Archives West Finding Aid
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Intermountain Indian School photograph collection, 1955-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (U.S.)
- Title
- Intermountain Indian School photograph collection
- Dates
- 1955-1970 (inclusive)19551970
1958-1962 (bulk)19581962 - Quantity
- 1 box, (0.5 linear ft. )
- Collection Number
- UUS_P0327
- Summary
- Contains publicity photographs taken of Navajo students who attended the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah. The photos were probably taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s and document various school activities including vocational training, classroom scenes, social activities, student artwork, music, theatre, and athletics.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Restrictions
Open to public research.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Historical NoteReturn to Top
In the early decades of the twentieth century federal indian policy revolved around the idea that through education and job training the various Indian tribes could be assimilated into mainstream America. For the nation's largest tribe, the Navajo, Arthur Watkins, Republican Senator of Utah, secured a vacant veteran's hospital in Brigham City, Utah, just days before it was to be sold and transformed into a co-educational military academy in 1948. In May of 1949, Congress approved nearly four million dollars for the remodeling of the school and agreed to educate two thousand students. The school eventually became known as the "world's largest boarding school."
Even though Congress approved funds for remodeling, the former hospital did not lack for resources. Built in 1942, Bushnell Hospital owned over one hundred buildings, four tennis courts, two gymnasiums, four baseball diamonds, and four bowling alleys as well as a swimming pool, a golf course, and a three-hundred seat theater. At it's height, the hospital housed over forty-five hundred veterans and more than 10,000 German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners of war.
In January 1950, the Intermountian Indian School opened to the first five hundred students. The primary goal of educators was to teach these teenage children English and the basic academic disciplines since most of them had not received any formal schooling outside of their tribe. Vocational training was also emphasized as policy planners felt this was the best way Indians could successfully survive in society. The Navajo Nation had reservations towards the school as they felt the system stripped children of their native culture and traditions and that schools should be established on the Navajo reservation. Because of threats to pull their children, school officials proposed to open the school to other tribes and in the fall of 1974, students from twenty-seven tribes entered. Tensions remained high since many of these tribes were long-time enemies and in February of 1975 rioting erupted. During the three-day melee, students injured three officers and destroyed several police cars. Twenty students were arrested. After this incident, enrollment fell and the stability of the school was called into question. Moreover, the federal government, headed by President Richard Nixon, reversed previous rulings regarding the assimilation of Indians and removed federal control. The Intermountian Indian School closed its doors permanently on May 17, 1984.
- Sources:
- Williams, Lewis A. The Intermountain Indian School. Master's Thesis. Utah State University, 1991.
- Reynolds, Dennis Ferron. History of Intermountain School, Brigham City, Utah 1950-77. Master's Thesis. University of Utah, 1968.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains publicity photographs taken of Navajo Students who attended the Intermountian Indian School in Brigham City, Utah. The photos were probably taken for publicity reasons in the late 1950s or early 1960s and document various school activities including vocational training, class-room scenes, social activities, artwork, music, theater, social activities, and athletics.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
