George P. Hammond Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS-55-BC
Scope and Content
The collection consists of one small folder relating to New Mexico history, and a three-part typescript, which was written by George P. Hammond, and belonged to Senator Clinton P. Anderson. The typescript describes what Hammond calls "Navajo-Hopi Relations" between the years 1540-1882, 1882-1922, and 1911-1956, respectively, in the Navajo-Hopi reservation of Arizona. After presenting population statistics for each tribe, Hammond provides a detailed history of the region. The theme of how relations between the Navajos and Hopis were strained by U.S. intervention with regard to schools, land, and water rights runs throughout the three tomes.. Numerous failed accounts of U.S. attempts to move the Hopi off their mesas and into reservations are accompanied by stereotypical descriptions of the Hopi as stubborn and resistant to change as well as criticism of their religious and social practices.
Schools mentioned in this report include the Navajo Blue Canyon School (later known as Western Navajo School), Polacca Day School, and the school at Keams Canyon. Countless superintendents of schools and of Indian Affairs, teachers, missionaries, traders, and BIA agents are named, as are military leaders, representatives of the Office of Indian Affairs, and government officials. Fewer Native American leaders and representatives of the Federation of Hopi Indians are mentioned by name.
The conflicts addressed are the result of the establishment of a combined Hopi-Navajo reservation and vagueness surrounding the rights of each tribe within it. In addition to commenting on the relations between the Hopi and Navajo, Hammond discusses encroachment onto Native American lands by Mormons (including some prominent historical figures of the Latter Day Saints), and ethnic tensions over schooling, water, stock, and land by Paiutes, Tewa-Hopi, and various combinations of these ethnic groups.
Hammond notes that "division of certain lands between Navajos and Hopis was only a minor aspect of the large problem which had grown up in consequence of time-serving steps taken by the U.S. Government since 1868 to reconcile the realities of Navajo life with U.S. land policies. In spite of the title of these manuscripts on "Navajo-Hopi Relations," this text says more about U.S.-Navajo and U.S.-Hopi relations and how these pit the two tribes against each other in issues surrounding schools, grazing lands, and residential (reservation) lands. Notable names mentioned in the collection include James S. Calhoun, Kit Carson, Chester E. Faris, Jacob Hamblin, General William T. Sherman, General James H. Carleton, Oliver La Farge, General Nelson A. Miles, and Herbert Welsh, and John Wesley Powell.
A catalogued copy of this typescript is also available (ZIM CSWR E99 N3 H349 1957).
Schools mentioned in this report include the Navajo Blue Canyon School (later known as Western Navajo School), Polacca Day School, and the school at Keams Canyon. Countless superintendents of schools and of Indian Affairs, teachers, missionaries, traders, and BIA agents are named, as are military leaders, representatives of the Office of Indian Affairs, and government officials. Fewer Native American leaders and representatives of the Federation of Hopi Indians are mentioned by name.
The conflicts addressed are the result of the establishment of a combined Hopi-Navajo reservation and vagueness surrounding the rights of each tribe within it. In addition to commenting on the relations between the Hopi and Navajo, Hammond discusses encroachment onto Native American lands by Mormons (including some prominent historical figures of the Latter Day Saints), and ethnic tensions over schooling, water, stock, and land by Paiutes, Tewa-Hopi, and various combinations of these ethnic groups.
Hammond notes that "division of certain lands between Navajos and Hopis was only a minor aspect of the large problem which had grown up in consequence of time-serving steps taken by the U.S. Government since 1868 to reconcile the realities of Navajo life with U.S. land policies. In spite of the title of these manuscripts on "Navajo-Hopi Relations," this text says more about U.S.-Navajo and U.S.-Hopi relations and how these pit the two tribes against each other in issues surrounding schools, grazing lands, and residential (reservation) lands. Notable names mentioned in the collection include James S. Calhoun, Kit Carson, Chester E. Faris, Jacob Hamblin, General William T. Sherman, General James H. Carleton, Oliver La Farge, General Nelson A. Miles, and Herbert Welsh, and John Wesley Powell.
A catalogued copy of this typescript is also available (ZIM CSWR E99 N3 H349 1957).
Dates
- 1933-1956
Creator
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography/History
George P. Hammond, son of a Danish homesteader in North Dakota, resided in that state until his adolescence, at which point he moved, along with his family, to California. There, he pursued his doctoral degree and established himself as a known scholar of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California, in particular). His dissertation research turned into his life work which revolved around the study of the life of Don Diego de Vargas, conquistador of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hammond's later work, including many collaborations with Agapito Rey, involved other histories of conquest in the Southwest. He was key in the celebration of the Cuarto Centenario (fourth centennial) in New Mexico which commemorated Coronado's arrival. Thus, Hammond was a principal promoter of the glorification of the conquistadors' history in the state of New Mexico -- a role reflected by his publications. In addition to authoring numerous books regarding Spanish entries into the Americas, Hammond headed the publication of a Coronado Historical series, was editor of the Quivira Society publications, and held an editorship of the journal The Historian.
