Native Americans

37 Pages·2015·0.24 MB·English

by  Hawker, Emma

Native Americans
This bibliography endeavors to list all manuscript collections in the Bentley Historical Library
reflecting the history and culture of Native Americans in Michigan. The difficulty in adequately
documenting Native Americans lies in the fact that the history of Native Americans is
transmitted through artifacts and through an oral tradition intimately bound with a living culture
rather than in the letters, diaries and other written documents that we associate with other groups
and which are routinely collected by archival agencies like the Bentley.
Much of the material is small and scattered and difficult to use for systematic research, but we
hope that when used in conjunction with other materials in this and other repositories and with
non-archival materials, these items may illuminate the way for the diligent researcher. Much of
the material listed here reflects Indian life and history as seen by white observers-explorers,
missionaries, traders, travelers, authors, government officials. Many of the items are most useful,
perhaps, for observing white attitudes about Indians in a given time, for understanding popular
American myths about Indian life or for studying white attempts to destroy or change Indian
culture. Much of the material documents the formulation of government policy toward Native
Americans and the relationship between the cultures generally.
The Bentley Historical Library publishes this bibliography in order to describe the holdings of
the Michigan Historical Collections and to encourage research in the topic. We also hope to
focus attention on the importance of locating and preserving source materials so that they can be
made available for research. The advantages of cooperation among collecting agencies are
highlighted by the prominent role of microfilm in this bibliography. The Michigan Historical
Collections hopes to advance preservation, research and cooperation and seeks the assistance of
all those interested in documenting fully the Native American experience in Michigan.

Table of Contents
Collections ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Publications ................................................................................................................................... 33

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Collections

Land grant certificates, etc.
 Land grant certificates, etc.,
 1 folder
Includes a land grant, 1871 of Kaw-gay-ge-waw-no for land in Isabella County.
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Preserving our past [videorecording] : the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
 Preserving our past [videorecording] : the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians,
[1998?]
 5 videocassettes (57 min.)
Tribe elders talk about their experiences growing up, their families, traditional medicines
and the economic and social status of the tribe today.
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Saint Ignace, Michigan photograph collection
 Saint Ignace, Michigan photograph collection, ca. 1910s?
 1 envelope
Includes a photograph of an Indian village outside the city.
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Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan photograph collection
 Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan photograph collection, ca. 1860s-ca.1960s? (scattered)
 1 envelope
Photograph of an Indian village.
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American Baptist Missionary Union.
 Records, 1837-1838 and 1850.
 5 items.
Records probably collected by George N. Mills, attorney for the American Baptist
Missionary Union.Land grant, January 1850, detailing how the proceeds from the sale of
lands along the Grand River (probably near Grand Rapids, Michigan) under the
provisions of a treaty between the United States and the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
should be divided between Baptist and Catholic missionary interests, both of whom had
developed missions in the area; also earlier letters, 1837-1838, bound with the land grant,
relating to the dispersal of government lands in the Grand River area, including letters,
1837-1838, concerning lands to be set aside for the University of Michigan, for erection
of public buildings, and for a salt spring.
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American Fur Company [fur trading journal]
 Fur trading journal, 1803-1852
 1 volume
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This volume, tentatively identified as a record of the American Fur Company, includes
accounts of business with individuals. Included are thirty pages of accounts with Indians,
primarily transactions in 1828. See also the George P. McCallum collection for a
fragment of American Fur Company financial journal, June 1830, from Michilimackinac.
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American Fur Company [records]
 Records, 1803-1806 and 1817-1843
 2 rolls positive microfilm.
These microfilms include ledgers, letterbooks, cash books, inventories, account books
and other financial records relating to the fur trade. Chiefly from Mackinac Island, but
some from Wisconsin.
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American Home Missionary Society.
 Papers, 1825-1846, and 1848-1853.
 2 feet and 6 rolls.
A missionary society formed in 1826 by the Presbyterian, Congregational, Associate
Reformed, and Dutch Reformed churches. It subsidized ministers in frontier
communities. This portion of the collection consists of the letters and reports of the
missionaries from all parts of Michigan, particularly the southern half of the Lower
Peninsula. There are references to and descriptions of Indian missions, Indian
reservations, Indian schools, etc.
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Andre, P. C. (Peter Charles), 1818-1903.
 Papers, 1869-1901
 125 items.
Trader, real estate agent, merchant of Detroit, and after 1846, of Saginaw. Andre served
as mayor of Saginaw and as Registrar of Deeds.
These legal papers relate to land which Andre purchased from Indians in Isabella County
in 1869, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1879, 1882 and in Saginaw County, 1864-1901. They
demonstrate the methods used by unprincipled land dealers.
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Anonymous Detroit, Michigan trading company ledger
 , 1821-1834
 163 pages on 1 roll positive microfilm.
Ledger apparently kept at Detroit for accounts with Indians in western Michigan. The
ledger gives the names of Indian traders and sometimes indicates family relationships.
The accounts record the goods traded for furs and date of the exchanges.
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Auch, John Christian.
 John Christian Auch documents , 1840-1886 (scattered dates).
 1 folder.
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U.S. Land Office certificates for public lands in Genesee County, Mich., issued to John
Christian Auch and others. One of the certificates was issued to Sha-sha-o-ne-besse, a
member of the Saginaw Band of the Chippewa tribe.
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Baerreis, David Albert
 The band affiliation of Potawatomi treaty signatories* [electronic resource], c1996
 Search Mirlyn

Baker, John R. (John Randolph)
 Papers, 1836-1867 and 1915.
 0.2 linear ft.
Businessman of Paw Paw, Michigan.
The collection contains correspondence and legal documents relating to Indian affairs and
transferral of lands. There are about 15 legal documents and deeds to Indian lands in
Michigan, 1846-1871.
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Banér, Johan G. R. (Johan Gustav Runeskeold), 1861-1938
 Papers, 1890-1938
 3 feet and 2 oversize volumes.
Swedish-American writer from Ironwood, Michigan.
The papers include essays concerning American Indian folklore. There is one folder of
essays concerning American Indian and Swedish folklore collected by Baner.
Finding aid available in library
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Barbeau, Peter.
 Papers, 1789-1909
 8 rolls.
Businessman of Sault Ste. Marie.
The collection has occasional references in the correspondence to Indian affairs in the
Upper Peninsula, especially a letter of December 20, 1855 by William Shaw from Carp
River.
Finding Aid

Beach, William Edward
 William Edward Beach photograph collection, 1931-1948
 1.4 linear ft.
Howell, Michigan photographer.
Includes photonegatives of Native Americans sites, including trails, a school house, a
cemetery and a marker in Greenville, Howell, Ionia, Muskegon, and Huron River Park.
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Beeman, Reuben.
 Land sale agreements, 1858
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 2 items.
The collection consists of a mortgage and warranty deed between Sa-WaBand, a
Chippewa Indian, and Reuben Beeman, for land in Saginaw County.
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Belton, Francis S.
 Francis S. Belton drawing collection, 1817
 1 envelope
Drawing of Mackinac Island from Round Island; includes depiction of Native Americans.
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Bingham family.
 Papers, 1817-1910
 2 feet.
Baptist missionaries among the Indians at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 1823-1855.
The collection consists primarily of the correspondence, 1834-1864, and sermons of Abel
Bingham, and the diaries of Hannah Bingham. There are also reports dated 1837 and
1843 of Abel Bingham to the Office of Indian Affairs, and a list dated 1842 prepared as
part of a report to the Bureau of Indian Affairs which gives name, age, sex, and tribe of
each student; names of teachers in the mission school at Sault Ste. Marie; and a schedule
of property belonging to the mission.
Finding Aid

Black Hawk, Sauk Chief, 1767-1838
 Black Hawk visual material collection, 1800s?
 1 envelope
Photoprint of portrait painting.
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Blanchard, James J., 1942-
 gubernatorial files, 1982-2002.
 345 linear ft. and 9 oversize v.
Blanchard was Democratic governor of Michigan from 1983 to 1991.
His papers contain some files relating to Native Americans including a file in Box 20 of
Native American issues, 1985-1988. The correspondence, county, and topical subseries
of the Upper Peninsula Office series covers Native American concerns as they are
manifested in the Upper Peninsula in the 1980s.
Restricted access in part
Finding Aid