CopyrightIt is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Intermountain Indian School photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Intermountain Indian School photograph collection, 1955-1970. (P0327). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The photographs have been separated into seven categories: academics, vocational training, school related activities, athletics, artwork, and miscellaneous.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
(click to view selected images from Box 1) , undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1
Academics, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 1
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:01:01: Aerial photograph of Intermountain Indian
School in Brigham City, Utah |
undated | ||
1:01:02: Negative of 1:01:01 |
undated | ||
1:01:03: A white and black woman examine the ESL
language program. Attached note reads: "ESL Team members proof reading copy of
the language laboratory" |
undated | ||
1:01:04: Students entering school |
undated | ||
1:01:05: Students sitting in classroom while instructor
teaches them English (English sounds written on board) |
undated | ||
1:01:06: Duplicate of 01:01:04 |
undated | ||
1:01:07: Students in classroom learning English
(Instructor points to simple English sentences written on board) |
undated | ||
1:01:08: Girl dissecting a frog |
undated | ||
1:01:09: Five students stand around podium in front of
classroom, giving a presentation(?) |
undated | ||
1:01:10: Students and faculty sit around a table
listening to one girl speak. Included in the photo are Lillian Chavis, Joanne
Yellowman and Wallace Begay |
undated | ||
1:01:11: Female students sitting at desks looking
towards the center girl who is standing |
undated | ||
1:01:12: Male students, and perhaps faculty members, sit
at desks listening to two boys speaking at the front of the room |
undated | ||
1:01:13: Boy speaking into or listening to an audio
recorder |
undated | ||
1:01:14: Girl operates a "Tac X" word flasher while
other students look at screen. An included note states the machine was used to
increase the students' word recognition time |
undated | ||
1:01:15: Four students watch as instructor shows them
how to write a personal letter |
undated | ||
1:01:16: Eugene Bennally poses in front of his science
project, the "Demonstration on Mendal's Law of Heredity." A posted sign reads
that he won first place in zoology |
undated | ||
1:01:17: Students reading books at tables in the
library |
undated | ||
1:01:18: Three students sit in front of their art
projects while fourth student looks over their shoulders. T.K. Begay written on
wooden sign |
undated | ||
1:01:19: Duplicate of 1:01:17 |
undated | ||
1:01:20: Instructor helping girl with
beading |
undated | ||
1:01:21: Three students with microscope dissecting
animal |
undated | ||
1:01:22: Instructor helps two students use a
telescope |
undated | ||
1:01:23: Instructor helps a boy draw house
plans |
undated | ||
1:01:24: Girl using dexterity testing
device(?) |
undated | ||
1:01:25: Instructor helps two students use a
typewriter(?) |
undated |
Vocational Training, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 2
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:02:01: Boy masking a vehicle to be
painted |
undated | ||
1:02:02: Boy points at scratch in car door |
undated | ||
1:02:03: Boy works on car part in auto mechanic
shop |
undated | ||
1:02:04: Two boys work on car part in auto mechanic
shop |
undated | ||
1:02:05: Boy cutting or sanding a piece of
wood |
undated | ||
1:02:06: Two boys kneel on scaffolding to paint inside
of church(?) Two older men painting |
undated | ||
1:02:07: Two boys paint the inside of a
room |
undated | ||
1:02:08: Boy working on a piece of equipment with
soldering iron |
undated | ||
1:02:09: Two girls ironing and folding clothes in a home
economics room |
undated | ||
1:02:10: Four girls fit clothing on a dummy while a male
instructor assists |
undated | ||
1:02:11: Two boys standing near equipment, discussing
machine parts |
undated | ||
1:02:12: Boy working on unupholstered chair |
undated | ||
1:02:13: Boy working on engine in auto mechanic
shop |
undated | ||
1:02:14: Girl filing the fingernails of an elderly woman
sitting under a hair drier in beauty parlor |
undated | ||
1:02:15: Girl in uniform cleaning dishes in a large,
commercial kitchen |
undated | ||
1:02:16: Girl (Dolly Antony) helping four small children
