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Native American Manuscripts

Cherokee (Browse)

  • Wilma Pearl Mankiller
    The Wilma Pearl Mankiller Collection consists of official and personal correspondence, subject files, and business records, pertaining to her time as the first woman chief of a Native American tribe in modern history. She served as Deputy and Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Cheyenne and Arapaho (Browse)

  • Cheyenne and Arapaho Finding Aids
    Currently, the Cheyenne and Arapaho digital collection contains finding aids for the materials held by the Western History Collections. The finding aids pertain to the Albert Hamilton Black, Camp Supply Collection, J.A. Covington, C.A. Dill, Arnold G. Henderson, and John H. Moore collections.

Chickasaw (Browse)

  • Chickasaw Finding Aids
    Currently, the Chickasaw digital collection contains finding aids for the materials held by the University of Western History Collections. The finding aids pertain to the B.C. Burney, William L. Byrd, William M. Guy, Cyrus H. Harris, Robert M. Harris, Edward Bryant Johnson, Douglas H. Johnston, Palmer S. Mosely, Benjamin F. Overton, Thomas Parker, James Franklin Parman, Horace Pratt, Albert Rennie, and Jonas Wolf collections.

Choctaw (Browse)

  • William J. Bryant
    The William J. Bryant Collection is comprised of two typescripts of news articles from Choctaw Nation newspapers. One concerns Bryant's nomination for principal chief and the other relates to his approval of a Choctaw Nation law.
  • Choctaw Nation
    The Choctaw Nation Papers include acts, laws, bills, and resolutions of the Choctaw Nation; typescripts of newspaper articles, primarily about elections, allotment, and the Dawes Commission; along with four ledgers, which were the journals of record and contain the minutes of the Choctaw Nation Council.
  • Carrie LeFlore
    The Carrie LeFlore Collection features correspondence with friends and family; personal reflections on her marriage to Basil LeFlore, a principal chief of the Choctaw Indians; as well as expressions of condolence following the death of her husband.
  • Green McCurtain
    The Green McCurtain Collection consists of correspondence, during his tenure as Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation, regarding railroads; administrative matters, politics, claims against the United States, and the issue of separate statehood for Indian Territory, in addition to maps of railroad rights-of-way; publications by political parties and citizens groups; U.S. government documents pertaining to mineral rights of the Choctaw Nation and Indian Territory; and McCurtain’s personal expense accounts.
  • Peter Perkins Pitchlynn
    The Peter Perkins Pitchlynn Collection is comprised of Pitchlynn's correspondence with prominent citizens and family members in the Choctaw Nation; his personal journals; reports of the Choctaw Academy and Missionary Station in Kentucky; family records, as well as correspondence reflecting the state of the Choctaw Nation prior to and during the Civil War, with special regard to slavery and a signed copy of the articles of surrender and peace between the Choctaw Nation and the U.S. at the close of the Civil War.

Creek and Euchee (Browse)

  • Samuel Checote
    The Samuel Checote Collection includes typescripts of Checote's messages in his role as the first principal chief of the Creek Nation under the Muskogee Constitution of 1867 to the House of Kings and Warriors; newspaper editorials on Checote and George W. Grayson from the Vindicator and the Cherokee Advocate, as well as a biographical sketch of Checote.
  • Ward Coachman
    The Ward Coachman Collection contains typescripts of messages and an editorial, concerning an attempt to unite Creek political factions and promote the Creek constitution of 1867.
  • Creek Nation
    The Creek Nation Collection features court decisions, treasury warrants, and related legal documents; correspondence; and typescripts of newspaper articles; all relating to land, institutions, and the affairs of the Creek Nation, Indian Territory. Correspondents include Samuel Checote, Ward Coachman, Joseph M. Perryman, and Isparecher.
  • Grayson Family
    The Grayson Family Collection (1834-1919) consists of correspondence regarding Creek Indian history, including tribal politics, tribal factionalism, the Green Peach War, sale of Creek lands in Alabama, removal, allotment of land, and related administrative matters. Correspondents include George W. Grayson, Washington Grayson, Pleasant Porter, Return J. Meigs, Samuel Checote, James A. Garfield, and Dennis W. Bushyhead.
  • Lochar Harjo
    The Lochar Harjo Collection includes typescripts of newspaper articles pertaining to Harjo's inaugural speech as principal chief of the Creeks, on governmental affairs during his administration, and, subsequently, on his impeachment.
  • Isparhecher
    The Isparhecher Collection contains typescripts of letters, speeches, editorials, and biographical accounts, all relating to Isparhecher's time as principal chief of the Creek Nation on subjects such as tribal factionalism, finance, land titles, and related government affairs.
  • James M. Latty
    The James M. Latty Collection consists of a letter with typescript copies from Mr. Latty of Muskogee, Indian Territory, to his brother in Idaho, describing his intention to move west so that his children would receive a better education. Latty lived in the Creek Nation.
  • Roley McIntosh
    The Roley McIntosh Collection includes typescripts of a speech to the Comanche and Wichita nations, as well as the Creek Nation; McIntosh's message to the Creek Nation; newspaper articles regarding McIntosh; and a biographical sketch of McIntosh.
  • Mrs. Alfred Mitchell
    The Mrs. Alfred Mitchell Collection (1895-1910) features typescripts of articles and poems written by the Creek Indian poet Alex Posey. The articles include information on Posey's actions while he was a member of the Dawes Commission, the opposition to allotment by the Snake Clan of Creek Indians, and Creek Indian opposition to Oklahoma statehood.
  • Opothleyaholo
    The Opothleyaholo Collection (1928) contains a biographical typescript commenting on Opothleyaholo's, a member of the Creek Nation, mistrust of white men.
  • Joseph M. Perryman
    The Joseph M. Perryman Collection (1883-1901) consists of newspaper articles, including editorials, proclamations, and reports relating to Perryman, Principal Chief of the Creek Nation; his term of office; and his service as a delegate from the Creek Nation to the Indian International Council.
  • L.C. Perryman
    The L.C. Perryman Collection (1887-1907) includes typescripts of newspaper articles relating to Perryman's service as Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, the Dawes Commission, Perryman's ouster from office in 1895, and his involvement with a plan for Creek Indians to emigrate to Mexico in 1905.
  • Sapulpa Euchee Boarding School
    The Sapulpa Euchee Boarding School Collection (1915-1918) is comprised of ledgers recording supplies used by the school, along with the number of teachers and students in attendance at the U.S. Indian Service school.
  • Evelyn H. Shumard
    The Evelyn H. Shumard Collection (1898-1915) includes minutes of the city council of Sapulpa, Indian Territory; diaries of Evelyn Shumard; short manuscripts by Shumard entitled "Outlaws," "The Parade," The Spirit of Tulsa," "My Life," and "Oklahoma;" scrapbooks by Marion, Alice, and Gordon Shumard on various topics including "An Early History of Sapulpa," and memorabilia from schools attended by the Shumards.
  • Moty Tiger
    The Moty Tiger Collection (1899-1931) features typescripts of newspaper articles relating to the change in status of the Creek Nation and the role of Tiger, the tribe's first Principal Chief following the amalgamation of Indian Territory into Oklahoma.

Seminole (Browse)

  • John F. Brown
    The John F. Brown Collection (1870-1907) contains typescripts of news articles pertaining to mining and grazing leases, Dawes Commission proceedings, tribal government, and politics of the Seminole Nation, along with editorials concerning John F. Brown, a businessman and Principal Chief of the Seminoles.
  • C. Guy Cutlip
    The C. Guy Cutlip Collection (1867-1967) contains items related to his time as a business man, attorney, and judge, including records of the Oklahoma Bar Association's board of governors; speeches by Cutlip; manuscripts regarding the history of Seminole County, Oklahoma, Wewoka, Oklahoma, and the Seminole Indian Nation; Seminole Indian land allotment certificates; Cutlip's travel diaries and personal diaries; records of the Wewoka Masonic Lodge; and a financial ledger of the Wewoka Trading Company.
  • Alice Brown Davis
    The Alice Brown Davis Collection (1905-1935) consists of typescripts of newspaper articles regarding Seminole Indian land claims in Mexico and Seminole Indian schools, along with a biographical sketch of Mrs. Davis and her obituary.
  • Jacob Harrison
    The Jacob Harrison Collection (1905) contains typescripts of newspaper articles regarding Harrison's impeachment and removal from office as chief of the Seminoles, as well as John Brown, his replacement.
  • Hiram Impson
    The Hiram Impson Collection (1940) includes a letter written by Paul McKennon recounting his experiences in the Seminole Nation, with an explanation as to how criminals were punished under Seminole law.
  • John Jumper
    The John Jumper Collection (1874-1928) consists of typescripts of newspaper articles by and about Jumper, the Peace Council of 1874, and the status of Christian missions in the Seminole Nation.
  • Mrs. John B. Lilley
    The Mrs. John B. Lilley Collection (1842-1857) includes a typescript of a diary kept by the wife of John B. Lilley, a Presbyterian missionary to the Seminole Nation. The diary describes the Lilleys' arrival among the Seminoles, the hardships of living in Indian Territory, problems with slaves, friction between the Creeks and the Seminoles, Wild Cat's (Coocoochee) departure for Mexico, and tensions prior to the Civil War.
  • Hulbutta Micco
    The Hulbutta Micco Collection (1898-1905) features typescripts of newspaper articles pertaining to the Seminole Nation and Hulbutta Micco, who was the last regularly elected Principal Chief of the Seminoles before statehood.
  • James Ross Ramsey
    The James Ross Ramsey Collection (1890) contains a typescript of Ramsay's autobiography in which he relates his education and experiences as a Presbyterian missionary among the Seminoles, hardships during the Civil War, and accounts of medical treatment.
  • Seminole Nation Papers
    The Seminole Nation Papers Collection (1840-1979) is comprised of typescripts of correspondence and newspaper articles regarding John Jumper and Seminole land disputes, along with resolutions and ordinances of the Seminole General Council.
  • Enola Shumate
    The Enola Shumate Collection (1897) consists of a ledger containing census cards recording members of the Seminole tribe in Indian Territory.

General (Browse)

  • Thomas C. Battey
    The Thomas C. Battey Collection (1872-1884) includes Battey's diaries and correspondence with family members regarding his experience as a teacher of Indians, along with a book authored by Battey entitled Life and Adventures of a Quaker Among the Indians, containing substantial manuscript revisions.
  • Walter Stanley Campbell
    The Walter Stanley Campbell Collection (1897-1957) contains personal correspondence with Campbell's relatives, publishers and literary agents, in addition to literary manuscripts, diaries, notebooks, journals, and business papers regarding Campbell's writings on the west, Indians, and Oklahoma, with emphasis on transportation, fortifications, cowboys, wars and battles, criminals and outlaws, and Indian chiefs, along with original Indian art by Carl Sweezy.
  • Melven Cornish
    The Melven Cornish Collection (1876-1940) features case files and letterbooks relating to Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians citizenship claims, dockets for the central and southern divisions of the U. S. District Court, an account book, and a record book entitled Proceedings of the Court of Claims, Choctaw Nation, along with clippings and published court documents relating to Chickasaw and Choctaw Indian cases represented by the law firm of Mansfield, McMurray, and Cornish in U.S. courts.
  • Joseph Samuel Murrow
    The Joseph Samuel Murrow Collection (1894-1928) includes legal documents and papers relating to J. S. Murrow, his home and school for Indian orphans, and Bacone College. The collection also includes minutes and proceedings of the Indian Missionary Association, and programs for meetings of the Deacons and Missionaries Institute of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Baptist churches and of the Oklahoma Indian Baptist Association.

Other (Browse)

  • Divison of Manuscripts
    The Division of Manuscripts Collection (1632-1877) consists of letters, reports, publications, and manuscripts reflecting the history of Oklahoma and of the American Indian tribes and nations within its borders, including correspondence from U.S. government officials concerning policy toward the Indians, especially in regard to the Indian removal, and correspondence from Confederate Army officer Albert Pike in regard to Confederate States of America policy toward the Indians. Also included in this collection is a group of French colonial documents, along with diaries and journals of travelers on the American frontier.