Audiovisual Materials, 1960-1976

The Ruth Underhill papers consists primarily of materials from the latter half of her life. The collection contains course materials from her teaching tenure at the University of Denver--lecture notes, exams, syllabi, course descriptions and bibliographies. Her work with American Indian tribes in education, training, employment, and political issues is reflected in a variety of materials including Bureau of Indian Affairs' publications and memos, newspaper clippings and newsletters, convention papers and correspondence from such groups as the National Congress of American Indians. Underhill was involved in the Indian Visiting Program of the American Friends Service Committee, a peace and service organization affiliated with the Quaker Church. Materials concerning this program and other Quaker activities are included in the collection. Underhill's publishing activities in the 1950's and 1960's are represented by manuscripts, galley proofs, and typescripts of a number of her books, including Earth People: The Story of the Navaho, First Came the Family, Red Man's Religion, and Red Man's America. Finally, a large part of the collection consists of magazine articles and reprints of journal articles about topics of interest to Underhill. These topics range from anthropology and archeology of North and South American Indians to astronomy, climatology and geology, the origins of humans, biology, genetics, the human brain, religion and mythology. Underhill's broad professional and personal interests are reflected in this collection, which focuses on her later years.