United States as well as specific tribal issues, such as self-determination and land management and use. These materials were most likely used to support Legal Curriculum training through the Institute for the Development of Indian Law, which Broadhead helped to run. Material types include correspondence, speeches, notes, legal cases and supporting materials, reports, surveys, meeting minutes, tribal constitutions and bylaws, tribal historical perspectives, and curriculum guides, marketing materials.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into five series:

Series 1: Correspondence

Series 2: James Abourezk

Series 3: Organizations/ Offices

Series 4: Legal Issues and Rights

Series 5: Tribes and Reservations

Acquisition Information

Carol Broadhead, 2016-04-19.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indian reservations
  • Indians of North America--Education
  • Indians of North America--Fishing--Law and legislation
  • Indians of North America--Northwest, Pacific--Government relations
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Water rights--West (U.S.)

Personal Names

  • Broadhead, William Sherwin, 1930-2004--Archives
  • Echohawk, John--Correspondence
  • Hunter, Robert M. (Robert Miller), 1895-1952--Correspondence
  • Ottinger, Richard L. (Richard Lawrence), 1929---Correspondence
  • Whitebear, Bernie--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Portland Area Office
  • Volunteers in Service to America


2018 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)

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