Elizabeth Brandt Collection

The Elizabeth Brandt Collection consists primarily of research materials collected by Brandt to conduct a study on the conditions surrounding Navajo high student dropouts from 1985 to 1986. In addition, there are articles and notes regarding American Indian languages and elementary education curriculum materials regarding American Indian culture.

Series I: Navajo Dropout Study contains paperwork related to Elizabeth Brandt’s involvement with the 1986 Navajo Area Student Dropout Study. Prompted by the Navajo Division of Education, the study began in 1985 as a way to research the extent, nature, and causes of Navajo high school dropouts on or near the Navajo Reservation in order to develop programs to prevent dropouts, retain students, and assist high school re-entry. The study was conducted by a research team from Platero Paperwork, Inc. of Window Rock, Arizona. The team consisted of Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Elizabeth Brandt; Linguist, Dr. Paul Platero; Professor of American Indian Studies, Dr. Gary Witherspoon; and Dr. Paul Wong, who was in charge of the statistical analysis. The study resulted in the publication Navajo Students at Risk: Final Report for the Navajo Area Student Dropout Study (E 99 .N3 P58x). This collection houses Brandt’s research paperwork, including her lists of bibliographies and articles relating to American Indian education, her field notes, data sheets, administrative logs, and student questionnaires.

Series II: Language Materials consists of materials on the Apache, Taos, and Isleta languages. The Apache materials contain notes and assessment scales produced by respected linguist Phillip Goode and Paul Platero (Brandt’s colleague on the Navajo Dropout Study). Additionally, there are lessons and exercises in conversational Apache, which while anonymous, have the style, format, and handwriting that are indicative of similar notes taken by Francis Uplegger, a German pastor who compiled the first Apache dictionary. The Taos materials contain notes and printed articles dating from 1967 to 1968. The Isleta language material consists of A Structural Analysis of Isletan Case Constructions by William L. Leap, 1971, and notes regarding this text.

Series III: Curriculum Materials houses the monthly activities handout Traditions for Teaching, compiled by Linda Skinner of the Resource and Evaluation Center Five organization based in Tulsa, OK. This series contains curriculum materials exploring traditions of a variety of American Indian tribes for grades K – 8. The materials include stories, activities, lesson plans, and bibliographic resource lists for instructors.