Navajo - Agriculture, Undated

The Personal Papers and Research series contains material on some of David Brugge's writings including his book, The Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. There is information on the awards this book was nominated for, news releases, reviews and Brugge's responses, letters from the editor about the book and related correspondence such as requests for use of illustrations. The research includes news clippings, 1964-2002, the transcript for a 1989 interview with Robert L. Bennett, articles on relocation, environmental and economic issues, biographical information on Norman M. Littell, Navajo General Counsel and Claims Attorney, and other articles relating to the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. The correspondence in this series is arranged by date. Brugge's correspondence to Charlotte Frisbie was added in 2007. The majority of the Congressional correspondence is about Public Law 93-531 (Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974).

David Brugge was part of the research team that prepared evidence for the Healing vs. Jones trial. As a result of the trial, the Court gave the Hopi Tribe exclusive ownership of District 6 but declared the rest of the disputed land was held jointly by both tribes. Materials related to the trial research are contained in this collection. Brugge investigated Navajo archaeological sites, prepared exhibits and assisted attorneys with preliminary interviews of elderly Navajo who could possibly appear as witnesses. In the Healing vs. Jones series are found copies of exhibits for the trial including maps, site reports, tree-ring data, photographs, pottery charts, Navajo place names, ethnobotany exhibits and testimonies. The two subseries Post Litigation Negotiations and Political Solution, and Relocation and Resistance, contain articles, newspaper clippings, testimonies, documents, interview transcriptions, correspondence, reports, excerpts from federal regulations, maps and conference papers. Subjects such as Black Mesa, Arizona, the United Nations Religious Freedom Hearing on behalf of the Navajo, organized resistance to relocation, impact of relocation and Peabody Western Coal Company are covered. Also are found Navajo-Hopi Relocation Commission updates and reports, 1981-1987, including an analysis by Brugge of the monthly meetings, meeting minutes and notes.

The Moenkopi Project(1904-1970) series contains information on land status, boundary line proposals, grazing and land use, field surveys including field notes, a final report with maps, notes on meetings regarding the Navajo-Hopi Boundary Matter, survey with the Grazing Committee, Navajo Chapter meetings in 1967 at Pinon (Pinyon), Tolani Lakes, White Cone and Window Rock, Advisory Committee meeting minutes and 1967-1968 Navajo-Hopi Negotiating Committee minutes and notes.

Moenkopi Project, 1989-2006 (Legal Proceedings series) In Sept. of 1991 David Brugge was contacted by Craig Soland (Brown & Bain) attorney for the Navajo Nation and asked to revisit the sites in the Bennett Freeze area that he had researched and recorded in 1967 to determine if the same people (families or their descendents) still occupied the land and if conditions for these Navajo peoples had changed. Brugge noted if these residents had moved, where had they gone and whether or not they continued to maintain their home sites for a portion of the year. He also made a record of the grazing patterns by both the Hopi and Navajo Indians as a part of this land use study. He then gave a deposition as part of the Masayesva v. Zah v. James trial. The Court admitted his testimony recognizing that while he may have better judgment and experience than others involved the trial, the opinions he expressed were seen solely as an employee of the Navajo Tribe for Navajo Tribal purposes.

This series contains the legal documents of the Sidney v. Haskie v. James trial proceedings, the Masayesva v. Haskie v. James trial proceedings, and the Masayesva v. Zah v. James trial. Documents include lists of trial witnesses, findings of fact and conclusions of law, David M. Brugge's deposition (including exhibits), field maps, and briefs. Also included are other documents concerning the contested Moenkopi area, news clippings and survey photographs relating to the areas affected by the Bennett Freeze Act.

The Oversize Series contains maps, documents, periodicals and other publications, 1908-1992.

In March 2012, an addition to the collection was processed. The addition is organized into 3 series:

The Correspondence Series (1952-2013) includes correspondence between Brugge and family, friends and colleagues. The letters contain a rich source of research and information related to Native America and historical and anthropological issues in New Mexico and the Southwest. A large amount of correspondence is with Charlotte Frisbie, Brugge’s friend and fellow archaeologist. This correspondence often includes newspaper clippings related primarily to Navajo issues.

The Research Series (1583-2007) contains notes, drafts, photos, unpublished writings, transcriptions, manuscripts, reports, clippings, court related documents, and publications. The material is related to the Navajo-Hopi land dispute, Navajo ethnohistory, and Brugge’s research for the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona and for the Hubbell House restoration project in the village of Pajarito, Bernalillo County.

The Committees and Organizations Series (1954-2005) contains material such as board minutes, budget reports, by-laws, correspondence, newsletters, publications and clippings related to the many organizations Brugge was involved with as a board member, staff, or volunteer. Included in this series are issues of Call of the Plateau, newsletter of the Plateau Science Society, Gallup, N.M.