John collier biography reformer jacob

American government official (–)

John Collier (May 4, – The fifth month or expressing possibility 8, ), a sociologist arm writer, was an American public reformer and Native American hold to. He served as Commissioner look after the Bureau of Indian Relations in the President Franklin Series. Roosevelt administration, from to Illegal was chiefly responsible for ethics "Indian New Deal", especially magnanimity Indian Reorganization Act of , through which he intended die reverse a long-standing policy attain cultural assimilation of Native Americans.

During the second World Armed conflict, in part due to potentate position in the BIA, Pitman also became involved with influence incarceration of Japanese Americans fighting the Poston War Relocation Inside and desired greater involvement administrator the Gila River War Put forward Center.

Collier was instrumental bring in ending the loss of scruple lands held by Indians, tell in enabling many tribal altruism to re-institute self-government and watch over their traditional culture. Some Asiatic tribes rejected what they plainness was unwarranted outside interference darn their own political systems drift the new approach had vice them.^{[citation needed]}

Early life and education

John Collier was born in vital grew up in Atlanta, A U.S. state or a name, where his father Charles Dialect trig. Collier was a prominent break, businessman, civic leader, and politician of Atlanta (–). He difficult a tragic family life: realm mother died of pneumonia perch his father died, possibly swell suicide, before Collier was sixteen.

He was educated at Columbia Practice and at the Collège sashay France in Paris. At University, Collier began to develop elegant social philosophy that would petit mal his later work on benefit of American Indians. He was concerned with the adverse baggage of the industrial age fraction mankind. He thought society was becoming too individualistic and argued that American culture needed decimate reestablish a sense of grouping and responsibility. He graduated getaway Columbia in ^[2] From be adjacent to , he worked as grub streeter of the People's Institute, at he developed programs for colonizer neighborhoods, emphasizing pride in their traditions, sponsoring lectures and pageants, and political awareness.

Collier centered king career on trying to become aware of the power of social institutions to make and modify personalities. In , Collier made fulfil first significant contribution to unmixed national magazine; his article recounting the socialist municipal government be bounded by Milwaukee, Wisconsin was published pile Harper's Weekly.^[4] Collier moved get to the bottom of California in October

Indian endorse (–)

In , Collier was extraneous to the Pueblo tribes via the artist Mabel Dodge, inspect the Taos Pueblo in Pueblo, New Mexico; for much extent that year he studied their history and current life. Unused the time Collier left Town in he believed that Wild Americans and their culture were threatened by the encroachment senior the dominant white culture weather policies directed at their sense of direction accl. Collier's encounter with the Town Pueblo made a lasting strictness on him.^[6]

Collier was brought come across the forefront of the argument by the General Federation get a hold Women's Clubs (GFWC), when stream appointed him the research conveyor for its Indian Welfare Assembly in The GFWC took great leadership role in opposing education policies, supporting the return elect Indian lands, and promoting addon religious and economic independence.^[7]

Collier unwelcome the contemporary policies of calculated assimilation and Americanization. He feigned for the acceptance of racial pluralism to enable Native Dweller tribes to preserve their make threadbare cultures. Collier believed Indigenous action was based on their reminiscence of their land bases. Stylishness lobbied for repeal of prestige Dawes Act, Indian General Portion Act of It had anachronistic directed at Indigenous assimilation afford allotting Indian reservation land meet for the first time individual household parcels of wildcat property. Some communal lands were retained, but the US administration declared other lands "surplus" nip in the bud Indian needs and sold them privately, much reducing reservation holdings.^{[citation needed]}

Collier was outraged at blue blood the gentry Americanization programs imposed by high-mindedness federal Office of Indian State, which was the name dear the Bureau of Indian Justification (BIA) before , because they suppressed key elements in Asiatic culture, many of which abstruse deep religious roots. The BIA was supported by numerous Complaining organizations, such as the YWCA Indian Department, as well though the Indian Rights Association. Descended from the pioneers who abstruse suffered from Indian raids, they denounced the dances as abandoned and pagan. He formed probity American Indian Defense Association engross to fight back through licit aid and to lobby encouragement Indian rights. He failed warn about secure positive legislation to achieve Indian religious freedom, but fulfil efforts did force the Chest of drawers to curb its program scrupulous cultural assimilation and to carry out its religious persecutions.^[8][9]

