This collection contains published and unpublished poetry and creative writing of the students of Intermountain Inter-Tribal School. Included are printed yearly anthologies of student poetry and short stories, and files containing handwritten or typed poetry and writing assignments. These appear to have been collected by one or more Language Arts teachers at the school. In addition, several copies of a packet of student letters and photographs protesting the closure of the boarding school in 1984 are included. Much of the writing centers on the lived experiences of the students and offers insight into the challenges of adolescence and of maintaining cultural and family ties while living far from home. Currently only the published works are available for access.
This collection is divided into two series: Published writings and Collected writings.
Some of the materials are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Access Act (FERPA), and are therefore restricted. Not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Intermountain Inter-Tribal School Creative Writing collection must be obtained from the
Utah State University Special Collections & Archives purchased this collection in 2021 from Orrin Schwab.
In 1948 Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City, Utah was transformed into what would become the Intermountain Indian School, or, the "world's largest boarding school." The school opened its doors in January 1950 to five hundred Navajo students. Educational goals were to teach English and basic academic disciplines as well as vocational skills which, it was believed, would facilitate assimilation into mainstream America.
Renamed the Intermountain Inter-Tribal School in fall 1974, the school enrolled students from twenty-six other tribes. Tensions ran high and in February of 1975 rioting erupted. During the riot, students injured three officers and destroyed several police cars. After this incident, enrollment fell and the stability of the school was called into question. Moreover, the federal government reversed previous rulings regarding assimilation. The Intermountain School closed its doors on May 17, 1984.
Intermountain Indian School architectural drawings,
Intermountain Indian School Photo collection,
Intermountain Indian School Digital collection,
Published by Intermountain Inter-Tribal School, unless otherwise noted
Includes Explain, Examine, Emerge, and A Look at Me
Published by the Institute of American Indian Arts; includes Spawning the Medicine River
Published by the Minnesota Poets in the Schools Program