Osage Papers, 1821-1868

Probably the most interesting item in this collection is a letter dated May 18, 1821, signed by J. C. Calhoun, appointing Nathaniel Philbrook sub-agent to the Osages on the Arkansas to serve under Governor Miller. His compensation was to be $500.00 per annum.

A letter written in 1844 to Creek Agent, Captain Dawson, mentions a William Baxter who had formerly been in Josiah Gregg's employ. He relates that Francis and John (Spangaras?) found Baxter's body after he had been murdered in his home. The letter appears to have been written by James Edwards, who is only one of the signers, and he tells also of horse stealing and says "Black Dog was in camp with a number of his men."

There is a legal document dated May, 1868, appointing Numpa-walla Head Chief of the Little Osages empowering him to fulfill that office during "good behaviour."

A portion of these papers are bills of account, a folder of newspaper clippings dated around 1895, and some photostatic material.

"Osage Research Report," a typed manuscript of 214 pages was written by Alice Marriott, an ethnologist, trained at Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. She served as a specialist in the Division of Indian Arts and Crafts for the Department of the Interior, as a field research fellow for the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, and for the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma.