Clyde Ellis (2001-2002)

Professor of History Elon College, Ellis has done research on the early American Indian education experiences, as well as the Kiowa Indians and their experience with Christianity. He is author of three books: "To Change Them Forever: Indian Education at the Rainy Mountain Boarding School, 1893-1920" (University of Oklahoma Press, 1996); "The Jesus Road: Kiowas, Christianity and Indian Hymns," (accompanied with a music CD of 26 Kiowa hymns), and "A Dancing People: Powwow Culture on the Southern Plains" (University Press of Kansas, 2003). Professor Ellis taught Winter Term, 2002 at Dartmouth with two courses: "Get Up and Dance: Plains Powwow Culture," and "American Indian History, 1830 to Present." Toward the end of his residency with us he brought in two guests: Luke Lassiter (anthropologist), and the late Ralph Kotay (Kiowa elder). The three of them gave a public presentation: "Hymns, History and Experience: The Personal and Cultural Power of Christian Hymns Among the Kiowa Indians of Southwestern Oklahoma."