Enoch Hoag letterbooks
Scope and Contents
The collection includes materials from 1860 to 1868 documenting the Central Superintendency, letters to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, letters to the Indian Agents under the jurisdiction of Hoag, and letters characterized as "Individual letters." The letters are signed by Enoch Hoag, Cyrus Beede (chief clerk to Hoag), or Edward F. Hoag (Hoag's son and clerk). Much of the correspondence is of a routine nature and is concerned with the day-to-day running of the Superintendency and Agencies. There are also letters on various problems and situations that arose during Hoag's tenure, such as the murder of the Chief of the Wichita Tribe (Kitikiti'sh) by members of the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) and the murder of four members of the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) by the [Kansas?] militia. With the exception of four volumes, the books are apparently completely indexed and each index includes a brief summary of the contents of each letter.
Dates
- Creation: 1870-1878
Creator
- Hoag, Enoch, 1812-1884 (Person)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Biographical note
Enoch Hoag (1812-1884) was the son of Stephen and Martha Hoag. He was engaged in the mercantile business until 1854, when he moved to Iowa and worked as a farmer. He was active in abolition work and aided Freedmen's education. In 1869, he was was appointed Superintendent of the Central Superintendency in 1869 by President Grant under Grant's "Peace Policy." This policy gave Orthodox Friends supervision of Indigenous Americans located in Kansas and "Indian Territory." The Superintendency's headquarters were at Lawrence, Kansas. Under Hoag's jurisdiction were nine "Indian Agents" (also Friends), who were assigned to various Agencies throughout the Central Superitendency. Indigenous Nations who were under Hoag's jurisdiction included the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma (Kiikaapoa), Shawnee Tribe (Shawano?), Citizen Potawatomi Nation (Neshnabek), Kaw Nation (Kanza, referred to as "Kansas" in the papers), Osage Nation (Wazhazhe), Quapaw Nation (Ugahxpa), Sac Nation (Thakiwaki, Sauk) and Fox Nation (Meskwaki, Meshkwahkihaki), Cheyenne Nation (Tsitsistas), Arapaho Tribe (Hinono’ei), Wichita Tribe (Kitikiti'sh), Kiowa (Ka'igwu), Comanche Nation (Numinu), and Apache Tribe of Oklahoma Plains (Ka-ta-kas, sometimes referred to as Kiowa Apaches).
Hoag's duties included the establishment of schools, the distribution of supplies, and the payment of government annuities. Hoag resigned his position in 1876, and was succeeded by Dr. William Nicholson. In 1879, Friends withdrew from government sponsored work, partly due to the change in governance with the election of President Hayes.
Extent
4 linear ft. (16 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Letters to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, letters to Indian Agents under the jurisdiction of Hoag, and letters characterized as "Individual letters" from 1870 to 1878.
Arrangement
Volumes are organized chronologically.
Processing Information
Original processing information unknown.
Subject
- Hoag, Enoch, 1812-1884 (Person)
- United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Central Superintendency (Organization)
- Title
- Enoch Hoag letterbooks, 1870-1878
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- May 2022: by Nathaniel Rehm-Daly, Harmful Language Revision Project
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