Blanchard, John C.
 Papers, 1898-1901.
 17 items.
Attorney of Ionia County, Michigan and registrar of the United States Land Office.
These papers deal with land claims in Ionia County and elsewhere by the Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians of Walpole Island Reservation. There are also legal documents and
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correspondence of W. A. Elias, attorney for the Indians, and a list of claimants. The
collection documents legal efforts to restore stolen Indian property.
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Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?
 Chippeway squaw & child [graphic], c.1838
 1 print
Ka-na-pi-ma : an Ottawa chief [graphic], 1 print, c. 1842; Shin-ga-ba-w'ossin [graphic] :
a Chippeway chief, 1 print, c. 1838; Tshusick [graphic] : an Ojibway woman, 1 print,
[1842?]
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Bush, Chauncy.
 Minute book, 1837
 1 volume.
The minute book contains proceedings of a council in Washington, D.C. attended by
delegations of the Sioux, Sac, Fox, and Iowa Indians and by J.R. Poinsett, Secretary of
War; C.A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs; and Chauncy Bush, Secretary to the
Commissioner. The council concerned the cession of Indian lands.
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Butterfield, Ira William, 1915- collector.
 Collection, ca. 1855-1988 (scattered dates).
 0.1 linear ft.
Bay City, Michigan judge.
Correspondence and collected documents relating to the O-Gau-Kawning Church of
Bangor Township, Bay County, Michigan, an Indian mission, and its predecessor
churches.
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Campau family.
 Papers, 1794-1878.
 23 items.
The papers include orders to pay, signed by Chippewa Indians and dated 1808.
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Cannon, George Henry, b. 1826.
 journal, 1846
 1 reel microfilm (143 p.): positive and negative.
Surveyor from Macomb County, Michigan.
Account of surveying expedition of the Lake Superior shoreline, entitled, "A Narrative of
one year in the Wilderness," including discussion of Upper Peninsula settlements, rivers,
landmarks, and Indians.
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Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866.
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 Papers, 1814-1847.
 60 rolls of microfilm
Territorial Governor of Michigan, 1813-1831; Secretary of War, 1831-1836; United
States Minister to France and Democratic Presidential candidate.
The collection contains official correspondence, notes, and records. As Governor of the
Territory of Michigan, Cass held the position of Michigan Superintendent of Indian
Affairs. The collection contains 23 rolls of microfilm of the correspondence of the
Michigan Superintendency, 1819-1831. During his term as Secretary of War,
responsibility for Indian affairs rested with the War Department. The collection includes
20 rolls of microfilm of the correspondence of the Secretary of War 1831-1836. Also
included in this record group are one roll of records of the office of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior 1814-1817, and one roll of the field papers of the Sault Ste.
Marie Agency 1822-1829.
Finding aid available in library
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Chandler, Elizabeth Margaret, 1807-1834.
 Papers, 1793-1854.
 0.6 linear ft.
Resident of Adrian, Michigan, antislavery author and departmental editor of the Genius
of Universal Emancipation.
There is a letter, April 15, 1831, describing an Indian burial mound near Adrian,
Michigan, and a letter, June 20, 1832, with an account of a war scare in Michigan during
the Black Hawk War.
Finding aid available in library
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Chatfield, Peter.
 Paper, c. 1937.
 3 pages.
Resident of Lapeer, Michigan.
The paper is entitled "My Great-Great Grandfather Was Wa-Wa-Sum." It is a brief
description of the writer's Chippewa family, especially John Chatfield and William
Chatfield.
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Clover, Elzada Urseba, 1897-1980
 Elzada U. Clover visual material series, 1938-1939
 0.2 linear ft. (3 films, 1 envelope, and 1 outsize folder)
Curator of the University of Michigan Botanical Gardens and professor in the
Department of Botany.
Films, photographs, and drawings made during the 1938 Nevills Colorado River
Expedition and follow-up travels in 1939; films include scenes of boats in Colorado
River rapids, views of the Grand Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, and other nearby areas, also
rodeo scenes and scenes in an Indian village, possibly in Havasupai Canyon.
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Cog-gog-e-was.
 Land patents, 1863-1870.
 1 folder
The land patent of 1863 is to Cog-gog-e-was for land in Ontonagan County (now
Gogebic County) at Lac Vieux Desert. The 1870 patent registers land purchased by
Mush-ko-wa-go-na-be and Nah-ah-qua-bo in Ontonagan County (now Gogebic County).
The collection includes the two deeds, two negative photostatic copies and newspaper
clippings describing the patents.
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Cornell, Theo.
 papers, 1973-1980.
 1 folder
Resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
This reminiscence related the family story of the capture of her grandfather's brother,
Peter Parks, by the Fisher Indians in the region of the Shiawassee-Saginaw Rivers in
Saginaw County in the 1840s or 1850s.
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Cramton, Louis C. (Louis Convers), b.1875.
 Papers, 1896-1966.
 9 linear ft., 2 oversize volumes, 1 oversize folder.
Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1913-1931 and special
assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, 1931-1932.
The collection contains correspondence in the 1920s concerning Indian affairs.
Correspondents include the American Indian Defense Association and the Indian Rights
Association. There is a good deal of material concerning the Flathead Indian reservation
of Western Montana.
Finding Aid

