Roy Dunn photographic images and camera
Content Description
This collection contains the camera and 124 nitrate negatives of Roy Dunn, whose family owned and operated the Navajo Mountain Trading Post from the 1930s to the 1970s. The 3.5 x 2.5 inch negatives were originally housed in 3 indexed albums. More than half had been removed some time prior to accessioning, and the remainder were removed and housed in cold storage. The camera is a Kodak No. 2 Autographic Brownie and is accompanied by a brightly colored case, painted with Native-inspired designs.
The images in this collection depict scenery and archaeological sites in Arizona and Utah. Many include Roy alone or with friends and family. Locations most frequently pictured include Navajo Mountain, Rainbow Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Betatakin, Shonto, and surrounding areas.
Dates
- Creation: 1926-1936
Creator
- Dunn, Harry DeRoy , 1915-1940 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Nitrate negatives stored in cold storage require at least 24 hour advance notice before they can be accessed. Not other restrictions on access, except these materials are not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Roy Dunn photographic images and camera collection must be obtained from the Photograph curator and/or the Special Collections Section Head.
Biographical / Historical
The Navajo Mountain Trading Post was considered the most remote trading post on the Navajo Nation and was located on the east side of Navajo Mountain near Cottonwood Spring (just within the Utah state line). Ben and Myrle Wetherill opened the trading post in 1928 and sold the property to the Dunn family in 1932. The Dunns stocked the trading post with everything from flour to goods made by Native artisans and operated mainly on the barter system. The Dunns operated the post almost continuously until 1979. Roy, who had spent much of his young life among the Navajo (Din'e) people, was fluent in their language and often traveled with his camera to capture the beauty of this area. Roy died from cancer in 1940, at the young age of 25.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (2 boxes - 1 in cold storage)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A collection of 124 nitrate film negatives and Brownie camera of Roy Dunn, whose family owned and operated the Navajo Mountain Trading Post from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the order in which they were stored in the negative albums. While nearly all glassine sleeves had some type of identifying information, only those with extant negatives have been listed in this finding aid.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were purchased from Back of Beyond Books in 2023.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Roy Dunn photographic images and camera collection
- Author
- Finding aid created by Clara Mae Armajo, Daesha Pelt, Heather Housley and Daniel Davis
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu