- Local call number
- nm319g000s002b001f0009
- Media type
- Text
- Creator
- Sylvester, John
- Title
- Oral History Interview with Philip Johnston, November 7, 1970.
- Original creation date
- 1970
- Repository
- Northern Arizona University. Cline Library.
- Use
- Digital surrogates are the property of the repository. Reproduction requires permission.
- Collection name
- Navajo Code Talkers
- Content Summary
- Oral history property of University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library, Special Collections Department.
Photocopy of a typescript transcipt of an oral history with Philip Johnston, conducted on Novemmber 7, 1970. The table of contents indicates that the following topics are addressed: Johnston's background, gospel union, land, trading posts, economics, language, NDAA court case, education, military service, employment, code [Navajo], and military service. Of particular interest is the portion of the transcript that describes Johnston's conception of and involvment with the Navajo Code Talker program.
- Biography/History
- The Navajo Code Talkers Collection (1919-1976, with bulk dates of 1942-1945) documents the development and implementation of the highly successful Navajo Code Talkers program used in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The collection also records Philip Johnston involvement in the development and implementation of this crucial program. Philip Johnston is credited with having conceived the idea of using Native Americans speaking their native language as the foundation for a cryptographic code that could be used to quickly and confidently transmit confidential and sensitive information. The code was never broken by the Japanese and has been attributed with being an integral part of the Allies success in the South Pacific.
- Other Contributors
- Johnston, Philip
- Subjects
-
World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Indian
-
World War, 1939-1945--Cryptography
-
World War, 1939-1945--Communications
-
World War, 1939-1945--Navajo language
-
Navajo language
-
Navajo Indians
- Places
-
Camp Elliott (Calif.)
- People
-
Vogel, Clayton B.
-
Jones, James J.
- Organizations
-
United States. Marine Corps
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