make ice sculptures on trays |
undated | ||
1:02:17: Two Navajo girls (Louise John and Lucy Begay)
in uniform teaching white and African-American children while the children's
teacher looks on |
undated | ||
1:02:18: Girl in uniform helps two small children paint
at an easel |
undated |
School Related Activities, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 3
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:03:01: Boy given an eye exam with Keystone
telebinocular testing instrument |
undated | ||
1:03:02: Boy given hearing test using Beltone equipment
while another boy waits |
undated | ||
1:03:03: Duplicate of 1:03:02 |
undated | ||
1:03:04: Dentist and assistant with boy |
undated | ||
1:03:05: Students eating school lunch. Valentine's Day
decor on table, Glenna Bileto (Sp.?) at head of table |
undated | ||
1:03:06: Students eating school lunch while others stand
in a line waiting to serve themselves |
undated | ||
1:03:07: Two girls eating hors d'oeuvres in
classroom |
undated | ||
1:03:08: Students stand in line for hors d'oeuvres
served on toothpicks for classroom party |
undated | ||
1:03:09: Students put on a rehearsal Christmas
performance of birth of Jesus Christ/ Nativity scene. They are dressed in
Native American attire and the background is a desert scene |
undated | ||
1:03:10: Nelson Tsosie beats a drum while speaking or
singing into microphone on stage |
undated | ||
1:03:11: Students wearing skirts and dress clothes at a
dance |
undated | ||
1:03:12: Navajo all-male band with cowboy hats,
Jefferson Yazzie singing |
undated | ||
1:03:13: Formal school dance portrait, Left to right:
Richard Chee, Mary Navajo, Joanne Yellowman, Herman Chee |
undated | ||
1:03:14: Boys gather in lounge area for an informal
meeting. They sit on sofas talking and laughing while two supervising men stand
by door |
undated | ||
1:03:15: Two girls kneel on the floor of their dorm near
a small artificial Christmas tree between bunk beds, holding gifts. The walls
are covered with photographs of their families and Navajo decor. One girl wears
a cheerleader uniform |
undated | ||
1:03:16: Three boys ironing clothing |
undated | ||
1:03:17: Graduation ceremony |
undated | ||
1:03:18: Graduation ceremony. Boy receives his
diploma |
undated | ||
1:03:19: Boy in cap and gown poses outside for a photo
with a woman in native dress. Other boys in cap and gown look on |
undated |
Athletics, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 4
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:04:01: Boy clears the high jump while coaches
(Native-American and African-American) and others look on |
undated | ||
1:04:02: Gymnasium full of spectators watching boys
basketball |
undated | ||
1:04:03: Two boys wrestling |
undated | ||
1:04:04: Two boys wrestle while a referee
points |
undated | ||
1:04:05: Male and female cheerleaders perform during a
boys' basketball game |
undated | ||
1:04:06: Girls' basketball team posing for picture.
Includes Bessie Yellowhair, Minnie John, and Catheryn Anderson |
undated | ||
1:04:07: Girls in dance uniforms pose for picture, 1968.
Includes Hellena Begay |
undated | ||
1:04:08: Girls' swim team |
undated |
Art, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 5
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:05:01: Painting of a man and woman each riding a horse
in a desert sunset while the man smokes |
undated | ||
1:05:02: Painting of Navaho symbol |
undated | ||
1:05:03: Drawing of a boy laying on his back,
thinking |
undated | ||
1:05:04: Portrait of a boy. Anton Ashley
artist |
undated | ||
1:05:05: Collection of pictures of Christmas and desert
scenes, deer, and Navajos pinned on a board in the shape of a Christmas
Tree |
undated | ||
1:05:06: Painting of a desert scene |
undated | ||
1:05:07: Desert scene |
undated | ||
1:05:08: Picture of a horse |
undated | ||
1:05:09: Drawing of a sheepherder astride a donkey
watching over his flock in the desert |
undated | ||
1:05:10: Painting of a small cabin near a meadow, pine
trees, and a stream |
undated | ||
1:05:11: Desert scene |
undated | ||
1:05:12: Sheepherder lassoing a lamb in the
desert |
undated | ||
1:05:13: Sheepherder watches over his flock in the
desert |
undated | ||
1:05:14: Portrait of a woman |
undated | ||
1:05:15: Portrait drawing of an elegant white(?) woman.
Timothy Morgan artist |
undated | ||
1:05:16: Drawing of a house and trees |
undated | ||
1:05:17: Duplicate of 1:05:09 |
undated | ||
1:05:18: Duplicate of 1:05:05 |
undated | ||
1:05:19: Painting of a flower arrangement |
undated | ||
1:05:20: Picture of a deer |
undated | ||
1:05:21: Sketch of flowers and willows in pot next to a
broken sculpture |
undated | ||
1:05:22: Drawing of a bottle and cup surrounded by
vegetables |
undated | ||
1:05:23: Sketch of small house surrounded by cactus and
sagebrush in the desert |
undated | ||
1:05:24: Painting of a small wood house surrounded by
pine trees and foliage |
undated | ||
1:05:25: Desert Scene |
undated | ||
1:05:26: Drawing of three men pointing their guns at
something in the nearby hills |
undated | ||
1:05:27: Portrait of a boy. Anton Ashley
artist |
undated | ||
1:05:28: Duplicate of 1:05:19 |
undated | ||
1:05:29: Desert Scene |
undated | ||
1:05:30: Drawing of a boy sitting on a
chair |
undated |
Miscellaneous, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 6
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1:06:01: Boy sits in desert next to sand painting. He is
wearing Navajo dress and sits on a Navajo rug |
undated | ||
1:06:02: Navajo Girl lies in a hospital bed while Ida
Lynch helps her knit |
undated | ||
1:06:03: Several boys getting ready to take a sleigh
ride drawn by Clydesdale horses |
undated | ||
1:06:04: Native American art display outside school
during winter |
undated | ||
1:06:05: Leo Cadman dressed in military uniform poses
near a female instructor for picture |
undated | ||
1:06:06: A collection of images from six different
churches in Brigham City |
undated |
Inventory Addendum:, undatedReturn to Top
Negatives and photos of Intermountain Indian School from the Compton Photograph Collection (P0313). Note: Several photos listed in the collection were not related to school functions so were omitted from this addendum.
Description | Dates |
---|---|
1949:439.5: Man in tie stands while two women (secretaries)
sit at desk in an office |
undated |
1949:464: Three men installing projector |
undated |
1949:407. 1-: Boys standing in baseball field |
undated |
2- : Outdoor class photograph |
undated |
3- : Principle(?) sitting at desk |
undated |
4- : Photo of entire school grounds |
undated |
5- : Principle(?) sitting at desk |
undated |
6- : Boys playing baseball |
undated |
7- : Three teachers walking down
corridor |
undated |
8- : Indian School buildings |
undated |
9- : Empty gymnasium |
undated |
10- : Building |
undated |
11- : Empty indoor swimming pool |
undated |
12- : Empty room |
undated |
13- : Outdoor class photo |
undated |
14- : Empty room |
undated |
15- : Principle(?) sitting at desk |
undated |
16- : Empty Church |
undated |
17- : Three teachers walking down
corridor |
undated |
18- : Empty swimming pool |
undated |
19- : Principle(?) sitting at desk |
undated |
20- : Empty auditorium, curtains closed |
undated |
21- : A few buildings |
undated |
22- : A few buildings |
undated |
23- : One building |
undated |
24- : Two buildings |
undated |
1949:417. 1- : Three men conversing near a chalk
board |
undated |
2- : Faculty photo? Six men, three women |
undated |
3- : Four men tearing down wall |
undated |
1950:789. 1- : Principle(?) talks to three male students in
their dorm, near bunkbeds |
undated |
2- : Principle(?) stands near a car with a US
Government label |
undated |
3- : Principle(?) with six male students eating
around a table in dorm |
undated |
4- : Principle(?) talks to several female students
while they eat lunch |
undated |
5- : Principle(?) stands near his car |
undated |
1950:465. : Baseball team in group photo
|
undated |
1952:150. : Sixteen photos of drawings of farming and
water/soil conservation |
undated |
1954:1626: Girls' playing some type of sport using a
volleyball and four bowling pins
|
undated |
1- : Girls stand in line in gymnasium - using a
volleyball and bowling pins |
undated |
2- : Girls playing the game |
undated |
3- : Team photo. Girls pose with ball, trophy, and
four pegs/pins |
undated |
4- : Team photo with supervisors, ball and pins.
