Annotated Bibliography

Navajo Weavings Selected Bibliography

Books

Amsden, Charles Avery. Navajo Weaving: Its Technic and its History. Glorieta, NM: The Rio Grande Press,

• Inc., 1934; fifth printing, 1974.
  Discusses loom development, the methods and formulations for dyeing yarns, the history of Navajo weavings and the commercial aspects of their textiles. Includes 125 illustrations, photographs and diagrams.

Bennett, Noël. The Weaver’s Pathway: A Clarification of the “Spirit Trail” in Navajo Weaving. AZ: Northland

• Press, 1974.
  A review of the literature on the beliefs and explanations surrounding the small line or “spirit trail” which appears from the background to the selvage in some Navajo rugs. Bennett interviews contemporary weavers to further explore this tradition. 

Bennett, Noël and Tiana Bighorse. Navajo Weaving Way: The Path from Fleece to Rug. Loveland, CO: 

• Interweave Press, 1997.
  Compilation of earlier works on weaving with new chapters on spinning, carding and dyeing. Corrects loom design from earlier work. Illustrations are detailed and include line drawings of specific techniques.

Berlant, Anthony and Kathleen Hunt Kahlenberg. Walk in Beauty: The Navajo and Their Blankets.  Boston: New

• York Graphic Society, Little, Brown and Company, 1977.

A history of the culture of the Navajo and an examination of the dyes, materials, weaving techniques and developments of the blanket traditions. Includes 64 color and 85 black & white illustrations.
 

Blomberg, Nancy. Navajo Textiles: The William Randolph Hearst Collection. Tucson: University of Arizona Press,

• 1988.
• A catalogue raisonné that features nearly 200 illustrations of the William Randolph Hearst collection of Navajo textiles. The collection is one of the most complete collections of Navajo weaving in the world covering works from 1800 to 1920. The book provides a detailed analysis of each piece including fibers, yarn types, dyes and designs.

Brody, J. J. Between Traditions: Navajo Weaving Toward the End of the Nineteenth Century.  Iowa City, IA: Stamats

• Publishing Company for the University of Iowa Museum of Arts, 1976.

Catalog for exhibition curated by Jerry Brody Director of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology in Albuquerque, NM on the occasion of the American bicentennial celebration. Examples include the classic blanket, revival rugs, and eye dazzlers.
 

Dedera, Don. Navajo Rugs: How to Find, Evaluate, Buy and Care for Them.  Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Press, 1975;

• third printing, 1979.

Garrigan, John. Southwestern Weaving from the Collection of The Stark Museum of Art.  Orange, TX: Nelda C. and

• H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, 1981.
  Exhibition catalog exploring the Native American tradition of weaving through examples in the Stark Museum Collection. Includes selected bibliography.

Hannon, Kerry. Trees in a Circle: The Teec Nos Pos Story. Teec Nos Pos, AZ: Teec Nos Pos Trading Post, 1999.

• The story of a family owned Navajo Reservation trading post passed down over four generations. This post opened in 1905 and continues to offer unique regional weavings today. Features photographs of the family’s private collection.

Hedlund, Ann Lane. Navajo Weaving in the Late Twentieth Century: Kin, Community and Collectors. Tucson:

• University of Arizona Press, 2004.

Presents 74 color plates of Navajo rugs and wall hangings woven between 1971 and 1996. The author discusses the shift of attention from artifact to art and the development of Navajo textile collecting.
 

Hollister, U.S. The Navajo and His Blanket. Glorieta, NM: The Rio Grande Press, Inc., 1903; reprinted 1972.

• The author’s research stems from his own personal interest in Navajo blankets as well as the culture in which they were created. List of illustrations have been corrected from original edition.

• Unabridged reprint of the original 1914 work. 254 illustrations, of which 32 are color, accompany this discussion of the history of Navajo weaving traditions and blanket manufacture.

James, H. L. Posts and Rugs: The Story of Navajo Rugs and Their Homes. Globe, AZ: Southwest Parks and

• Monuments Association, 1976.
  A reference book documenting elements characteristic of different weaving centers. Includes line drawings, maps, diagrams and 49 color plates. Appendix includes list of those who have received Navajo weaving awards.

