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Navajo Studies Subject Guide: Art, Language, and Literature

Books Journal and Magazine Articles Electronic Indexes and Full-text Databases Web Resources

Books 

Books on the fine arts can be found in the N section of the library. Also check the oversize shelf area. Literature and literary criticism can be found in the PN and PS sections of the library. Juvenile literature can be found in the PZ section. Most Navajo literature is shelved in the Southwest Room. Books on the Navajo language, including dictionaries can be found in the Southwest Reference Section.

Useful subject headings for searching the San Juan College Library Catalog:

  • Navajo architecture
  • Navajo art
  • Navajo artists
  • Navajo baskets
  • Navajo Indians--Fiction
  • Navajo Indians in literature
  • Navajo Indians--Jewelry
  • Navajo Indians--Juvenile fiction
  • Navajo Indians--Juvenile literature
  • Navajo Indians--Language
  • Navajo Indians--Language--Dictionaries
  • Navajo Indians--Language--Readers
  • Navajo Indians--Music
  • Navajo Indians--Poetry
  • Navajo pottery
  • Navajo silverwork
  • Navajo textile fabrics
  • Navajo painting
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Journal and Magazine Articles

The following print index is a good places to look for citations to articles about art, language, and literature topics. 
  • Humanities Index
Some useful journals in the San Juan College Library Collection:

Art
Title Paper Bound/Fiche
American Indian Art* 2001 + 1982-Fall 87, Wint 88-Aug 93, Wint 94-2000
Art of the West Sept 1999, 2001 + Nov/Dec 1999-2000
Palacio, El Spr, Sum 1983, Jul 2001+ 1959-64, 74-82, 84-Jun 2001
Southwest Art Jul 1987-98, Jan-May 99, 2001+ 1999-Jun 2000

Ethnic Studies
Title Paper Bound/Fiche
American Indian Wtr 2001 +
---
Native Americas Sum 2000 +
---
Native Peoples Nov/Dec 2000 + 1993-95, 97-2000
Wicazo Sa Review  2001 +
---

Literature
Title Paper Bound/Fiche
American Indian Culture & Research Jrnl Winter 1987, 2001 + 1974-86, 96-2000
American Indian Libraries Newsletter  [1996], 97-98, [99,00], 2001 +
---
American Indian Quarterly Fall 1985, Wint, 90-Sum 1990, Fall 91, 2000 + 1986-89, 96-99
Southwest Review 2001 + 1994-2000
Studies in Am. Indian Literatures Fall 2001*
---

Southwest
Title Paper Bound/Fiche
Arizona & The West (Jrl of the SW)
---
1959-1986
Arizona Highways* 2001 + 1965, 68-71, 73-2000
Canon Journal  1995-96
---
Dine Be' lina Journal of Navajo Life
---
1987-88, 90
Enchantment Aug 2000 +
---
Jrnl of the Southwest  Spr 2001 + 1987-2000
New Mexico Architecture
---
 1970-91
New Mexico Magazine* 2001 + 1961-2000
Pottery Southwest  (SW Locked Case) 1974 + 1984-94
Santa Fean 2000 +
---
*Also available at San Juan College West 

For a complete list of titles, click here. If you find a title not in our collection, please see the Reference Librarian about InterLibrary Loan.

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Electronic Indexes and Full-text Databases

Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry

A searchable database of poetry titles. This is a good place to look for material by author. You can also search by title, first and last lines, or words in a poem.

First Search

First Search includes several databases that cover art, literature, and language topics. The following are some good databases to begin a search:
AHSearch: Indexes the world's leading arts and humanities journals. Covers 1980 to the present. Includes some fulltext. 

Useful subject headings

  • Navajo.
Art Abstracts: Indexes major English-language periodicals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins, as well as European periodicals in a number of different languages. Covers 1984 to the present, including some fulltext. Also includes references to reproductions of art work.

Useful Subject Headings:

  • Navajo
  • Navaho
  • Navajo Indians
  • Navajo rugs
  • Navajo Indians in motion pictures
  • Navajo wood carving. 
  • Textiles, Navajo Indian. 
BiographyInd: Indexes articles, books, and autobiographies for biographical subjects from antiquity to the present. Covers 1984 to the present, and includes some full-text articles. There is no subject heading for Navajo. Try a keyword search.

BookReview: A good place to find reviews of books by and about Navajos. Covers both fiction and nonfiction. Dates from 1983 to the present and includes some full-text reviews.

Useful subject headings:

  • Navajo Indians
Humanities Abstracts: Abstracts covering diverse subject areas of the
humanities. Covers 1984 to the present, including some full-text articles. A good place to begin a general search.

Useful Subject Headings:

  • Navajo Indians.
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Gale Literary Databases

You can search the following databases for biographical information about authors and literary criticism. You can search each database separately, or all at once. This is also a good place to find lists of works by particular authors. A search for "Navajo" in the fulltext field will find biographical material on authors who have written about Navajos, in addition to Navajo/Dineh authors.
  • Contemporary Authors
  • Contemporary Literary Criticism
  • Dictionary of Literary Biography

Proquest

Search the following modules for information on arts, literature and language. The best results can be found doing a keyword search.
  • Arts Module
  • Humanities Module
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Web Resources

Navajo Art: A Way of Life
http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Navajo/
A tutorial designed to examine how culture and environment affect Navajo art. Includes an overview and examples of artwork. The site also includes a good list of additional Web Resources on Navajo art traditions and individual artists: http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Navajo/resources.html

Navajo Weaving Styles and Navajo Nation
http://navajorugs.spma.org/index.html

Navajo Art, UN Cyberschool Bus
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/indigenous/appreciate_focus.asp
An overview of Navajo art, including weaving and jewelry. 

Native American Lore
http://www.ilhawaii.net/%7Estony/loreindx.html
Provides access to native stories, including one on Spider Rock at Canyon de Chelly: http://www.ilhawaii.net/%7Estony/lore38.html

Navajo Language
http://www.angelfire.com/nv/navaholang/language.html
Links to information about the Navajo language, classes, and speakers. Also includes links to download Navajo fonts to your computer.

Navajo Language and Bilingual Links
http://www.sanjuan.k12.ut.us/linknavj.html
Includes material on Navajo language and literature, including bilingual resources and curriculum ideas.

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