Guide to the Native American Alumni Oral Histories
SC1582
Emma Frothingham, Natalie Marine-Street, and Makeda Barr-Brown
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
January 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Native American Alumni Oral Histories
Identifier/Call Number: SC1582
Physical Description:
18 item(s)
Date (inclusive): 2017-2022
Conditions Governing Access
Some materials are restricted to users with a Stanford University ID or may be embargoed
until a later date
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Interviews were conducted by student residents of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk, a student intern working
with the Native American Cultural Center, and a student in History 255J US History through
Oral History, with support from the Stanford Historical Oral History Program and the
University Archives.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in three series: Series 1. Muwekma Tah-Ruk Interviews; Series 2.
Stanford Native Community Fiftieth Anniversary Storymap Interviews; and Series 3. Native
American Alumni Interviews.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Native American Alumni Oral Histories (SC1582). Department of
Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains oral history interviews primarily with Native American alumni of
Stanford University, as well as with staff and community members. Interviews include audio
recordings and transcripts; some may also have video recordings available.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to
examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made
available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction
beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or
assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Indians of North America.
Stanford University -- Alumni -- Reminiscences.
Stanford University. Native American Cultural
Center
Stanford University. Muwekma-Tah-Ruk
Muwekma-Tah-Ruk
2017
Scope and Contents
Interviews about the founding and early years of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk, a residence hall at
Stanford centered on celebrating the Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander community. The name means "House of the People" in the language of the
Muwekma Ohlone, the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay Area. Interviews were
conducted during an alumni weekend by current students.
Hampson, Colin
2017-04-22
Colin Hampson - Recordings
Colin Hampson - Transcript
Creator: Hampson,
Colin
Creator: Dia-Gonzalez,
Maria
Creator: Treder,
Kathryn
Abstract: Colin Hampson (BA History, 1991;
MA International Policy Studies,1991; JD, 1994) recollects the founding and Ohlone
Blessing of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk as the Native American ethnic theme house on campus. He
also discusses themes of Indigeneity, belonging, and self-discovery. Hampson speaks
about his time as the resident assistant of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk, joining the Stanford
American Indian Organization (SAIO), and his involvement in activism for Native
American Studies on campus. He concludes the interview with advice to current Stanford
students.
Larimore, Jim
2017-04-21
Jim Larimore - Recordings
Jim Larimore - Transcript
Creator: Larimore, Jim
Creator: Bird, LJ (Leo John)
Creator: McNiel, Chase
Abstract: Jim Larimore was hired in 1985 as
the assistant dean of students and director of the American Indian Program at
Stanford. Along with his wife Karen, he served as the first resident fellow of
Muwekma-Tah-Ruk. Larimore describes the founding of Muwekma-Tah- Ruk, his first few
years as resident fellow, and the broader Native American experience on campus in the
1980s. He also speaks about his experience growing up as a Comanche and shares words
of advice from his father.
McGraw, Sean
2018-06-05
Sean McGraw - Recordings
Sean McGraw - Transcript
Creator: McGraw,
Sean
Creator: Brown,
Dahkota
Creator: Jung,
Yeji
Abstract: Sean McGraw (AB Economics and MS
Industrial Engineering, 1988) speaks about his time as an RA for Muwekma-Tah-Ruk,
Stanford's Native theme house, the house's transition from Lathrop House to Muwekma,
and its demographics and layout. McGraw shares memories of his friends Joey Flies-Away
and Steve Etsitty in the Native community, being part of a special graduation
ceremony, hanging out in the Native American Cultural Center, and volunteering at the
Stanford Powwow. He also recalls the impacts of NACC program manager Denni Woodward
and assistant dean of students and resident fellow Jim Larimore and reflects on how he
felt very welcomed and supported by this community despite not being Native
himself.
Stanford Native Community Fiftieth Anniversary StoryMap Interviews
2021
Scope and Contents
Launched by the Stanford Native community in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of both
the Stanford American Indian Organization and the Stanford Powwow, the project aimed to
document and celebrate the accomplishments students and community members have made over
the past half-century at Stanford. Highlighting the tradition of activism and community
building within the Native community on campus, it includes stories from alumni who were
involved in significant milestones within the community's history such as the founding
of the Stanford American Indian Organization, the Stanford Powwow, the establishment of
the Native American Cultural Center, and the Renaming Initiative.
Chun, Ian Nui
2021-08-17
Ian Nui Chun - Recordings
Ian Nui Chun - Transcript
Creator: Chun, Ian
Nui
Creator: Marum,
Caelin
Abstract: Dr. Ian Nui Chun (AB Human
Biology, 1999) speaks about his family background, upbringing in Hawai'i , and
relationship to his grandparents. He discusses his first encounter with Stanford and
transitioning to the university as a freshman. Chun describes his grandfather's wisdom
about finding his Indigenous ohana (his extended Indigenous family and community),
writing "The Hawaiian Guy" column in the Coming Voice newsletter, and increasing
Native Hawaiian involvement in Indigenous spaces. He explains why he launched Hui o'
Hawai'i , a club that explores Indigenous Hawaiian culture, heritage, and history; the
different relationships between the Native Hawaiian community and the AAPI and Native
American communities at Stanford, and his experience designing a special educational
program to bring students to Hawai'i during spring break in connection with the Haas
Center. Lastly, he reflects on how his experiences at Stanford contributed to his life
and career, and his vision for the community in the next fifty years.
