Letters, June-December 1899

Letters addressed to Edward M. Wistar. Correspondents include: Samuel M. Brosius; T. Wistar Brown; R.S. Burnett; H.L. Dawes; Samuel Dickson (lawyer); William L. and Lucinda S. George; George N. Hartley; Allen Jay (per Mahalah Jay); W.A. Jones (Commissioner, Office of Indian Affairs); Lewis W. McFarland; John Nicholson; D.A. Outland; Lee Patrick (U.S. Indian Service); Charles Rhoads; William Small; Jonathan M. Steere; Elizabeth Test; Miles White, Jr.; Walter F. Willcox (Dept. of Interior, Census Office); Carolena M. Wood (Board of Home and Foreign Missions of New York Yearly Meeting of Friends)

Topics discussed include: general discussion of the various missions and the people in the field, especially in the letters of John Nicholson and George N. Hartley; suitability of Nathan Perry and Mary Perry for missionary work; qualifications of missionaries and lack thereof, finding suitable people for the various positions; finances of various missions (Skiatook School and Eva Watson); Elizabeth Test discusses conversation with Martin J. Bentley (she doesn't trust him re: Kickapoo Tribe's land); Lewis W. McFarland discusses sales of liquor to Native Americans (Dec. 18, 1899); John D. Miles and charges against him; investigation by the Dept. of Interior of matters at the Sac and Fox Agency, also the Kickapoo of Mexico; the Kickapoo Tribe and investigation of Martin J. Bentley; conflict between Bentley and Lee Patrick alluded to in letter of S.M. Brosius (Oct. 16, 1899); Skiatook School and Eva Watson; mention of Rufus M. Jones and discussion whether to publish articles on work with Native Americans; Fred L. Ryon wishes to visit all the Govt. Indian Schools in the west; R.S. Burnett's monthly report for the Seneca–Cayuga Nation, Oklahoma, for 10 mo., 1899 also letters addressed to: William and Lucinda George, from: Alfaretta Mitchell re: endorsements of the Georges as missionaries to the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma George N. and L. Ella Hartley from: William L. George; John D. Miles (Antlers, I.T.) re: plan for educating Native American orphans Jonathan M. Steere, from: L. Ella Hartley re: George N. Hartley accompanying the McFarlands to their new position among the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (Bah Kho-je)