David W. May was a native San Diegan and attended the University of San Diego from 1969 to 1975. David and his family were avid enthusiasts for the Southwest, and were especially interested in American Indian culture and traditions. They traveled extensively, starting in the 1950s. David grew up camping with his family throughout the deserts of the Southwest, visiting many of the most remote and inaccessible areas. The family frequently spent long vacations in Monument Valley, where his mother ultimately would work summers at the famous Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge. During this time the family began collecting Native American artifacts.

Tragically, David died of cancer at the age of 22. His father, Bob, passed away some years later, leaving David's mother, Zama, as his only survivor. At her death in 1994, she bequeathed the family's treasured collection of over 1600 artifacts to USD in David's honor, requesting that it be named for him. The University had a profound religious and educational impact upon David, and his mother thought it fitting that something of his life should become part of USD. Zama hoped that the collection would be used to further the educational goals of the University and, especially, to foster an appreciation of the cultural history of the American Southwest throughout the USD community.