Vine Deloria Jr.

An item at American Writers Museum

A Standing Rock Sioux, Vine Deloria Jr. was a dedicated advocate for the rights of American Indians. He founded the country's first master's degree program in American Indian Studies, served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, and made many appearances before the U.S. Congress to testify in civil rights cases.

In terms of raising public awareness about the challenges faced by contemporary Indians, Deloria made his biggest impact with Custer Died for Your Sins (1969), a collection of 11 bitingly humorous essays. He wrote many more books, including God Is Red: A Native View of Religion (1973).

AMERICAN VOICES

An exhibit at American Writers Museum

American writing is distinctive, diverse, and comes in many forms from across the nation. The 100 authors featured here represent the evolution of American writing. Learn more about each writer on the timeline by turning the panels below their portraits. Explore centuries of writing by pulling, turning, and touching the interactive elements on the counter.

This is not meant to be a list of the greatest or most influential writers. Instead, we present authors and works as part of the American story as it grows and changes. Taken together, this rich literary heritage reflects America in all of its complexity: its energy, hope, conflict, disillusionment, and creativity.

American Writers Museum