Hannahs, Neil Kaho'okele
2021-08-19
Neil Hannahs - Recordings
Neil Hannahs - Transcript
Creator: Hannahs, Neil
Kaho'okele
Creator: Marum,
Caelin
Abstract: Neil Kaho'okele Hannahs (AB
Political Science and Government, 1973; MA Secondary Education and Teaching, 1974)
reflects on being a Native Hawaiian student at Stanford, his career at Kamehameha
Schools, and the founding of the First Nations' Futures Institute. Hannahs explains
his choice to apply to Stanford and the imposter syndrome he experienced when he
arrived. He explains his journey to activism, discussing the paper "Proposal for
Hawaiian Awareness" that he wrote with Marianne Holu, advocating for more diversity on
college campuses. He describes the positive impact of the paper, including the Hawaiʻi
Study Group SCIRE seminar that resulted from it. After graduating, Hannahs explains
how he returned home to Hawaiʻi to work with Kamehameha Schools. He reflects on the
harmful capitalist and paternalistic attitudes that initially influenced the Schools'
goals and how they changed over time. He then describes his work with Stanford faculty
member Peter Vitousek and the Woods Institute for the Environment to start the First
Nations' Futures Institute and fellowship program. Finally, he articulates his hope
for the future of Native land use and leadership.
Jones, Laura
2021-08-26
Laura Jones - Recordings
Laura Jones - Transcript
Creator: Jones,
Laura
Creator: Marum,
Caelin
Abstract: Laura Jones, Executive Director
of Heritage Services and University Archaeologist for Stanford University, speaks
about her family background, her decision to attend UC San Diego as an undergraduate,
and the circumstances that led her to Stanford for graduate study in anthropology. She
recalls how encountering a Native burial site during an excavation led her to meet
Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Chairwoman Rosemary Cambra, and how she later worked with the
tribe to convince the Stanford Anthropology Collections Committee and the university
to allow Indigenous descendants to determine the disposition of their ancestral dead.
She describes how her advocacy for the repatriation of Native remains initially
negatively impacted her career, but eventually led to her job as Stanford's
archaeologist. She reflects on how her experience with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has
shaped her approach to archaeology, her work with the Serra Renaming Committee, and
her vision for the relationship between campus archeology and the Native communities
at Stanford in the next fifty years.
Larimore, Jim
2021-08-13
Jim Larimore - Recordings
Jim Larimore - Transcript
Creator: Larimore, Jim
Creator: Marum,
Caelin
Abstract: Jim Larimore reflects on his time
at Stanford as the director of the American Indian Program, assistant dean of
students, and resident fellow of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk. He describes his family background
and the journey that led him to join the Stanford staff, and he explains his goal of
building a close-knit, accessible, inter-tribal community at Stanford. He recalls how
he and others worked to form a cohesive and hospitable Native community and the
strategies they used to advocate for funding and resources from the university. He
discusses working to ensure Native voices were well represented on the University
Commission on Minority Issues, the difficult path to getting the Native theme dorm
(now Muwekma-Tah-Ruk) housed on the Row, and the experience of living there with his
wife as a resident fellow. He also describes advocating to shift student advising
functions from the Advising Center to the community centers and speaks about getting
his PhD at Stanford while assisting the Provost's Office resolve issues related to
students of color. Finally, he describes his vision for the Indigenous community at
Stanford.
Smith, Carson
2021-07-28
Carson Smith - Recordings
Carson Smith - Transcript
Creator: Smith,
Carson
Creator: Marum,
Caelin
Abstract: Carson Smith (BA Political
Science, 2019) speaks about her family background, how she learned about Stanford
through the College Horizons program, and her decision to attend Stanford. Smith
shares memories of her freshman year, including what it was like living in Muwekma,
playing Werewolves with SNIP for the first time, the Band Run with Muwekma, and
visiting Alcatraz for the first time with other Indigenous students. She discusses her
roles as a resident assistant in Muwekma and co-chair in SAIO. Smith explains her
involvement in the university's renaming committee that grappled with whether to
rename campus places bearing the name of Junipero Serra, discussing issues that
created conflict and how peacemaking principles were used near the end of the process
to allow the voices of Native students to be heard. Lastly, she shares her vision for
the Native community in the next fifty years.
Native American Alumni Interviews
2022
Scope and Contents
Includes interviews conducted by a student in History 255J US History through Oral
History about the Stanford American Indian Summer Immersion Program.
McCabe, Sheila
2022-02-06
Sheila McCabe - Recordings
Sheila McCabe - Transcript
Creator: McCabe,
Sheila
Creator: McCabe,
Franklin
Abstract: Sheila McCabe (BS Engineering,
1994) reflects on her experience as a resident assistant for the American Indian
Summer Immersion Program (AISIP) during the summer of 1992 after completing her
sophomore year at Stanford University. She discusses her impressions of the incoming
freshman class of Native American students and how she felt serving as a peer mentor
for students who were beginning their Stanford journey. She shares fond memories of
AISIP social activities and excursions, recalls student efforts to spur the
recruitment of Indigenous faculty, and offers tribute to the staff of the Native
American Cultural Center for creating a welcoming space for the Native
community.