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President Roosevelt requests that Dr. Merriam report on the condition of Native American tribes and their treatment by government agents in the West.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-31
President Roosevelt would like Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock to have the Indian Office reexamine their policy of stopping rations for Native Americans under certain conditions. Roosevelt has been convinced that the policy is being used too often, and under dubious circumstances.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-23
On behalf of the Board of Indian Commissioners, part of the Department of the Interior, Merrill Edwards Gates transmits a resolution thanking President Roosevelt for respecting the opinions and work of the Board throughout his time in office. The Board hopes Roosevelt will continue to be involved in matters regarding Native Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-24
As per President Roosevelt’s request, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp encloses a letter that presents the facts about the conflict on a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. Leupp wrote the letter in response to a complaint from Edward J. Wilcox about how the situation was handled by Captain Harry O. Williard and William T. Shelton, the Superintendent of the San Juan Indian Agency. He knows that Roosevelt feels similarly that there are times “when it is necessary to enforce some salutary lesson by painful methods.” Leupp defends Williard’s and Shelton’s character and their actions in the conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-05
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp responds to a letter that Edward J. Wilcox sent to President Roosevelt criticizing the way that Captain Harry O. Williard handled a conflict on a Navajo Reservation. Leupp provides context for the situation and argues that Captain Williard was justified in his actions, adding that other Navajo on the Reservation are pleased with the outcome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-03
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock assumes responsibility for publishing the Higgins correspondence as a pamphlet and will conform to President Roosevelt’s wishes in the future. Hitchcock is not surprised that Roosevelt has heard complaints about the investigations in the Indian Territory; “‘Weary Willie’ grafters” are prone to making charges “against those uncovering their scoundrelism.” However, he thinks that the final reports will prove these investigations were warranted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
Acting Secretary of War Ainsworth sends a telegram to William Loeb regarding the status of the Copper River Indians in Alaska. There have been reports of destitution among the Indians. Ainsworth directed the Commanding General of the Department of the Columbia, Constant Williams, to provide emergency relief measures if necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
Boies Penrose writes to set up a meeting between President Roosevelt, Arkansas Senator James K. Jones, and Pennsylvania oil magnate Theodore N. Barnsdall to discuss “serious complications in Indian Territory over gas and oil matters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
Record of a treaty between the United States government and the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Santee Sioux Native Americans concluded in 1867. Recognizing that these bands did not take part in the Dakota War of 1862, Congress reaffirms its friendly relations with them, reestablishes reservations of lands for their use, and appropriates money to be used for agricultural improvement.
1867-02-19
Record of a treaty between the United States government and the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Sioux Indians dividing reservation land into allotments and issuing plots to those over twenty-one. The treaty additionally addresses several other questions of land rights, payments, and the rights and obligations of the Native Americans.
1858-06-19
C. Hart Merriam has received further letters from Native Americans on the Blackfoot Reservation. They are impoverished and are paid for their work in the store in “duebills” which must be used in the store.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-21
Senator Quay forgot to speak to President Roosevelt about Charles J. Bonaparte’s report from the Board of Indian Commissioners. Quay says that if the Dawes Commission is dissolved except for Tams Bixby, who is given the commission’s powers, the arrangement will please both Quay and the people. Quay has a plan for “relieving” the Delawares.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-07
George Kennan informs President Roosevelt of his plans to travel to the Far East for a year after recovering from surgery. He commends Roosevelt’s decision to have the competitive sale of Indian lands, which he says is the “only fair way” to dispose of the lands and will help pay the costs of the Indian Administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-01
C. Hart Merriam protests against the reappointment of Major James H. Monteath as agent of the Piegan Blackfeet Indians.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-19
George Kennan writes to President Roosevelt concerning the Red Lake Reservation Land Bill. Kennan questions whether the ambiguity of the bill is intentional. He says that the “Rosebud” bill is unfair to American Indians because it intentionally undervalues their land so that it can be bought and resold at a higher price.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-17
Print shows a mean-spirited infant boy in a cradle labeled “Infant Indian Exterminators”, armed with a rifle, knives, and handguns, feeding from a large bottle filled with “Dime Novel” and “5 ct. Paper[back]” literature, with other action and adventure books about “Pirates” and an “Indian Killer” on the floor around the cradle.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-09-21
Print shows Uncle Sam sitting at a table outside an “Indian Store” with Natives and government agents gathered around; he was constructing a house of cards labeled “Indian Policy” until the government agents and a man standing on a box labeled “Boston Sentimentalist” leaned over and blew on it, knocking it down.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-09-14
The Outlook is publishing a paper on Indian affairs by Frank Wood but suggests three changes: the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department, Native Americans should be wards of the state for a time after the breakup of a reservation, and the office of Superintendent of Indian Schools should be abolished.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09
A Sequoya League investigation of Charles E. Burton, superintendent and special distributing agent of the Navajo and Moqui (Hopi) Indians, has found that Burton has “repeatedly and flagrantly violated” service rules by flogging Native Americans. Burton also forced Native American men to cut their hair. An official government investigation found wrongdoing but could not substantiate all of the Sequoya League’s findings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09
Francis E. Leupp provides an example of the form letter he is sending to Native Americans of the Anadarko Agency regarding his investigation into their complaints about money and land allotments. Leupp hopes that the letter will make witnesses comfortable enough to come forward.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-24