5158.01 - An oral history with Ray and Grace Hunt, 1975 July 17

File

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The contents of the Samuel Moon Monument Valley Oral History Collection consist of oral histories, transcripts, and records documenting the history of Monument Valley and Four Corners area. The oral histories are from those who lived in this area between the 1900s-1970s and pertain to Goulding’s trading post (one of the most well-known trading posts of the 20th century)and its owner/operator Harry Goulding, the Navajo tribe, sheep ranching, local tourism, uranium mining, and the western movies made in the valley.

Dates

Creation: 1975 July 17

Full Extent

1 Cassettes

Full Extent

1 Files (Verbatim (22 pages) and edited (33 pages) transcripts)

Full Extent

3 digital objects (Abstract and digitized copy of cassette recordings)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

In the interview, Ray talks about his father running several trading posts on Navajo reservations when Ray was a child before the family finally settled at the trading post in Bluff, New Mexico; recalls meeting Harry for the first time and his first impressions of Harry; discusses Harry’s sheep herding and trading businesses; describes the tents Harry and Mike lived in in their early years in Monument Valley; speaks extensively about the Paiutes tribes in the area and the Posey War (aka the Last Indian Uprising) in 1923; recounts the tale of multi-murderer Jimmy Palmer, who worked for Harry; speaks about the time Harry’s WWI pension papers were stolen, which led to Ray coming to Monument Valley to work for Harry; talks about Harry and Mike’s families; discusses Harry’s tourist business and taking tourists out into the valley; recalls Harry’s dealings and relationships with the Navajo, as well as helping with burials and Navajo burial practices; and speaks about the stock reduction program in the late 1920s.

Grace talks specifically about coming to work at the lodge; Mike and her relationship with her; she also discusses the filming of Stagecoach and how Mike handled taking care of all the people involved.