When Father Liebler arrived in Bluff, Utah the Navajos were suffering from a variety of health problems the most serious being tuberculosis and trachoma, but other severe complications including bronchial pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and malnutrition. The closest Indian Service Hospital was over 250 miles away in Shiprock, Arizona—a long, difficult drive at the time. The first health clinic conducted by Dr. Logan was held on November 9, 1944.

The backbone of the health services at St. Christopher’s Mission was Catherine Pickett who joined the mission staff in June 1949 and stayed for more than 10 years. From 1950 to 1954 a room in the mission house was used as a clinic serving many patients including those suffering from tuberculosis. The dream for a clinic became slowly became realized and in April 25, 1956 the "hospital" was dedicated. In it’s prime over 300 out-patients a month went through the clinic.

Health Photographs

"First Health Clinic" from A River in the Desert
(a 30-minute documentary produced using the archival film and audio from the collection)
160 x 120 version (3.3 MB)
320 x 240 version (7.6 MB)
For more information: 435/797-2663; scweb@ngw.lib.usu.edu
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-3000