The Escuela experience: The Tucson Indian School in perspective

Abstract

This study has three primary, interrelated themes. First, this thesis will show that creating native Christian leadership was a fundamental goal of the Presbyterians who ran the Tucson Indian Training School (1888-1960). Second it will be shown that this pursuit by the Presbyterians, when combined with the motivations and goals of the students and their families, often times expressed itself in Escuela students who were adept at cooperation and cultural brokering. Finally this thesis will address the fundamental difference between federal Indian schools and mission schools to show that a goal of creating Christian leaders was more easily achieved in the mission school environment after the turn of the 20th century. Primary and secondary sources, as well as interviews with Tucson Indian School alumni are used to place this particular Indian boarding school in historical, cultural and personal perspective.