Cudlip, William B., 1904-
 Papers, 1922-1985.
 9 linear ft.
Regent of the University of Michigan.
His papers include one file of material on the case of the Children of the Chippewa,
Ottawa and Potawatomi tribes and Paul J. Johnson vs. the University of Michigan, in
which Indian students sued the University.
Finding aid available in library
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Detroit, Michigan.
 Papers,
 1 item.
This collection includes an agreement, 1775, among Detroit merchants to regulate the
sale of liquor to Indians.
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Doty, James Duane (1799-1865).
 Papers, 1823-1841.
 2 microfilm reels.
Judge of the Court of the Additional Judge for the Territory of Michigan.
These notes record the trials and decisions of his court. Several important cases involved
Indians.
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Dougherty, Peter (1805-1894).
 Papers, 1838-1870.
 3 volumes and 2 rolls of microfilm.
Presbyterian minister to the Indians in the Mackinac area of Michigan. The microfilmed
portion of the collection contains reports of missionary activities and letters, 1847-1872,
of Andrew Porter, missionary teacher to the Indians at Omena and Bear Creek (now
Petoskey). The original diaries record trips from New York City to Detroit, Mackinac
Island, and Chicago and describe Indian customs and missionary activities.
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Dunn, Francis Wayland, 1843-1874.
 Papers, 1856-1874.
 2 linear ft. (20 volumes and 36 folders).
In July and August of 1868 Dunn travelled by horseback in Kansas and Nebraska. He
describes Indian life, customs, recreation, etc. He took part in buffalo hunts and
witnessed an altercation between Sioux and Pawnee Indians.
Finding Aid

Dustin, Fred, 1866-
 Papers, 1866-1957.
 4.5 linear ft. and 1 volume.
Saginaw building contractor,archaeological surveyor, and writer on Michigan
archaeological Indian history.
The collection contains papers concerning the archaeological survey of Isle Royale,
1929-1930, the survey and mapping of the Ogemaw County Earthworks, 1931, and
Michigan archaeology in general.
Finding Aid

Eldred family
 Papers, 1831-1900 (scattered)
 1 item.
Typescript.
This collection includes a lease of property in Cheboygan from the Cheboygan tribe of
Indians of Burt Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan. This typescript was copied
from the original on display at Hotel Topinabee in Topinabee, Michigan in 1939 by
Albert May Eldred.
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Engler, John, 1948-
 Papers, 1968-2003
 435 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder
Republican member of the Michigan state legislature (House and Senate, 1971-1990);
governor of Michigan (1991-2003); active member of the Republican Governors'
Association and the National Governors' Association.
Native American materials include a file on taxation of Native Americans in Michigan,
1997 and 2 boxes of slides of Engler at a Native American event.
Restricted access in part
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Faxon, John Harvey, b. 1827
 Papers, 1848-1866
 0.4 linear ft.
Resident of Duplain, Michigan.
The collection includes a letter of October 6, 1859 from George Bradley (1810-),
Methodist clergyman who was superintendent of the Indian Mission District and
missionary to the Indians in Isabella County. The letter requests Faxon's aidin recruiting
Methodist missionaries for work among the Indians in Michigan.
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Felch, Alpheus, 1806-1896.
 Papers, 1817-1896.
 6 linear ft. and 6 volumes (outsize).
Michigan Supreme Court Justice, Governor, U.S. Senator, and Professor of Law.
The correspondence includes a letter from William Johnston, March 4, 1850 concerning
investment of Indian funds without their knowledge; a letter from E. B. Turner to Lewis
Cass, April 10, 1850 about Indian claims against the government; and a letter April 23,
1850 from William Richmond about Indian debt.
Finding Aid

Ferry family.
 Papers, 1822-1905.
 0.8 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder
William Montague Ferry and his wife Amanda (White) Ferry were Presbyterian
missionaries on Mackinac Island from 1823-1837.
The collection includes transcribed letters and a few original letters, largely from
Amanda Ferry, describing their life as missionaries with references to their work with the
Indians.
Finding Aid

Fey, Charles.
 Papers, 1914-1970.
 9 linear ft.
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