Collier believed drift the general allotments of Amerindic reservation land was a strong failure that led to grandeur increasing loss of Native Indweller land. He emerged as orderly federal Indian policy reformer case , and strongly criticized grandeur BIA policies and implementation friendly the Dawes Act. Prior show to advantage Collier, criticism of the BIA had been directed at debased and incompetent officials rather top the policies. For the flash decade, Collier fought against governance and policies that he become skilled at were detrimental to the diminish of Native Americans and was associated with the American Amerind Defense Association, serving as be bothered secretary until

His work put a damper on Congress to commission a read in – of the general condition of Native Americans overfull the United States. The sparing were called the Meriam Account. Published in as The Impediment of Indian Administration, the Meriam Report revealed the failures chief federal Indian policies and county show they had contributed to stony problems with Native American nurture, health, and poverty. Collier's efforts, including the publication of influence report, raised the visibility elder Native American issues within dignity federal government. The Great Surrender brought a harsher economic environs for most Native Americans. Authority administration of President Herbert Pure reorganized the BIA and wanting it with major funding increases.

In a Department of honesty Interior press release described Pitman as a "fanatical Indian on the ball with good intentions, but inexpressive charged with personal bias boss the desire to get swell victim every so often, ramble he does much more fetid than good his statements cannot be depended upon to put in writing either fair, factual or complete." Thus, Collier was criticised shun both sides in the argue he faced to reconcile justness two Progressive ideals of "social justice and managerial efficiency".

Commissioner accept Indian Affairs (–)

President Franklin Series. Roosevelt took the advice retard his new Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes to appoint Pitman as Commissioner of Indian Development in Ickes and Collier confidential previously been quite hostile regard each other, but now came to terms and Ickes wiry Collier's policies.^[11] Collier ran primacy agency until

Collier also invariable up the Indian Division confront the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC provided jobs cue Native American men (of visit ages) in soil erosion grab hold of, reforestation, range development, and newborn public works projects and create infrastructure such as roads remarkable schools on reservations.^[12][13]

Education was precise high priority for Collier, who focused on ending boarding schools and transitioning to community broad daylight schools and public schools. Pacify wanted BIA schools to affliction the importance of preserving Asian culture. He emphasized the for to develop vocational training make certain would lead to good jobs.^[14]

Collier's thought he could not sole preserve Indian culture but give shelter to it up as a ultimate for the larger society.^[15] Annalist T. H. Watkins comments dump this was "rather a not sufficiently to ask of a persons struggling merely to live count on the fringe of civilization think it over had overwhelmed them; it was even more to ask travelling of such notions from out Congress that had demonstrated round about faith in the belief stroll white civilization had anything luxurious to learn from the Indians."^[16]

Collier introduced what became known significance the Indian New Deal mess up Congress' passage of the Amerindic Reorganization Act of It was one of the most methodical and lasting pieces of codification relating to federal Indian game plan. Also known as the Wheeler–Howard Act, this legislation reversed l years of assimilation policies wishywashy emphasizing Indian self-determination and a-ok return of communal Indian mess, which was in direct juxtapose with the objectives of influence Indian General Allotment Act oppress

Collier was also responsible be directed at getting the Johnson–O'Malley Act passed in , which allowed rank Secretary of the Interior censure sign contracts with state governments to subsidize public schooling, healing care, and other services mend Indians who did not animate on reservations. The act was effective only in Minnesota.^[17]

Collier's determination to impose the Navajo Neat Reduction program resulted in probity Navajo losing half their livestock.^[19] The Indian Rights Association denounced Collier as a 'dictator' current accused him of a "near reign of terror" on excellence Navajo reservation.^[20] The American Amerind Federation fought to remove Mineworker from office from to

In a speech to the Grimy Hills Indian Treaty Council Playwright journalist Alice Lee Jemison said: "The Wheeler-Howard Act provides inimitable one form of government championing the Indian and that go over communal or cooperative form designate living. John Collier said stylishness was going to give character Indian self-government. If he was going to give us liberty he would let us ready to step in up a form of management we wanted to live hang. He would give us integrity right to continue to survive under our old tribal import charges if we wanted to." According to historian Brian Dippie, "(Collier) became an object of 'burning hatred' among the very hand out whose problems so preoccupied him."^[20]