Kahlenberg, Mary Hunt and Anthony Berlant. The Navajo Blanket. Los Angeles: association with the Los Angeles

• County Museum of Art, 1972; second printing, 1973.
  Catalog of an exhibition held at the Los Angeles County Museum from June 27 - August 27, 1972 and at the Navajo Tribal Museum in Window Rock, AZ, Fall of 1972 – Spring of 1976. Text covers history, technique and materials and stylistic development. Includes bibliography.

Kent, Kate Peck. Navajo Weaving: Three Centuries of Change, with a Catalogue of the School of American Research

• Collection. Santa Fe: School of American Research Press, 1985.

Includes 24 color plates, and 41 other photographs and illustrations. Appendix includes list of basic information about each of the estimated 400 Navajo textiles in the collection.

Lange, Pam, ed. In Beauty It Is Finished: The McDermott Collection of Navajo Blankets.  Dallas, TX: Dallas Public

• Library, 1983.

Catalog of the McDermott Collection, considered one of the largest collections of Navajo wearing blankets in the U.S., which was donated to the Dallas Public Library by Eugene and Margaret McDermott. Includes photographs of Navajo wearing or creating blankets as well as images of blankets in the collection.
 

Mera, H. P. Navajo Textile Arts. Santa Barbara, CA and Salt Lake City, UT: Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1975.

• Reprint of the 1947 edition, with introduction to new edition by Roger and Jean Moss. Includes new photographs, afterword and appendix.

Reichard, Gladys A. Navajo Shepherd and Weaver. New York: J. J. Augustin Publisher, 1936.

• The author recounts how she learned to weave during four summers spent with a Navajo family. Detailed photographs and diagrams illustrate the process.

Valette, Rebecca M. and Jean Paul Valette. Weaving the Dance: Navajo Yeibichai Textiles (1910-1950) Albuquerque,  

• NM: Adobe Gallery in association with the University of Washington Press, 2000.

Yeibichai weavings are a category of 20th century Navajo textiles originally intended for the tourist trade. The artistic representation of a sacred dance created controversy within the Navajo culture and this text follows the evolution of the design. Includes image of weaving from the Stark Museum Collection. Navajo Rug with 2 Yei Figures. 82.900/59.
 

Wheat, Joe Ben and Ann Lane Hedlund, ed. Blanket Weaving in the Southwest. Tucson: University of Arizona Press,

• 2003.
• Culmination of a lifetime of scholarly study of textiles of the Southwestern U.S. History of and guide to weaving traditions from the early historical period to the late 19th century. Includes over 200 photos, drawings and chronology from 1100-1997.

Videos

Lewitt, Linda. Woven by the Grandmothers: 19th Century Navajo Textiles. [VHS]. Washington DC: WETA and Home

• Vision Arts, 1998.
  This program explores the 19th century Navajo textiles collection of the National Museum of the American Indian. D.Y. Begay demonstrates sheep shearing and collecting plants for dye. Includes songs, stories, photography and archival footage of Native American women weavers. [30 minutes, closed captioned].

Denver Museum of Natural History. The Art of Navajo Weaving and the Durango Collection. [VHS]. Cortez, CO:

• INTERpark, 1987.
  The first program features contemporary Navajo weavers Isabel and Geanita John as it documents the origins, history and present state of Navajo weaving. The second program is a tour through the private Durango Collection as narrated by its owners. [56 minutes].

Children

Blood, Charles L. The Goat in the Rug: As told to Charles L. Blood and Martin Link by Geraldine New York: Aladdin

• Books, 1990.

Geraldine, the goat, observes and occasionally participates as her friend Glenmae shears, cleans, dyes, spins and weaves her wool into a perfect rug. Ages 4-8.

Greenlee, Donna. Navajo Design Book. Scottsdale, AZ: Fun Publishing, Co., 1975.

• A coloring book of traditional designs.

Hoffman, Virginia. Lucy Learns to Weave: Gathering Plants. Rough Rock, AZ: Navajo Curriculum Center Press, 1974;

• third printing, revised, 1979.
  One of four books intended primarily for Navajo children’s reading programs developed by the Navajo Curriculum Center at Rough Rock, AZ. The series is based on authentic Navajo experiences and is intended to support bi-lingual – bi-cultural education.

Roessell, Monty. Songs from the Loom: A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications, Co., 

• 1995.
• The author documents with photographs his daughter learning the tradition of weaving from her grandmother. Step-by-step, shearing, carding, spinning, dying and weaving are passed down to the next generation. Ages 9-12.

Stark Museum of Art, Research Library. 712 Green Avenue, Orange, TX 77630 Revised January 2008