William Dean Wilson Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS-1085-BC
Scope and Contents
The William Dean Wilson Collection contains papers, photographs and negatives, correspondence, pay stubs, Government memoranda, circulars, and pamphlets, newspaper clippings, magazines, handwritten notes, military postcards, photographs, negatives, and slides, pow-wow dance regalia, Navajo dance regalia, rattles, cassette tapes, memorabilia, and military related pins and medals. The photographs, both color and black and white, span from his early childhood to the 1990s. These include images from World War II, his service in China, 1946-1948, numerous rifle and pistol competitions and field maneuvers during his career as a Marine, work-related photographs spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s, powwow images including several published in the Navajo Times, and photographs and a recording by Canyon Records of his Navajo dance team. There are many negatives, most with corresponding printed images, but not all. The documents chronicle Wilson’s Marine Corps career, rifle and pistol competitions, and various jobs he held beginning in the 1950s.
Dates
- 1923 - 1999
Conditions Governing Access
Access to this collection is restricted until 2026. Prior to this date, researchers seeking access should request written permission from the donor. Please consult with CSWR staff for guidance.
Conditions Governing Use
Limited duplication of CSWR materials is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and liable laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biographical / Historical
William Dean Wilson was a Navajo Code Talker in World War II. He was born and raised in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. His recorded birthdate is 1923. However, in several interviews outside this collection regarding his Marine Corps service, Wilson claimed he was sixteen when he enlisted. He volunteered for the United States Marine Corps in 1942, when he was a student at the federal Indian boarding school at Shiprock, New Mexico. He became one of the original First Twenty-Nine Navajo Code Talkers who created and tested the first Navajo code. After the war, Wilson completed three additional enlistments in the Marine Corps and retired in 1967 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He participated in several national USMC Rifle & Pistol competitions winning numerous medals and awards. He served in the 2nd and, later, the 1st and 5th Marine Divisions.
After World War II, Wilson attended Haskell Institute and Albuquerque Indian School where he received his high school diploma in 1951. He legally changed his name in 1968 from William Dean Yazzie to William Dean Wilson. Several variations of his name appear throughout this collection including Bill Dene Yazzie, Bill Denet Yazzie, Billy D. Yazzie, William Dene Yazzie, William Dean Yazzie, Dean Yazzie, William Dean Wilson, and Dean Wilson. He was known to most by “Dean” or by “Judge.” He will be referred to in this finding aid as “Dean Wilson.” Wilson held a variety of jobs including a security guard at the Wingate Ordinance Depot, 1952-54; Instructional Aide in the Five-Year Navajo Program at the Albuquerque Indian School from 1954-1958 & 1960; an Engineering Aide 1957 & 1959-1960; a Clerk/Interpreter for the Railroad Retirement Board, 1958-59. He was also one of the first Navajo Tribal Judges, 1960-1975. In the early 1970s, Wilson formed a Navajo Dance team, Diné Ba’aliil of Navajoland, and performed at fairs and events throughout the Southwest and the United States. For several decades, he also was a Men’s Traditional dancer participating in numerous powwows across the country.
After World War II, Wilson attended Haskell Institute and Albuquerque Indian School where he received his high school diploma in 1951. He legally changed his name in 1968 from William Dean Yazzie to William Dean Wilson. Several variations of his name appear throughout this collection including Bill Dene Yazzie, Bill Denet Yazzie, Billy D. Yazzie, William Dene Yazzie, William Dean Yazzie, Dean Yazzie, William Dean Wilson, and Dean Wilson. He was known to most by “Dean” or by “Judge.” He will be referred to in this finding aid as “Dean Wilson.” Wilson held a variety of jobs including a security guard at the Wingate Ordinance Depot, 1952-54; Instructional Aide in the Five-Year Navajo Program at the Albuquerque Indian School from 1954-1958 & 1960; an Engineering Aide 1957 & 1959-1960; a Clerk/Interpreter for the Railroad Retirement Board, 1958-59. He was also one of the first Navajo Tribal Judges, 1960-1975. In the early 1970s, Wilson formed a Navajo Dance team, Diné Ba’aliil of Navajoland, and performed at fairs and events throughout the Southwest and the United States. For several decades, he also was a Men’s Traditional dancer participating in numerous powwows across the country.
Extent
5 boxes, 2 oversize folders
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
William Dean Wilson was a Navajo Code Talker in World War II. The William Dean Wilson Collection contains papers; photographs and negatives; correspondence; pay stubs; government memoranda, circulars, and pamphlets; newspaper clippings; magazines; handwritten notes; military postcards; photographs, negatives, and slides; powwow dance regalia; Navajo dance regalia; rattles; cassette tapes; memorabilia; and military related pins and medals. The photographs include his early childhood, World War II, service in China (1946-1948), numerous rifle and pistol competitions and field maneuvers during his career as a Marine, work-related photographs spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s, powwow images including several published in the Navajo Times, as well as photographs and a recording by Canyon Records of his Navajo dance team. The documents chronicle Wilson’s Marine Corps career, rifle and pistol competitions, and various jobs he held beginning in the 1950s.
Separated Materials
Books have been separated from the collection and cataloged in the CSWR general book collection.
- Title
- William Dean Wilson Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zonnie Gorman
- Date
- November 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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