John Claw, 1971
Scope and Content
The collection contains taped interviews by Doris Paul of Navajo Marines who served as code talkers during World War II. Also interviewed were members of the Navajo Nation government and cultural institutions, a U.S. Marine 4th Division Reunion Chairman, and Philip Johnston, the initiator of the code talker program. The interviews were used for writing her book "The Navajo Code Talkers" (1973). Also included is a taped recording of a banquet in 1975 honoring the code talkers following the Tournament of Roses parade.
There is also correspondence between Paul and the University Archives including her notes. The correspondence, which has been redacted, contains background information about the interviews. The archivists' notes include details about the quality of the recordings and the content of the interviews.
Dates
- Creation: 1971
Creator
- From the Collection: Paul, Doris Atkinson (Interviewer, Person)
- From the Collection: Anderson, Eugene, 1911- (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Balbos, E. J. (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Benally, John Ashi, 1917-1980 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Blatchford, Paul H., 1917-2003 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Brown, John, Jr., 1921-2009 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Burr, Sandy, 1924-1997 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Cannon, Lee (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Claw, John (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Draper, Teddy (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Evans, Ted (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Gorman, Carl Nelson, 1907-1998 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Hickman, Dean, 1914-1982 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Holiday, Samuel, 1924- (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: House, Lloyd (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Johnston, Philip, approximately 1892-1978 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: King, Jimmie Kelly (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Link, Martin (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: McCabe, William, 1913-1969 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Nakai, Raymond (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Sandoval, Peter (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Silversmith, Sam, 1923-2001 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Smith, Albert (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Thompson, Frank Tsosie, 1920-2008 (Interviewee, Person)
- From the Collection: Wilson, William Dean, 1923-1999 (Interviewee, Person)
Language of Materials
Some of the materials are in Navajo.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 Cubic Feet (6 folders, 12 cassettes)
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu