Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs

The Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs originated in 1869 in answer to President Grant's Peace Policy, officially giving management of Native Americans in the Central Superintendency (Kansas and the "Indian Territory") to the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. These are primarily letters, reports and some miscellaneous manuscripts chiefly addressed to the chairman of the committee, Edward M. Wistar; articles, plans, maps and statistics related to the committee's work. Most of the material deals with the work of Friends in running mission stations in Oklahoma to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (Bah Kho-je), the Modoc Nation, the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) and other Native American peoples.

Letters, reports, articles, plans, maps, statistics, minutes, invoices, receipts, accounts and misc. material related to Friends and Native Americans.

Bulk of the collection consists of records (1876-1929) of the Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs. These are primarily letters, reports and some misc. mss., chiefly addressed to the chairman of the committee, Edward M. Wistar; articles, plans, maps and statistics related to the committee's work; also biographical material on Thomas Wistar. Most of the material deals with the work of Friends in running mission stations in Oklahoma to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (Bah Kho-je), the Modoc Nation, the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) and other Native American peoples. Letters from superintendents and missionaries in the field describe the difficulties and experiences of Friends in their work. There are also letters from the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs and organizations concerned with the welfare of Native Americans (Home Missions Council, Indian Rights Association, Y.M.C.A.); also letters from Kansas Yearly Meeting and Five Years Meeting. Topics discussed include attempts to Christianize Native Americans , improve living conditions, Native American education, Chilocco Indian School, use of peyote and alcohol, disease, Native American dances, conflicts with other religious denominations (in particular, Baptists), difficulties in finding suitable missionaries, protection of Native Americans from schemes and abuses (in particular, Martin J. Bentley's attempts to defraud the members of the Kickapoo Tribe). Correspondents include Samuel M. Brosius, Clark Brown, George N. Hartley, William P. Haworth, Allen Jay, William A. Jones, Rayner W. Kelsey, Rachel Kirk, Francis E. Leupp, John Nicholson, Walter Smedley, Matthew K. Sniffen, Jonathan M. Steere, Elizabeth Test, Robert G. Valentine, Herbert Welsh, Carolena M. Wood and others.

Also includes 2 folders (1758-1807) of letters, minutes, invoices, receipts, accounts and misc. papers dealing with Friends' earlier relations with Native Americans. Includes minutes and letters (1758-1759) of the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures related to Israel Pemberton's purchase of goods to accompany General Forbes; letters, accounts and misc. mss. (1791-1807) related to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Indian Committee's work with Native Americans at New Stockbridge and Oneida; accounts of money received from Friends for the Native Americans (1796-1797); letters and manuscripts related to education of Native American children in homes of Friends (1796-1797); letters to Gaiänt'wakê (Cornplanter) and other Seneca chiefs, the Wyandotte Nation, the Delaware Nation (Lenape), and other Native American peoples; minutes of a meeting of the "Committee for the gradual civilization of the Indian natives" (1804).