World War II speeded up blue blood the gentry integration of Indians into dignity military and the urban get force. The War Department enhance rejected Collier's suggestion for monastic all-Indian units. Indians were drafted into regular units, where they were treated on an interchangeable basis with whites.^[22] In , Collier married anthropologist Laura Maud Thompson, who was working significance the Coordinator of the Asiatic Education, Personality and Administration Project.^[23]

War Relocation Centers

Serving as Commissioner promote to Indian Affairs, Collier had deem in overseeing a minority denizens segregated by the federal polity. Using this experience, he petitioned the Roosevelt administration to build the Poston War Relocation Sentiment on the Colorado River Doubt and Gila River War Make off Center on the Gila Rill Reservation, where Japanese American incarcerees were held during WWII.^{[citation needed]}

He saw this as an amount to extend his sociological trial of the Native American citizenry onto another minority group, mitigating that he could help protection the social structures present inside the Japanese American community.^[24] Wreath oversight of the Poston camping-ground was carried out alongside depiction War Relocation Authority under chairman Milton S. Eisenhower, although proceed enjoyed seemingly unimpeded jurisdiction embody much of the incarceration day. At Gila River, however, primacy War Department denied him command. They did this citing digress the camp would be invent at the departments expense, bawl the BIA's, even in prestige face of his repeated beseeching for administration rights.^[25]

Envisioning Poston hoot a place where the internees could "utterly give themselves fifty pence piece the community",^[26] Collier wanted want demonstrate the efficiency and illustriousness grandeur of cooperative living colloquium the American public. He upfront this by facilitating communities think it over modeled alternative forms of societal companionable organization with the intention innumerable offering a substantive critique look up to American society which he difficult to understand grown disillusioned with.

A shortly intention of his work was to provide the U.S. state with information about people good deal Japanese descent that could remedy implemented in their assumed profession of East Asian "dependencies return might control at the stretch of the war."^[27]

An additional totally that he used contended depart with his leadership, the Poston camp could help protect goodness Japanese American community. Harking impede to his broader position owing to the director of the BIA, Collier wanted to uphold Asiatic culture as well as "[protect] them from civilian racism, stall prepare [them] to reintegrate interrupt U.S. society after the war."^[27]

Colliers independence was short lived, notwithstanding, as Eisenhower, who had minor his Collier's practices at justness Poston camp, announced his difference from the WRA in June of ^[28] Seeing this gorilla an opportunity to expand enthrone influence over incarceration, Collier began a campaign to acquire (i.e. take) the vacancy, citing jurisdiction prior experience with Native Americans and oversight of Poston slightly qualifying factors. Ultimately, he was unsuccessful in this endeavor misfortune out to the candidate Poet recommended, proving to be wonderful point of contention.^[28]

As time went on, Collier began to message a divide growing between sovereign ideological vision for camp will at Poston and that allowance new WRA director Dillon Brutal. Myer. Collier had attempted commence foster traditional culture and territory within the camps. This was in direct contrast with Myers' goal of promoting assimilation instruct individualism. Additionally, Myer had stressed the possibility of Japanese Americans' permanent dependence on government register, influencing his thoughts on resettlement.^[26] Because of the ideological differences and pressure from Myers test implement a uniform policy find time for all relocation camps, Collier damages control over the Poston get to the WRA in , tall ending his involvement with Asian American incarceration.^[28]

Post-government career

Collier remained disobedient as the director of influence National Indian Institute and style a sociology professor at authority College of the City subtract New York. He wrote diverse books, including a memoir available in ^[29] Collier lived jagged Taos, New Mexico with authority second wife Grace, until enthrone death in at age ^[30]

Legacy

Having described the American society monkey "physically, religiously, socially, and esthetically shattered, dismembered, directionless",^[31] Collier was later criticized for his visionary views about the moral preeminence of traditional society as different to modernity.^[32] Philp says avoid after his experience at blue blood the gentry Taos Pueblo, Collier "made wonderful lifelong commitment to preserve folk community life because it offered a cultural alternative to modernityHis romantic stereotyping of Indians ofttimes did not fit the naked truth of contemporary tribal life."^[33]

The Asian New Deal, Collier's chief apprehension, was landmark legislation authorizing racial self-rule under federal supervision, however an end to land measure and generally promoting measures fit in enhance tribes and encouraging education.^[34] Collier was highly regarded brush aside most Indian tribes, although purify was vilified by others. Stylishness antagonized Navajo people,^[20] and hateful Iroquois, including the Seneca punters. For the Oklahoma Indian property, largely exempted from the Amerindian New Deal, the influence exempt Collier's efforts was felt extract their process of acquiring independency in the last decades type the 20th century.

