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George Roth Papers on American Indians of the Southwest

 Collection
Identifier: Ayer-Modern-MS-Roth

Scope and Content of the Collection

Newsletters, clippings, periodicals, pamphlets, press releases, and newspapers compiled by George Roth related to American Indians of the Southwest dating 1969-1987. The collection is mostly related to American Indian policy, education, and legislation in the Southwest and Massachusetts.

Papers include correspondence dated from 1976-1986, written by American Indian policy advocate, Suzan Shown Harjo while she was serving as Executive Director to the National Congress of American Indians regarding Indian water rights. Other correspondence includes a 1977 appeal to the public from the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) regarding land legislation on the Navajo Reservation. Members of the NIYC included Gerald Wilkinson (Cherokee), John Redhouse (Navajo), and D'Arcy McNickle (Flathead).

Newsletters published by various tribal and non-tribal organizations such as the non-profit organization RESIST and members: Noam Chomsky, linguists Keith H. Basso, Kenneth Locke Hale, Mary-Louise Kean, and Wayne A. O'Neil. Other organization-related newsletters, ranging from 1969-1976, include the Association of American Indian Physicians, American Indian Treaty Council Information Center, Cook Christian Training School, Cocopah Tribal Council, Indian Development District of Arizona, National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Youth Council, Sherman Indian High School of California, and the Southwestern Cooperative Educational Laboratory.

Dates

  • Creation: 1969-1987

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The George Roth Papers on American Indians of the Southwest are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The George Roth Papers on American Indians of the Southwest are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of George Roth

Retired Cultural Anthropologist and former Ethnohistorian for the Bureau of Indian Affairs George Roth who collected material relating to American Indians of the Southwest.

Born in 1940 currently lives in Evanston, IL. A graduate of Northwestern University with a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, Roth worked as a senior anthropologist and Ethnohistorian in the research branch of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

History of organizations

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was founded in 1944 and is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.

The National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) was established in 1961 by young American Indians who were either in college or had recently graduated. It was the first independent native student organization.

RESIST is a philanthropic non-profit organization based out of Somerville, Massachusetts that has provided grants to grassroots activist organizations since its inception in 1967 as a result of the anti-war proclamation “A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority.”

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)

Abstract

Collection of George Roth, retired Cultural Anthropologist of the Bureau of Indian Affairs contains materials relating to American Indians of the Southwest. Mostly newsletters, clippings, periodicals, pamphlets, press releases, and newspapers related to American Indian policy, education, and legislation in the Southwest.

Arrangement

Material is arranged chronologically and by type of material.

Collection Stack Location

3a 56 13

Provenance

Gift, George Roth, 2017.

Separated Materials

The following journal and newspaper issues have been removed from the George Roth Papers on American Indians of the Southwest for individual cataloging:

  • Americans before Columbus, 1951
  • American Indian National Bank
  • American Indian Movement (AIM) news releases
  • Chicago Warrior, Chicago American Indian Center, November 1967, April 1968
  • DRUMS newsletter, 1974
  • Early American, newsletter of the California Indian Education Association, 1970
  • Native American Committee of Chicago, 1970-71
  • National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) news and releases
  • Report of investigation: Oglala Sioux Tribe general election, 1974
  • Sherman Indian School publications
  • Talking Leaf, Los Angeles Indian Center, April/May 1978
  • Tribal Spokesman, Intertribal Council of California, 1972, 1976

Processed by

Analú López, 2018.

Title
Inventory of the George Roth Papers on American Indians of the Southwest, 1969-1987
Status
Completed
Author
Analú López
Date
©2018.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512