Albert Pike family papers

Collection

Identifier: 2003-001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Consists of 53 autograph and typescript letters and a variety of autograph and printed documents generated and/or received by the heirs of Albert Pike (Yvon and Lilian Pike) in their effort to receive monetary compensation for services rendered by Albert Pike in his capacity as legal counsel for the Choctaw Nation. Correspondents include Green McCurtain (Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation), James K. Jones (U. S. Senator of Arkansas), Archibald S. McKennon (U. S. Department of the Interior, Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes). Also included among the materials is one photograph in which Yvon Pike is featured.

Dates

Creation: 1872 - 1901

Language

These materials are in English.

Access

This material is open for research use by any registered reader.

Use and Copyright

This material is owned by the University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections. Unpublished manuscripts are under copyright. Therefore, permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from both the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Albert Pike was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 29, 1809. Although accepted into Harvard University in August 1827, he studied on his own and became a school teacher. In 1830 he traveled west to hunt and trade. He ended up in Little Rock, Arkansas by 1833 and resumed teaching school. He also began writing articles for the Arkansas Advocate. His marriage to Mary Ann Hamilton enable him to purchase a portion of the newspaper he wrote for named the Arkansas Advocate. In 1835 became sole owner of the newspaper. By 1837, he began to study law and was admitted into the bar. After selling the newspaper, he became a reporter for the Arkansas Supreme Court. He wrote and published several books during his life. After serving in the military, He served as a Brigadier General in Indian Territory and negotiated several treaties. Pike is the only confederate military officer to be honored with a statue in Washington DC. He died on April 2, 1891.