Posts and Rugs
The story of Navajo Rugs and their Homes

H.L. James

Published by Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Arizona, softcover, illustrated.
Ex-libris on endpaper.

H L. James is no stranger in Navajoland. Like many professional people, his hobby is somewhat removed from his career, for he is a senior engineering geologist with the New Mexico Highway Department.

A native son, James was born 41 years ago in Carlsbad, and raised on a ranch in the southeastern part of the state. He attended grade school in Carlsbad and Santa Fe; St. Joseph's Military Academy in Hays, Kansas; and West Texas State University, in Canyon, Texas, where he received a B.S. degree in 1958. Military service was with the Marine Corps, 1952 - 1955, including a stretch in Korea. Since graduation James has been with New Mexico's highway department, with 1974 a sabbatical year doing graduate work at the University of Oregon. He is married, to Rose Ann, a school mate, and they have three children. The family now lives in Santa Fe.

James' work has required considerable road survey traveling, frequently into the Navajo Reservation. He started collecting rugs in 1960, considering rugs as works of art. He wouldn't put one on the floor, preferring to hang them according to his wife's artistic dictates.

Another hobby, photography, fits perfectly with his rug collecting, as he keeps obtaining samples of the major regional rug styles and specialty rugs as they appear. James is a past two-term president of the New Mexico Historical Society, and is recognized for his writing and photography on Southwestern history and geology. His lectures, writings and fine photography on Navajo rugs have often appeared in New Mexico Magazine.

Posts and Rugs, the Story of Navajo Rugs and Their Homes, started out in the author's mind as a more or less conventional analysis of weaving skills, and regional variations in the craft, but the story wouldn't jell that way! It wasn't just Navajo rugs, but the home environment which created them. This meant the homes, the people, and the whole warp and weft of history on the Reservation as these once nomadic people settled into a pastoral way which favored craft development.

To truly show what these gifted folk could do in rug weaving required countless hours of time and miles, much of it spent on back country roads; almost incredible patience to ferret out facts from people not as concerned with the dock as most of us; a vast amount of searching through the extensive literature to pull forth the more significant facts; and to do the job right, the skills of a professional photographer.

The author possessed the patience and skill to fit these requirements. In this book, faithfully documented, fully illustrated with exquisite line drawings and color photographs, and some historic old prints, the author has produced a reference book which will be used many times. Here are design drawings showing elements characteristic of different weaving centers; superb color photographs of rugs typical of these centers, and detailed maps of the areas; exquisite line drawing illustrations to accompany the text on all steps from sheep to finished rug; complete outline of history on many of the most significant trading posts; advice on how to buy a Navajo rug, and listing of award winners at recent Navajo crafts displays and fairs.