Hammond served as Professor of History at the University of New Mexico, where he also served as Chair of the History Department and Dean of Graduate Studies. While in New Mexico, Hammond acted as State Director for the New Mexico Historical Records Survey, Works Progress Administration (later known as Works Projects Administration) from 1936-1939. The primary task of the New Mexico Historical Records Survey was to compile inventories of the records of the various counties of New Mexico. Hammond later accepted a position as Professor of History at the University of California at Berkeley which led to his perhaps most noted post as Director of the Bancroft Library, from 1946-1965. Hammond is Fellow of the New Mexico Historical Society, the California Historical Society, and the Society of American Archivists. He was the recipient of the Serra Award of the Americas in 1964, in recognition of his contributions to the research of the Southwest.
Hammond served as Professor of History at the University of New Mexico, where he also served as Chair of the History Department and Dean of Graduate Studies. While in New Mexico, Hammond acted as State Director for the New Mexico Historical Records Survey, Works Progress Administration (later known as Works Projects Administration) from 1936-1939. The primary task of the New Mexico Historical Records Survey was to compile inventories of the records of the various counties of New Mexico. Hammond later accepted a position as Professor of History at the University of California at Berkeley which led to his perhaps most noted post as Director of the Bancroft Library, from 1946-1965. Hammond is Fellow of the New Mexico Historical Society, the California Historical Society, and the Society of American Archivists. He was the recipient of the Serra Award of the Americas in 1964, in recognition of his contributions to the research of the Southwest.
Extent
1 box ( .26 cu. ft.)
Abstract
This collection contains three volumes of a detailed manuscript written by George Peter Hammond entitled "Navajo-Hopi Relations," which addresses the history of these two tribes between 1540 and 1956. The subtext speaks to the role of the U.S. government and military, missionaries, and other tribes in those relations.
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Brugge, David M. The Navajo-Hopi land dispute: An American Tragedy. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. 1994.
- Farquhar, Francis P. "George P. Hammond's Publications," pp. 83-106 in Friends of the Bancroft Library, GPH: An Informal Record of George P. Hammond and His Era in the Bancroft Library. Berkeley: University of California, 1965.
- Friends of the Bancroft Library. GPH: An Informal Record of George P. Hammond and His Era in the Bancroft Library. Berkeley: University of California, 1965.
- Morgan, Dale. "GPH," pp. 1-20 in Friends of the Bancroft Library, GPH: An Informal Record of George P. Hammond and His Era in the Bancroft Library. Berkeley: University of California, 1965.
- Scholes, France V. "Remarks on the Occasion of the Serra Award," pp. 69-75 in Friends of the Bancroft Library, GPH: An Informal Record of George P. Hammond and His Era in the Bancroft Library.Berkeley: University of California, 1965.
- Arizona--History
- Boarding schools -- Arizona -- History
- Education and state -- Hopi Indian Reservation (Ariz.)
- Education and state -- Navajo Indian Reservation
- Hopi Indian Reservation (Ariz.)
- Hopi Indians -- Agriculture
- Hopi Indians -- Education
- Hopi Indians -- Government relations
- Hopi Indians -- History
- Hopi Indians -- Land tenure
- Hopi Indians -- Politics and government
- Hopi Indians -- Population -- Statistics
- Hopi Indians -- Relocation
- Hopi Indians -- Rites and ceremonies
- Hopi Indians -- Social life and customs
- Indian land transfers -- Arizona
- Indians, Treatment of -- United States
- Missionaries -- West (U.S.)
- Mormons -- Arizona
- Navajo Indian Reservation -- History
- Navajo Indians -- Education
- Navajo Indians -- Government relations
- Navajo Indians -- History
- Navajo Indians -- Land tenure
- Navajo Indians -- Politics and government
- Navajo Indians -- Population -- Statistics
- Navajo Indians -- Relocation
- Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Commission
- New Mexico -- History -- 1848-
- Rangelands -- Hopi Indian Reservation
- Rangelands -- Navajo Indian Reservation
- United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Water-supply -- Navajo Indian Reservation
Creator
- Title
- Finding Aid of the George P. Hammond Collection, 1933-1956
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Karen Stocker
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 55 BC::George P. Hammond Collection)//EN" "nmu1mss55bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
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