Intermountain Indian School architectural drawings, 1950-1971

Overview of the Collection

Title
Intermountain Indian School architectural drawings
Dates
1950-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 tubes, (1.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 493
Summary
This collection contains architectural drawings from the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, dating from 1950 to 1971.
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

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Intermountain Indian School of Brigham City, Utah was first built as the Bushnell General Hospital in 1942, and served as a military infirmary for soldiers suffering from amputated limbs. It closed in 1946.

Two years later, Colonel Joseph A. Hill made plans to transform the old hospital into a co-ed military academy, but a just a week before these plans were finalized, Utah senator Arthur V. Watkins proposed to use the old Bushnell Hospital as a boarding school for Navajo children without a formal education. The federal government decided to make Bushnell into a boarding school for Native American students and in 1949 they appropriated $3,750,000 for the conversion of the hospital into the Intermountain Indian School.

In January of 1950, 520 Navajo students, ranging from ages 12 to 24, began at the school. It offered various classes to the students depending on their age, including vocational training for older students in hairdressing, carpentry, mechanics, farming, dental assistant training, and home economics. Reading, writing, Navajo history and other practical courses were taught to all students.

In 1974 the school became inter-tribal, boarding students from 27 different tribes including the Navajo students. Conflict arose between the many tribes which led to complaints by the local community. In 1982, the Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to close the school and move the Native American children to public schools closer to the reservations. Despite the conflict at the school, several of the tribes whose children were in attendance protested the closing. Nevertheless, the school was closed at the end of the 1982-83 school year. Between years 2010 and 2012 most of the school buildings were torn down, to make room for a new Utah State University -Brigham City campus.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains architectural drawings from the Intermountain Indian School dating from 1950 to 1971. Beneficial to anyone interested in the history of the boarding school and its architecture, the drawings feature several dormitories and workshops, as well as the kitchen, dining hall, multipurpose building, and offices. The drawings are ordered by building number and organized into three archival tubes.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Intermountain Indian School architectural drawings must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Intermountain Indian School architectural drawings USU_COLL MSS 493. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 493, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Materials are ordered by building number

Location of Collection

Architectural drawing shelves

Processing Note

Processed in August of 2013

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were transferred to Special Collections and Archives from Jeff Turley of Facilities, Planning, Design, and Construction at Utah State University.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Buildings 27-29, 1970Return to Top

Container(s): Tube 1

Container(s) Description Dates
tube
1
BLDG 27: Boys dormitory
1970
1
BLDG 28 and 29: Girls and boys dormitories and electrical plans
1970

Buildings 30-39, 1950-1971Return to Top

Container(s): Tube 2

Container(s) Description Dates
tube
2
BLDG 30: Multipurpose building
1965-1970
2
BLDG 36: Kitchen and dining hall
1950-1971
2
BLDG 37: Electronic shop, cooking center, dining hall
1950-1970
2
BLDG 38: Student shops
1950-1970
2
BLDG 39: Boys dormitory
1970

Buildings 10-44, 58, 1950-1971Return to Top

Container(s): Tube 3

Container(s) Description Dates
tube
3
BLDG 10, 11, 20, 28, 29, 39-44, 58: Ceramic tile showers and window installations, 1965
1965
3
BLDG 39-44, 58: Typical dormitory layout and boys dormitories
1971
3
BLDG 40, 41, 42: Boys dormitories
1970
3
BLDG 43: Boys dormitory
1970
3
BLDG 44: Boys dormitory
1970
3
BLDG 58: Boys dormitory
1970

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America--Education--Utah--History.
  • Off-reservation boarding schools--Utah--Brigham City--History.
  • School buildings--Utah--brigham City--Designs and plans.