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Cornell University Medical College, Navajo-Cornell Field Health Research Project Records

 Collection
Identifier: US-NNCORMA-RG02-SG004-004

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of reports and miscellaneous publications about the Navajo- Cornell Field Health Research Project at Many Farms and Navajo health in general.

Dates

  • 1922 - 1997

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials from this collection cannot be reproduced outside the guidelines of United States Fair Use (17 U.S.C., Section 107) without the advance permission of the Medical Center Archives of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine or the copyright holder. In the event that anything from the collection become a source for publication, a credit line indicating the Medical Center Archives of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine is required.

Please visit the Medical Center Archives website for the most updated policies and procedures regarding reproduction and use.

Biographical / Historical

The Navajo-Cornell Field Health Research Project was co-sponsored by the Division of Indian Health of the U.S. Public Health Service, Cornell University Medical College, and the Navajo Tribal Council. According to the 1957 "Navajo Yearbook", the two initial goals were "to define the proper concerns of a health program among a people such as the Navajo and second to attempt to devise practicable means for the delivery of the necessary health services in a form acceptable to the people." In an 1972 article entitled: "Health Care Experiment at Many Farms," Walsh McDermott stated four goals for the project: "to develop effective methods for the delivery of modern medical services to the Navajo people; to see to what extent these methods could be applied to other people in similar socioeconomic circumstances; to study discrete diseases, particularly in the light of their possible shaping by Navajo culture; and to find out whether the sudden apposition of modern biomedical sciences and technology and the disease pattern of a nontechnological society could provide valuable knowledge in the attack on contemporary problems." Many Farms-Rough Rock area of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona was the site of the project. From July 1955 to May 1956, the project was organized including building the central clinic facilities and organizing and training the staff and volunteers. The official opening ceremony of the central clinic on May 8, 1956 included two medicine men.

Sixteen people staffed the clinic. Three physicians, two public health nurses, and a social anthropologist were the professional staff. Ten Navajos assisted the project as health visitors, interpreters, drivers, and laboratory technicians. Students from Cornell University Medical College and Cornell University-New York Hospital School of Nursing took field courses there.

According to the 1957 "Navajo Yearbook", as well as offering health services to the Navajo at the clinic, they initially investigated three major studies: a survey in depth of the health status of the community, Navajo Health Visitor Program, and a study on the impact of the project on the community. The survey in depth involved diagnostic studies of both Navajo patients and healthy persons. The Navajo Health Visitors Program trained Navajos in basic medical training so they could aid nurses in visiting the Navajo people. Some of the Navajo health visitors also served as interpreters. The third study on the impact of the community focused on the role of medicine men and changes in Navajo acceptance of modern medicine. Later additional studies focused on specific diseases such as diarrhea and tuberculosis or medical health issues facing the Navajo people.

The project ended in July 1962.

Extent

0.83 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Provenance is unknown.

Related Materials

Walsh McDermott, MD (1909-1981) Papers, 1922-1982 Navajo-Cornell Field Health Research Project Photographs, 1960-1979

Processing Information

This collection was processed and finding aid was written by Elizabeth Shepard in 2011 and updated in 2019. Minor modifications to the finding aid were made during migration to ArchivesSpace in 2025.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Medical Center Archives of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine Repository

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