Peyote Papers, 1918-1925

Smithsonian ethnologist, James Mooney, wrote two letters pertaining to a bill before Congress to prohibit the use of Peyote in the Indian ceremonial dances. Most of the correspondence and printed material deal with this subject. A great many letters are between missionaries of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society and most of them felt that Mooney encouraged the continued use of Peyote. They blamed him for his attitude and urged the church people to work for the bill and teach the Indians of its use. A paper, "The Dangers of Peyote," was written by Rev. Bruce Kinney, D.D. of Topeka, Kansas, (1925).

There are several booklets and pamphlets discussing the Peyote question.