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Dorothy Morehead Hill Collection
MSS 160
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Title: Dorothy Morehead Hill Collection
Dates: 1876-1984
Collection Number: MSS 160
Creator/Collector:
Hill, Dorothy J.
Extent: 46 boxes, 20.42 linear feet.
Online items available
Repository:
California State University, Chico
Chico, California 95929-0295
Abstract: The collection of Native Americans of Northeastern California materials is organized by people, places, tribes, titles, subject
and research files and field notes.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
The collection is to be used ONLY for education and research purposes. No other use of the material is permitted. Questions
about this agreement should be referred to Special Collections.
Dorothy Morehead Hill Collection. California State University, Chico
gift, 1987, 2001
Biography/Administrative History
Dorothy Jean Morehead Hill was born May 6, 1922 to Margaret and James Morehead on a ranch west of Chico (Butte County). Ms.
Hill graduated from Chico High School in 1939 and went on to the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1943 with
degrees in Physical Education and Natural Science. In 1944, Dorothy married Mack Hill, an instructor for the Army Air Corp
stationed in Chico during World War II. They raised three daughters: Kathryn, Carol, and Margaret (Maggie). Ms. Hill returned
to school at Chico State College and earned a teaching credential and a master’s degree in Anthropology. She went on to teach
at Butte College. Ms. Hill wrote and published several monographs relating to regional Native American history. Ms. Hill was
involved in Daughters of the American Revolution, Bidwell Mansion Restoration Society, and the Association for Northern California
Records and Research. Ms. Hill died September 12, 1998.
Scope and Content of Collection
Ms. Hill and her associate Robert Rathbun began a series of professional collaborations interviewing a group of Native American
Elders and documenting the culture, language and life of Northeastern California's Native American tribes and families. They
proceeded, both separately and together, for the next 35 years adding to their work using tape recorders, video and still
cameras and documenting what they called “California Native oral traditions” throughout parts of Mendocino, Lake, Yolo, Sonoma,
El Dorado, Placer, Amador, Mariposa, Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Plumas, Butte, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn, Trinity, Tehama, Humboldt,
Shasta, Lassen, Siskiyou, and Modoc counties. Ultimately, they collected and produced mountains of data. Increasingly, these
collections contained substantial information about the social life, religion, family relationships, cultural elements, stories,
geographic place names and informants' life experiences. One concern of Ms. Hill was that Native American culture, language
and social history not be lost when the Elders passed away. She felt that language was especially important and she found
the few living native speakers for some languages. She also wanted to preserve Native American culture so that the traditions
could be passed on to future generations. Lastly, she intended to create a unique collection to be used for education about
and research into this dimension of the history of Northeastern California. The collection is organized by people, places,
tribes, titles, subject and research files and field notes. Her original donation included additional materials not related
to Native Americans which are not part of this collection.
Indians of North America--California.
Maidu Indians.
Mechoopda Indians.
Miwok Indians.
Wintun Indians.
Yokuts Indians.
Hupa Indians.