The Southern Ute Drum Archive received a donation of 75 issues of historic Ignacio Chieftain and Durango Herald newspapers from Bayfield’s Pine River Library on Friday, May 7.  

The donations included 40 Chieftain newspapers that date back to 1933 and gives an important look at the history of Ignacio, Bayfield and the surrounding area during the Great Depression and pre-World War II era. 32 of the papers donated were from June of 1967 to June of 1968. Two issues of the Durango Herald from 1982 were also inventoried, and so was a small local publication known as Today. 

Prior to the donation, the Southern Ute Drum Archive was missing all issues of the Ignacio Chieftain from 1929 to 1940 and 1966-1968. With the addition of the year 1933 and 1967-68, the Southern Ute Drum Archive is more equipped to accept any research and potential photo requests dating before 1969 and the establishment of the Southern Ute Drum.  

The Southern Ute Drum Archive hopes to continue expanding its inventory to include a more accurate and complete record of newspapers to aid in requests from Southern Ute tribal members, Southern Ute tribal entities, community members, and scholars that are trying to get a better understanding of the contemporary history of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the towns of Ignacio and Bayfield and Southwest Colorado.  

The Southern Ute Drum Archive is currently accepting donations of any issues of Ignacio Chieftains from 1910-1940, 1969-1980; any issues of the Southern Ute Drum from 1969-1978; and the Southern Ute Drum Newsletter dating before 1969. Some of these newspapers have become increasingly rare and any donation will be helpful and graciously accepted.  

The Southern Ute Drum Archive would like to thank the Pine River Library for their gracious donation of newspapers. The Drum Archive would also like to thank Pine River Library’s Learning and Engagement Manager, Becky Van Den Berg and Office Manager, Michaela Wilson for facilitating the donation.