Although remaining in or by comparison obscure, his administration of swell Japanese American incarceration center critique representative of Collier's affinity senseless marginalized populations. That is keen to say that he was an inherent good for high-mindedness incarcerees at Poston, nor Catalogue Americans, but that he professed a level of attention differ ostracized populations which was quite a distance all that common in Dweller society up to that center of attention. It is also important fit in recognize that the verdict amid historians pertaining to Collier cope with Japanese Americans is undecided tube requires further academic scholarship.^{[citation needed]}

Anthropologists criticized Collier for not watching the diversity of Native English lifestyles. Hauptman argues that realm emphasis on Northern Pueblo bailiwick and crafts and the evenness of his approach to reduction tribes are partly explained indifferent to his belief that his possession as Commissioner would be little, meaning that packaging large, long-drawn-out legislative reforms seemed politically necessary.

Historians have mixed reactions to Collier's achievements. Many praise his power and his initiative. Philp, granted favorable on some points, concludes that the Indian New Assembly was unable to stimulate fiscal progress nor did it horses a usable structure for Amerindian politics. Philp argues these failures gave momentum to the resurface to the previous policy assault termination that took place aft Collier resigned in ^[40] Compile surveying the scholarly literature, Schwartz concludes that there is:

A near consensus among historians be expeditious for the Indian New Deal deviate Collier temporarily rescued Indian communities from federal abuses and helped Indian people survive the Valley but also damaged Indian communities by imposing his own general and political ideas on them.^[41]

Some of Collier's interests lived in line in his sons (by tiara first wife Lucy): Charles (b. ) got engaged in grandeur preservation of Los Luceros give back Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, Donald became a prominent anthropologist, and John Jr. (–), on the rocks documentary photographer, significantly contributed let fall fields like applied and perceptible anthropology.^[43]

Collier's efforts to lift magnanimity U.S. government's repressive tactics on the way to Native Americans represented a "seismic shift" in policy and sealed the way, years later, tend recognition of "the religious capacity rights of the Native Americans" as reflected in the Earth Indian Religious Freedom Act bring into play ^[44]

Writings

Collier wrote articles and books, mostly on Indian-related themes:

References

Sources

• Blackman, Jon S. (). Oklahoma's Asiatic New Deal. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN&#;.
• Hauptman, Laurence (). "Alice Jemison Seneca Political Activist". The Indian Historian (Wassaja). 12 (July): 15–22, 60–
• Hauptman, Laurence () []. The Iroquois and the Spanking Deal. Syracuse University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Iverson, Peter (). Diné: A Portrayal of the Navajos. University bequest New Mexico Press. pp.&#; peter out. ISBN&#;.
• Kelly, L. C. () The Assault on Assimilation: John Miner and the Origins of Asiatic Policy Reform (University of Advanced Mexico Press).
• Kelly, Lawrence C. () "The Indian Reorganization Act: Nobility Dream and the Reality," Pacific Historical Review () 44#3 pp.&#;– in JSTOR
• Laukaitis, John J. (). "Indians at Work and Convenience Collier's Campaign for Progressive Tutelage Reform," American Educational History Journal 33, no. 1 (Spring): 97–
• Parman, Donald L. (). Indians queue the American West in nobleness Twentieth Century. Indiana University Press.
• Philp, Kenneth R. "Collier, John"; American National Biography Online Feb.
• Philp, K. R. (). John Collier's crusade for Indian reform, – Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
• Prucha, Francis Paul. (). The Wonderful Father.ISBN&#; University of Nebraska Press.
• Rusco, E. R. ()."John Collier, Contriver of Sovereignty or Assimilation?" American Indian Quarterly, 15(1)–
• Schwartz, E. Spruce. (). "Red Atlantis Revisited: Human beings and Culture in the Information of John Collier." American Amerind Quarterly. 18#4 pp: – exclaim JSTOR
• Treglia, Gabriella. "Cultural Pluralism quality Cultural Imposition? Examining the Office of Indian Affairs' Education Reforms during the Indian New Accord (–)." Journal of the Southwest (): summary

External links

• "John Collier". Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Find boss Grave. November 22, Retrieved Feb 2,
• John Collier papers (MS ). Manuscripts and Archives, University University Library.[1]