McGrath, James, November 21, 2008
File — Box: 1, Folder: MS012.002
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The Institute of American Indian Arts Oral History collection consists of digital audio recordings, digital video recordings, transcripts, and associated documents related to interviews conducted since 2007. The content of the interviews is related to the history and background of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Narrators included former IAIA faculty James McGrath and Charles Dailey; Former IAIA Student and current faculty Linda Lomahaftewa; Former IAIA staff member Robert Harcourt; and the sons of George A. Boyce, the first superintendent of IAIA.
Narrators included former IAIA faculty James McGrath and Charles Dailey; Former IAIA Student and current faculty Linda Lomahaftewa; Former IAIA staff member Robert Harcourt; and the sons of George A. Boyce, the first superintendent of IAIA.
Dates
- November 21, 2008
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English
Access Restrictions
Access is by appointment only. There may be restrictions to this collection; please contact the archivist for more information. IAIA reserves the right to restrict any or all materials as necessary to protect IAIA, American Indian religious and cultural practices, and individual and financial privacy.
Biographical / Historical
James A. McGrath was born in Tacoma, Washington in September of1928. After earning a B.S. from the University of Oregon in 1950, McGrath continued his studies at Montana State University and University of Washington in 1951-1952. McGrath dedicated his life to creating and teaching art. After teaching art in a high school setting he took a position as Arts and Crafts Director for the Department of Defense’s U.S. Dependents School in several European countries including Germany, France, and Italy from 1955-1962.
McGrath was then hand chosen as faculty in painting, design, creative writing, museum training and Indian aesthetics as well Assistant Director of Arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico between 1962-1973.
McGrath concurrently served as Native American Cultural Arts Specialist, for the US State Department during his time at IAIA. He designed and Escorted Contemporary/Traditional Native American Art Exhibition to Edinburgh Festival, Scotland; Horniman Museum, London, England; Berlin Festival, Germany; Turkish-American Festival, Ankara, Turkey; Biblioteca Nacional, Santiago, Chile; Museo de Belles Artes, Bueno Aires, Argentina, and the 1968 Mexican Olympics, 1966-1968.
Leaving IAIA in 1973, McGrath took a position teaching art in Japan until 1985, and developed an art curriculum for the hotevilla-Bacavi Community School on the Hopi Indian Reservation in northeast Arizona from 1982-1983.
McGrath returned to IAIA as Dean of the college in 1988 and held that post until June 1989. James A. McGrath lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and continues to create and sell art from his private studio.
McGrath was then hand chosen as faculty in painting, design, creative writing, museum training and Indian aesthetics as well Assistant Director of Arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico between 1962-1973.
McGrath concurrently served as Native American Cultural Arts Specialist, for the US State Department during his time at IAIA. He designed and Escorted Contemporary/Traditional Native American Art Exhibition to Edinburgh Festival, Scotland; Horniman Museum, London, England; Berlin Festival, Germany; Turkish-American Festival, Ankara, Turkey; Biblioteca Nacional, Santiago, Chile; Museo de Belles Artes, Bueno Aires, Argentina, and the 1968 Mexican Olympics, 1966-1968.
Leaving IAIA in 1973, McGrath took a position teaching art in Japan until 1985, and developed an art curriculum for the hotevilla-Bacavi Community School on the Hopi Indian Reservation in northeast Arizona from 1982-1983.
McGrath returned to IAIA as Dean of the college in 1988 and held that post until June 1989. James A. McGrath lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and continues to create and sell art from his private studio.
Extent
From the Collection: 2 boxes (1 cu. ft) The collection is located on the campus of IAIA, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The archives are located in the Library & Technology Center.
Abstract
James A. McGrath McGrath discussed his early Native influences from the Pacific Northwest, his early teaching career and his years at the Institute of American Indian Arts beginning in May 1962. Curriculum development, social activities, economic conditions, and other early rememberances from IAIA make the bulk of the interview.
Physical Description
The folder contains a description sheet, release form, transcript w/index, 1 CD with 13 mp3 tracks, and 1 MiniDV cassette
Repository Details
Part of the Institute of American Indian Arts Repository
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