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Crow Indian Agency Records

 Collection
Identifier: MC-87

Scope and Contents

Records. 1877-1894. .5 linear foot. This collection consists of 8 letterpress books of outgoing correspondence of Indian agents at the Crow Agency (1877-1894). The books are an incomplete run, representing approximately half of the correspondence for the period. There are several gaps of a year or more, the longest being from August 1883-September 1887. The agents were Lewis H. Carpenter (to July 1877), George W. Frost (July 1877-December 1878), Augustus R. Keller (December 1878-December 1881), acting agent C.H. Barstow (March-June 1880), Henry J. Armstrong (January 1882-December 1885), Henry E. Williamson (December 1885-May 1888), and Moses P. Wyman (July 1889-June 1894). The largest proportion of the correspondence consists of reports and letters to U.S. Commissioners of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. Included in these letters are minutes of several meetings of the agents with the tribal council, censuses, texts of treaties, inventories of Agency property, and financial reports. In addition there are letters to companies and individuals doing business with the Agency, and with military officers in nearby forts. This collection has been microfilmed (Microfilm 293).

Dates

  • Creation: 1877-1894

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Biographical / Historical

The Crow Indian Agency was established in Montana Territory by a treaty concluded at Fort Laramie on May 7, 1868. An earlier treaty had been made at Fort Laramie on September 17, 1851, establishing various tribal boundaries in Montana, but had never been ratified formally. The 1868 treaty provided for the construction of an agency complex on the south side of the Yellowstone River near Otter Creek, and the assignment of Indian agents to locally administer tribal affairs and relations with the United States government. Agency headquarters were moved to the Stillwater River near present Absarokee, Montana, in 1875, and in 1884 to its present site on the Little Big Horn River.

Extent

1 linear feet

Abstract

This collection consists of seven letterpress books of outgoing correspondence (1877-1894) of Crow Indian Agents Lewis .H. Carpenter, George W. Frost, Augustus R. Keller, C.H. Barstow, Henry J. Armstrong, H.E. Williamson, and Moses P. Wyman. Includes reports and letters to the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs; minutes of meetings with tribal council; census; texts of treaties; inventories; accounts of events; and financial materials.

Arrangement

Arrangement chronologically.

Physical Location

5:4-7

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

Some material transferred to Library. See inventory below for more information.

Title
Guide to the Crow Indian Agency Records 1877-1894
Author
Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
Date
2004
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Repository Details

Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository

Contact:
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)