Sinclair, John L 1968-09-16
John L. Sinclair, author and former New Mexico State Park superintendent, discusses his literary career, Southwestern tourism, and life and traditions of the Pueblo Indians on the Santa Anna reservation.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: John L. Sinclair
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: September 16, 1968
Location: Santa Ana Indian Reservation, New Mexico
Interviewer: David B. Gracy II
Length: None Given
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: John Sinclair, biography,
Parents—Birth,
Education,
Came to New Mexico (1923),
Jobs on ranches,
Desire to write (1933),
Homesteaders’ influence,
Basis of novels,
No courses in writing,
Santa Fe, New Mexico,
Research assistant, Museum of New Mexico,
Curator, Lincoln County Courthouse Museum (1940),
Novel on homesteader life (1940),
Novel published (1943),
Magazine articles,
Marriage,
Superintendent, Coronado State Monument (1944),
Similarities with Australia,
Pueblo Indians,
Agriculture,
Santa Ana—Zia Indians,
Soil, hunting, traditions,
Architecture,
Desire to write about mining,
Tourists—misunderstanding,
Life in New Mexico,
Similarities of Indians,
Young Indians—how they meet, marry and work.
Tape 1, Side 2: Government providing houses,
Use of cement block,
Tradition of dances,
Young people pulling away from tradition,
Relocation program,
Indians working in factory,
Indians speaking English,
Generation gap,
Big world impression and threatens the Indian,
Second novel,
Rebecca West came to see him,
Earl Warren and others came also.
Range Dates: 1923-1968
Bulk Dates: 1923-1968
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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