Three girls in the front wear shirts that read, "I.I.S. Phys. Ed.
Dept." |
undated |
5- : Team pose |
undated |
6- : Team pose |
undated |
7- : Team pose |
undated |
8- : Team pose |
undated |
1954:1037: Social activity in a room with adults and
students. The room is decorated in a fall scene with a table laden with food
and drink
|
undated |
1955:570: Meeting in session
|
undated |
1958:1619.5: Numerous yearbook group photos - some groups
are only girls, some only boys, and some are mixed |
undated |
1958:397: A student meets with the principle(?) in his
office
|
undated |
1959:290. 1- : Four students in native dress standing on stage,
holding a banner which has a picture of an eagle and reads: "Remember Our
Words: Finish Your Education. Be on the bus in August." |
undated |
2- : Same four students joined by a fifth on
stage |
undated |
1959:355: Older man with braids with a young girl beating
on a drum outside |
undated |
1959:275: Graduating class of
|
1959 |
1960:48 : Cooks in uniform in the school's
kitchen |
undated |
1960:292: Group photo of female students holding a sign,
"Golden Eagle Building 20"
|
undated |
1960:293: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:294: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:295: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:297: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:298: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:299: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:300: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:323: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:324: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:325: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:326: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:327: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:328: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:368: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:369: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:370: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:371: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:372: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:373: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1960:438: Graduating class of
|
1960 |
1960:1561: Cooks, faculty, and students pose in group
photo
|
undated |
1960:1580: Group photo of older women wearing dresses
|
undated |
1961:25 : Class photo(?) Over five hundred students pose
in normal school clothes
|
undated |
1961:137: Group photo of students posed outside - some in
native dress
|
undated |
1961:255: Group photo of female students inside a
room |
undated |
1961:558: Men speaking in Indian School auditorium
|
undated |
1961:2047: 3 boys, 4 girls on/in a corvette for a
parade |
undated |
1961:256: Group photo of female students and older women
|
undated |
1961:257: Group photo of female students and older women
|
undated |
1961:258: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1961:259: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1961:260: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1961:261: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1961:263: Group photo of female students holding banner
that reads, "Thunder Bird Bldg. 191"
|
undated |
1961:264: Group photo of female students sitting behind
seven trophies
|
undated |
1961:265: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1961:266: Group photo of female students
|
undated |
1962:529: 2 female dental assistants work on a girl's
teeth
|
undated |
1966:509: Graduating class of
|
1966 |
1968:356: Graduating class of 1968 pose outside in cap
and gown |
1968 |
1969:328: Graduating class of 1969 pose outside in cap
and gown |
1969 |
1970:273: Graduating class of 1970 outside in cap and
gown |
1970 |
1971:242: Graduating class of 1971 pose outside in cap
and gown
|
1971 |
1972:277: Graduating class of 1972 pose outside in cap
and gown with a picture of an eagle with logo "Home of the Eagles"
|
1972 |
1973:233: Graduating class of
|
1973 |
1974:163: Graduating class of 1974 with a picture of an
eagle with logo, "Home of the Eagles." |
1974 |
1975:173: Graduating class of 1975. Sign reads,
"Congratulations class of ‘75 - The Eagles have gathered"
|
1975 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Navajo children--Education--Utah--Brigham City--Photographs.
- Off-reservation boarding schools--Utah--Brigham City--Photographs.
- Student activities--Utah--Brigham City--Photographs.
- Teenagers' art--Utah--Brigham City--Photographs.
- Vocational education--Utah--Brigham City--Photographs.
Corporate Names
- Intermountain School--Faculty--Photographs.
- Intermountain School--Photographs.
- Intermountain School--Students--Photographs.
Geographical Names
- Brigham City (Utah)--Photographs.