American Indians--Miami

BIBLIOGRAPHY

MIAMI INDIANS IN KANSAS

The sources cited here can all be found within the collections of the Kansas State Historical Society.

Adams, F.G. “The Miamis.” (History, Indians General, Miami collection).

[A brief, but interesting history of the Miami Indians, from their origin in Ohio, to their immigration to Kansas. Included are a few census records showing their declining numbers.]

Anson, Bert. The Miami Indians. Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1970. (GL 970.3/
-M58/AN 82).

[An excellent source of information relating to the History of the Miami from the great lakes (1634) to Oklahoma. (1873). Included are particularly interesting facts of the tribes legal battles, while in Kansas. Well-written bibliography.]

Banks, Elliot V. Repots of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Kansas. Leavenworth, Kansas. (SP 345.42/K13/v. 3/p. 364).

[Informative argument of Miami County Commissioners vs. Wan-zop-che, et al. concerning taxation of lands held by the Miami Indians. (1865)]

Beckwith, Hiram W. “Some account of the Indian Tribes formerly Inhabiting Indiana and Illinois.” (970.1/Pam/v.7/p.107-117.)

[Minimal information about the Miamis in Kansas, but does offer incite into their migration west and the influence liquor had on the tribe.]

Connelley. W.E. “Indian Tribes of Kansas.” History of Kansas State and People.
Chicago: American Historical Society, Inc., 1928. (978.1/c76/1928/v.1/p.249).

[Discusses the Miamis from their origin in Detroit, their movement to Chicago and west, to settling in the Marcis des Cygnes in Miami Kansas. Discusses size of their reservation and other aspects. Although brief, a very informative selection.]

Forman, Grant. The Last Trek of the Indians. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1946.
(970.5/F761L/p. 201).

[Well written description of the difficulties, the Miamis had with respect to cross cultural aspects of moving into Kansas. Also gives a census from 1846-1873. Contains an excellent bibliography.]

Goode, William H. Outposts of Zion, with the Limits of Mission Life. Cincinnati: Poe and Hitchcock, 1864. (GL 266.87/G61/ p.294).

[Written after 20 yrs. of missionary work on the frontier. Offers some rudimentary description of the Miami tribe, as seen in Kansas in 1854, but offers little more incite.]

Index to the Executive Documents of the House of Representatives. “Letters from the Secretary of the Interior to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.” 49th Congress.
1st Session. (Ex. Doc. No. 23/Ser. Doc. 2392).

[Letters concerning monies taken from the Miami Tribe and improperly distributed to other tribes. Miami requesting return of monies. Very interesting, but substance of letters often confusing.]

Indian Census Rolls. The National Archives. National Archives and Record Service. General Service Administration. Washington. 1965. (MS 1964 and 1965).

[Presents the census for many tribes, including the Miami, from 1901-1921. Although the census in primarily in Oklahoma, and for many years no census was taken on the Miami, the documents demonstrate the small size if the Miamis, compared to other tribes of that time.]

“Investigation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” House Report, 82nd Congress, 2nd Session. (Serial No. 11582/p.449).

[An overview of material, laws, and treaties, affecting the Miami Indians, from 1795 to 1895. Although brief, the writing demonstrates what each treaty had to offer, and how many treaties were used for advantage of the U.S. government.]

“The Last Home of the Miami.” Miami County Record, 1876. (Miami County Clippings/978.1/–M58/clip. 2/v. 2/p. 2).

[Descriptive of Miami tribe in Miami County, but offers little new information. Does describe what the tribe left behind. Interesting, but no overly informative.]

Leitch, Barbara. A Concise Dictionary of Indian Tribes.
Michigan: Reference Publications, Inc., 1979. (970.1 L535/p. 268).

[Very brief description of the Miami, including their history, social and religious aspects. Minimal reference to the tribe while in Kansas.]

“List of Headrights Issued to Miami Tribe.” LaCygne Journal, Oct. 14, 1871. (L 2).

[Lands given to members of the Miami tribe by previous land laws.
Interesting, but not overly informative.]

Memorial of A.H. Davis and others, in relation to “The Disposal of the Miami Indian Lands in Kansas, 1871.” Index to the Misc. Documents of the Senate of the United States, 1870-1871. 41st Congress. 3rd Session. (Misc. Doc. No 56/Ser. Doc. 1442).

[Interesting account of the dividing of the Miami reservation for sale to white settlers, with little attention paid to the concerns of the Indians.]

“The Miscellaneous Documents of the Senate of the Unites States.” 38th Congress, 1st Session. (D.R. 1177/Doc. 130).

[Petition if the Miami Indians, to be paid arrears due them, as per the Treaty of 1854. Interesting letters between Congress and the Dept. of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs from March, 1864-June 1864.]

Moore, Ely. “A Buffalo Hunt with the Miamis in 1854.” (SP 906/K13/v.10/p.407).

[Not only interesting with respect to the hunting techniques of the tribe, but also describes the land where the University of Kansas is now located.]

Moore, Ely. “Letter, May 17, 1909.” Papers of Ely Moore, 1902 – 1914. (Misc. Doc.)

[A letter describing the Miami Agency, where her father was the Indian Agent for the Government, and a place called, Beaver Creek, where oil was first discovered in Kansas. Describes how the oil was collected by the Miamis and other tribes, and the uses of same, by the various tribes. Very brief, but interesting.]

Moore, Ely. “The Story of Lecompton.” Kansas Historical Collections, Vol. 11. (SP 906/K 13/ p. 463-464).

[In an address to an old settlers meeting in Lecompton, in 1907, the author recounts how her father, was appointed special agent to various Indian tribes, by Pres. Pierce in 1853. Also describes how the Miamis, Weas, Peorias, and several other tribes that were at continuous war, with the Pottawatomies, and Osage tribes, as well as boarder Missourians, who were poaching on Indian land.]

Murray, William G. Appraisal of Miami Tract in Kansas, 1854. Ames, Iowa, 1956.
Prepared for the Dept. of Justice. (K970.3/M.58).

[A good resource, descriptive of land use, timber, acreage. Provides maps of Miami County. Offers a government perspective of what white settlers could do with Indian lands. Incite into Indian versus white culture.]

Nieberding, Velma. The History of Ottawa County. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Pub.Co., 1983. (GL 976.61/-ot8/N55 /p.250).

[Primarily discusses the Miami tribe in Oklahoma, important information is available pertaining to the Kansas lands, treaties, and what transpired after the Miamis chose not to fight in the Civil War. Very interesting and pertinent.]

Roubideaux, John. “Miami Reserve Matters.” (K 970.1/Pam/v. 10/no. 9).

[Well-written letter to the editor of the Miami County Republican, by the chief of the Miami tribe, 1874, discussing the Treaty of 1854 in detail. Very Informative from theIndian perspective.]

“Settlers Upon Miami Reserve In Kansas.” 36th Congress. 1st Session. Report 256. (K970.1/Pam/v.10/No.10/1859.

[Report by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, stating that all persons, not authorized to live on Indian lands be removed. One letter however disagrees, offering a different perspective.]

Shunk, Sam. “Miami Village Census.” Kansas State Census 1859. (Lykins Co./Osage Twp./July 1, 1859/p.1).

[Although accompanied by a letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with emphasis on hiring a school teacher, the list of individuals list no Indians in its census.]

The sources listed are available in our reference room, some through interlibrary loan. You may contact the reference staff with questions.

Completion of this bibliography was made possible by volunteer John Liezert.