Ruth Underhill PapersAnthropologist Ruth Murray Underhill served as Supervisor of Indian Education with the U.S. Indian Service from 1942-1948 and was professor of Anthropology at the University of Denver from 1948-1952. (cont.)
She was born in Ossining, New York on August 22, 1884 and graduated from Vassar College in 1905 with a B.A. in comparative literature. She earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University in 1934 and worked for the U.S. Indian Service (later the Bureau of Indian Affairs). Underhill was involved in the Indian Visiting Program of the American Friends Service Committee, a peace and service organization affiliated with the Quaker Church. Her publications that have manuscripts in this collection include Earth people: the story of the Navaho; First came the family; Red Man's religion; Red Man's America; and Southwest Indians. Ruth M. Underhill's papers consist primarily of materials from 1950-1969 and include course materials from her teaching at the University of Denver: lecture notes, exams, syllabi, course descriptions, and bibliographies. Her work with Native American tribes in education, training, employment and political issues is reflected in the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs publications and memos, newspaper clippings, newspapers, newsletters, convention papers, booklets, and correspondence. Also includes manuscripts, galley proofs, and typescripts of books as well as journal articles, journal reprints.