In 1942 Father H. Baxter Liebler left his comfortable home in Connecticut to visit southeastern Utah where he found a people without medical care, education, or Christian religion. A year later he returned to Bluff, Utah with five other missionaries and established St. Christopher’s Episcopal Mission. Through a profound respect for their beliefs and culture, Father Liebler brought health care, education, and Christianity to the Navajos. He was known by the Navajos as "the missionary that does some good, not just talks."

During his life time Father Liebler was diligent in his outreach work. On the reservation he set up several outstations, broadcast a weekly radio program, and wrote a religious book for Navajos entitled When We Look Around Us. Additionally, Liebler worked at fundraising for his volunteer mission through newsletters, public lectures and slideshows, and films. in 1969 he published his memoirs on St. Christopher's Mission in a book, Boil My Heart for me. Special Collections and Archives in the Merrill Library at Utah State University now maintains the Liebler Archives. Included in this web site are a sampling of the photographs, slides, audio recordings, film footage, and manuscripts available.

"Founding Philosophy" from A River in the Desert
(a 30-minute documentary produced using the archival film and audio from the collection)
160 x 120 version (4.5 MB)
320 x 240 version (9.5 MB)

Audio sample from Tape 165, The Hospital Built by Faith, a slide-lecture by Father Liebler.
For more information: 435/797-2663; scweb@ngw.lib.usu.edu
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-3000