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Theodore Roosevelt writes to Dr. Moffett noting that Louisa Wade Wetherill has requested that Kayenta, Arizona, be made a substation of the mission hospital. Roosevelt also mentions that Wetherill has applied for the position of the mission hospital’s matron and recommends her for the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-03
President Roosevelt assures Sophia Edgell Lee that Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp will handle the matter that she has raised with due diligence and care. Roosevelt explains the actions he has previously taken in investigating similar questions into the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and states that Howard R. Antes has previously tried to accuse Superintendent William T. Shelton of various misconduct. When unprejudiced observers have visited Shelton at the Navajo reservation, however, they have praised his success there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-29
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of War Taft to order Colonel Hugh Lenox Scott to Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico to investigate charges made by Howard R. Antes against troops serving under Captain Harry O. Williard and William T. Shelton, superintendent of the San Juan Indian School. The troops recently arrested By-a-lil-le, a Navajo medicine man and leader and ten of his followers. Shelton played a part in the affair. En route, Scott should stop in Oklahoma to secure the services of “one or two” Native Americans to accompany and assist him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-01
President Roosevelt approves of the way Captain Harry O. Williard handled the conflict on the Navajo Reservation in a response to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-06
President Roosevelt thanks Captain Williard for the way he and his command handled the conflict on the Navajo Reservation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-06
President Roosevelt returns the papers on the investigation into the affairs of the Moqui and Navajo Indian Reservation. Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that the Sequoya League and Charles Fletcher Lummis should retract their charges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-29
Charles Fletcher Lummis, David Starr Jordan, and others have accused Charles E. Burton, Superintendent and Special Distributing Agent of the Moquis and Navajos at Keams Canyon, Arizona, of incompetence and cruel treatment of Native Americans. President Roosevelt supports Burton’s removal and asks that Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock take up the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-22
Walter F. Haskett heard from his friend W. R. Johnston of Theodore Roosevelt’s service to the Navajo while President. They plan to stop by Roosevelt’s office so Johnston can share the results of Roosevelt’s involvement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-26
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
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
Captain Williard writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp about an issue that came to his attention recently. Father Anselm Weber notified him that the Indian Rights Association was protesting about Leupp and Superintendent William T. Shelton about their actions against Navajos that resulted in several being killed. Williard explains that he has become involved because he believes that he is responsible for the matter, and he defends the choices he made that resulted in the deaths.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-29
Photograph of a Navajo man in Kayenta, Arizona. Nicholas Roosevelt identifies the man as “Loco the Cook.” A horse can be seen in the background.
1913
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, three Navajo men, and other members of Roosevelt’s party at camp near Rainbow Bridge. Several horses are in the background. Jesse Cummins is likely on the left of the photograph.
1913
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