Tommy James., 1996-1998
File — Box: 1, Tape: 17
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
This oral history project consists of 26 individual interviews with former uranium miners or family members of the Navajo Tribe on 26 different cassette tapes. This collection also contains 14 DVDs containing 3 interviews, scenery shots from the mines and the area where the miners lived, as well as some miscellaneous, untranscribed interviews.
The interviews were conducted in either Navajo or English by Mr. Benally. Most interviews, or excerpts from them, were transcribed in both Navajo and English. There is also a copy of the questionnaire that Mr. Benally used in the interviews. Mr. Benally also took additional field notes on the interviews which are in the collection. Excerpts from the interviews and still, black and white photographs were complied into a book entitled, Memories Come to us in the Rain and the Wind: Oral Histories and Photographs of Navajo Uranium Miners and their Families. The collection also contains newsletters which helped raise money for this project.
This project addresses the health issues such as some of the effects of prolonged exposure to radioactive uranium and the failure of health officials to educate the Navajo on safety issues and potential dangers regarding uranium. This project also shows how many Navajo miners who got cancer and other diseases from working in the mines, were not compensated. Archival copies of the cassette tapes, the DVDs (original video tapes), and a copy of the interview transcripts on a disk are located in B3; second copies for patron use are housed within the manuscript collection. Photographs have been transferred to CSWR photoarchives.
English language transcripts for all interviews were completed by the project staff in 1999 and were added to this collection at that time (folders 8 and 9).
The interviews were conducted in either Navajo or English by Mr. Benally. Most interviews, or excerpts from them, were transcribed in both Navajo and English. There is also a copy of the questionnaire that Mr. Benally used in the interviews. Mr. Benally also took additional field notes on the interviews which are in the collection. Excerpts from the interviews and still, black and white photographs were complied into a book entitled, Memories Come to us in the Rain and the Wind: Oral Histories and Photographs of Navajo Uranium Miners and their Families. The collection also contains newsletters which helped raise money for this project.
This project addresses the health issues such as some of the effects of prolonged exposure to radioactive uranium and the failure of health officials to educate the Navajo on safety issues and potential dangers regarding uranium. This project also shows how many Navajo miners who got cancer and other diseases from working in the mines, were not compensated. Archival copies of the cassette tapes, the DVDs (original video tapes), and a copy of the interview transcripts on a disk are located in B3; second copies for patron use are housed within the manuscript collection. Photographs have been transferred to CSWR photoarchives.
English language transcripts for all interviews were completed by the project staff in 1999 and were added to this collection at that time (folders 8 and 9).
Dates
- 1996-1998
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 box
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu