Thomas F. O'Dea, the Harvard Values Project, and the Mormons: Early Lessons on Ethnography among the Literate

Human Organization, Winter 2006 by Bahr, Howard M

Thus, paradoxically, Values Project publications appeared to jeopardize future work. Publication of project findings was seen as a threat because people in Ramah-in fact, all five subject populations-had access to libraries and magazines, and the project "cover" might be blown. Kluckhohn and Vogt designed a policy of "selective distribution" of project publications, in the hope that they could prevent Ramah people, both Navajo and Mormon, from being aware of what was going on until all the essential data had been collected.

In October 1951 the "picture book," Navaho Means People (McCombe et al. 1951) was published. Kluckhohn wrote to Vogt that "I assume you have received or will shortly receive your copies of the picture book.... I suggest that it might be wise to keep this book from the eyes of the Ramah Navaho as long as possible" (Kluckhohn 1951a). Vogt answered suggesting that they themselves should give a copy of the book to one of their Navajo informants pictured in the book, because "it is highly likely that either word about the book or the book itself will shortly reach the Ramah Navaho via other channels, such as through the Indian Service at Window Rock or through...[a local reverend] who has a standing order with the Gallup Public Library for all new Navaho books." However, Vogt recommended that before giving the book to their Navajo friend, they "perhaps remove the whole cover, since the cover, or dust jacket, lists the other books by Kluckhohn and the Leightons" (Vogt 1951 c). Kluckhohn responded, "my advice would be not to give the book to... [their Navaho informant] unless and until you know that some of the local Navahos have heard about it-I would then promptly take a copy without the cover to...[him], saying that you had it for him but hadn't gotten around to getting it to him" (Kluckhohn 1951b).

In January 1952 Vogt wrote to Kluckhohn that "The Navaho picture book has come to the attention of the Ramah Navahos and I have given a copy (minus dust jacket) to [our informant]" (Vogt 1952a). Kluckhohn's response suggested that he found the disclosure painful, or threatening: "I am a little distressed about the picture book and the Ramah Navaho but I suppose this was inevitable eventually. Apparently the repercussions so far are O.K." (Kluckhohn 1952a).

The perceived threat from project publication continued. Vogt's (1951a) Navajo Veterans was published by the Peabody Museum, and Vogt enacted the program of "restricted distribution." He sent a copy of the report to Oliver LaFarge, along with instructions that

[W]e are following a policy of carefully restricted distribution in the case of this particular monograph. It is not being distributed to local people or libraries in the Ramah or Gallup area.

The reasons for following this policy of restricted distribution are (a) that the monograph contains many details on the lives of particular Navahos that might lead to disturbance of their inter-personal relationships if these facts were made known in the area in which they live, and (b) that our rapport with local Navahos might be disturbed if the monograph were to be read in the Ramah area. . . . I might add that this policy of restricted distribution of an anthropological monograph has, to my knowledge, never been systematically attempted before. It will perform a useful experiment for the anthropological profession at large, since many anthropologists have collected life histories in recent years but many have been hesitant about publishing them because of the possible detrimental effects upon the lives of the people they have been studying (Vogt 1952b).