Anthropologist, Linguist, and Native Leader. William Morgan was born in a traditional Navajo hogan on the Navajo Reservation on May 29, 1917, not far from Fort Wingate near Gallup, in McKinley County, New Mexico. His Navajo name translates as "He Who Walks with Warriors." He attended the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) boarding school in nearby Tohatchi, New Mexico, and graduated from Fort Wingate High School. As an adult, he worked as an interpreter for the BIA and married fellow Navajo Desbah Dixon. He worked extensively with linguist and anthropologist Robert W. Young on the Navajo language, and they published several books together, including the momentous Analytical Lexicon of Navajo. In 1943, Young and Morgan became editors of the first Navajo-language newspaper, Ádahooníłígíí, published by the Navajo Agency. Morgan also worked on exhibits for the Navajo Tribal Museum. Eventually, he was recognized as an important linguist, anthropologist, educator, author, and Native American leader. The preservation of the Navajo language owes much to Morgan's work. In 1970, he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of New Mexico. He is recognized by many as one of the most important leaders in saving Native American languages from extinction.
Anthropologist, Linguist, and Native Leader. William Morgan was born in a traditional Navajo hogan on the Navajo Reservation on May 29, 1917, not far from Fort Wingate near Gallup, in McKinley County, New Mexico. His Navajo name translates as "He Who Walks with Warriors." He attended the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) boarding school in nearby Tohatchi, New Mexico, and graduated from Fort Wingate High School. As an adult, he worked as an interpreter for the BIA and married fellow Navajo Desbah Dixon. He worked extensively with linguist and anthropologist Robert W. Young on the Navajo language, and they published several books together, including the momentous Analytical Lexicon of Navajo. In 1943, Young and Morgan became editors of the first Navajo-language newspaper, Ádahooníłígíí, published by the Navajo Agency. Morgan also worked on exhibits for the Navajo Tribal Museum. Eventually, he was recognized as an important linguist, anthropologist, educator, author, and Native American leader. The preservation of the Navajo language owes much to Morgan's work. In 1970, he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of New Mexico. He is recognized by many as one of the most important leaders in saving Native American languages from extinction.
Bio by: Sharlotte Neely Donnelly
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