American Indians--Wyandotte (Huron)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

WYANDOTTE (HURON) INDIANS IN KANSAS

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

Barbeau, C. M. “Wyandot Tales, Including Foreign Elements.” Journal of American Folklore. Vol. XXVIII, January-March 1915. no. CVII. Lancaster Pennsylvania and New York: 1915 (398.05/J82/v. 28/p. 83).

[Interesting selection of tales among the tribe, and their similarities to tales heard within the white culture. Includes phrases and dialects of the Wyandotte. Interesting and enjoyable.]

Barber, Rebecca. “A Short History of the Native Americans in Wyandotte County.”
Ethnic History of Wyandotte County, Vol. 1. Kansas City, Kansas: Ethnic Council, Inc.
(K/978.1/-W97/K133s/p.13).

[A well-written account of the Wyandot tribe, within Wyandotte County. It provides an excellent look at the local history. Definitely worth reading.]

Belton, Frank H. (1835-1905) “The Wyandottes.” Kansas City Gazette. April 21, 1891.
(MF K 19).

[An excellent article denoting not only some historical facts, but also personal views by the author who was adopted into the tribe. Definitely worth reading.]

“Claims of Wyandott Indians.” 41st Congress, 3rd Session. 1871. (Ex. Doc. no. 83/Ser. Doc. 1454).

[Claims by the Wyandott Indians for properties taken from them by white settlers, from 1849 – 1865. The claims include a list of the items, with appraisal for each. John C. Pratt, U.S. Indian agent addresses the claims. While interesting, the outcome of the claims is not noted.]

“Claims of the Wyandott.” 41st Congress, 2nd Session. 1870.x. Doc. no. 77. Ser. Doc. 1406.

[Numerous letters to the Secretary of the Interior, from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, pertaining to claims for stolen properties from the Wyandotte’s, 1846 – 1862.
Very interesting, especially noting that in all claims, the claimant must be able to document that, indeed the item was taken. Worth reading.]

Clarke, Peter Dooyentate. Origin and Traditional History of the Wyandotts and Sketches of Other Tribes of North America. Toronto: Hunter, Rose and Co., 1870. (970.3/-W97c).

[Well-written book, which examines the early Wyandott Indians, while they resided in Canada, Ohio, and Michigan, from 1790 – 1811. This early historical perspective is excellent, and a major source of information.]

Connelly, William E. “Kansas City, Kansas: It’s Place in the History of the State.”
Kansas Sate Historical Society. 1919 – 1922. Topeka: Kansas Sate Printing Office, 1923. (Sp/906/K13/v.15/p. 181).

[Extremely well written presentation, denoting the importance of the Wyandotte tribe in Kansas, and the effect their support of one Aberland Gutherie, had on the state’s history. Definitely worth reading.]

Connelly, William E. “Religious Conceptions of Modern Hurons.” Kansas State Historical Society. 1919-1922. Topeka: Kansas State Printing Office, 1923. (SP/906
/K13/v.15/p. 92).

[Excellent expose’ of the Huron/Wyandotte spiritual beliefs. Extremely interesting and informative, from both the religious and historical perspective.]

Connelly, William E. “First Provisional Constitution of Kansas.” Kansas State Historical Society. 1905-1906. Topeka, Kansas. (SP/906/K13/v.6/p. 97).

[Well-written article concerning the importance of the Wyandotte tribe to the first Kansas Constitution. Very Informative, from both an historical and cultural perspective. Contains excellent footnotes. Definitely worth reading.]

Connelly, William E. Indian Myths. New York, Chicago: 1928. (K/970.8/C 76).

[Excellent book, composed of Wyandot tales, prayers, and stories, along with guides for teachers, explaining the Wyandot form of government, their religion, and much more. Must read material.]

Connelly, William E. Huron Place, The Burial Ground of the Wyandot Nation in Wyandotte County, Kansas, 1897. Kansas City, Kansas: City of Kansas City, Kansas, 1980. (970.3/Pam/v.2/no. 4).

[Included is a description of the graves, i.e. names and dates. The book also provides a well-written history of the Huron (Wyandot), a letter concerning the removal of the cemetery, and various maps. Important for genealogical and historical facts. Worth reading.]

Connelly, William E, “The Wyandots.” Indian Pamphlets. Kansas State Historical Society. (970.1/Pam/v. 4/p. 32).

[A very descriptive perspective of the tribe, both historically and culturally. Various clans are examined, is in Wyandot folklore. Interesting and worth reading.]

Connelly, William E. A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago and New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1918. (978.1/C 76/1918/v.1/p. 251).

[Well-written essay exploring the history, form of government and the different clans. Provides new incites into the tribe. Worth reading.]

Cowick, Kate L. The Story of Kansas City. Kansas City, Kansas: Central High School Press. 1924. (978.1/-W97/K1300/p. 2).

[Although brief, the writing does focus on the Wyandot Indians as having founded Kansas City, Kansas, and the early history. Interesting.]

Deatherage, Charles. Early History of Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas. Kansas City. Missouri, 1927. (GL/977.82/-K13/D48/v.1/p. 686).

[Brief history, but presents little information pertaining to the Wyandot in either Missouri or Kansas.]

“Dedication Ceremony. Huron Indian Cemetery Improvement.” May 3, 1971.
(K/970.1/Pam/v. 10/no. 27).

[Brief history of the Huron (Wyandot), with information pertaining to the cemetery, including the fight to preserve it. Very informative.]

Devoe, Carrie. Legends of the Kaw. Kansas City, Missouri: Franklin Hudson Publishing Co., 1904. (970.8/D49/p. 125).

[Well-written review of Wyandot folklore, with interesting facts concerning marriage, slavery and general welfare. Worth reading.]

“An Editor Looks at Early Days Kansas: The Letters of Charles Monroe Chase."
The Kansas Historical Quarterly. Autumn 1960. Kansas State Historical Society,
Topeka. (SP/906/K 13/Vol. 26/p. 268).

[These letters, written in 1873, offer little information about the tribe, except for comments about the Wyandotte women an listing the names of Indian real estate holders. Interesting, but not a great source of information.]

“Estimates-Wyandot Indians.” 33rd Congress, 2nd Session. 1855. (Ex. Doc. no. 88/
Ser. Doc. 790).

[Contains estimates of appropriations entered into agreement with the tribe, by the U.S. Government. Although interesting, information may be of limited use.]

Finely, James Bradley. Life Among the Indians. Cincinnati: Curtis and Jennings, New York: Eaton and Mains. (970.1/F49).

[Although no date is given for the writing, the book details tribes in the Northwest (Ohio and Michigan). There are many different sections pertaining to the Wyandot tribe, all with important information. The reader should be prepared to spend some time in pursuit of the tribe’s history and culture. Definitely well worth time spent.]

Forman, Grant. The Last Trek of the Indians. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1946. (GL/970.5/F 761/p. 193).

[An excellent review of the Wyandot’s history, including facts about their cultural and political ideology. Presents a depressing picture of the tribe, after assimilation with the white culture. Worth reading, with an excellent bibliography.]

Gale, George. Upper Mississippi: Historical Sketches of the Mound Builders, the Indian Tribes and the Progress of Civilization in the Northwest. Chicago, New York: Clark and Company, 1867. (GL/970.1/G131/p. 164).

[Interesting, but brief history of the tribe from the mid 1500’s too 1866. Information is mostly relevant to pre-Kansas times.]

Hill, Edward E. The Office of Indian Affairs, 1824 – 1880: Historical Sketches.
New York, New York: Clearwater Publishing Company, Inc., 1974. (GL/970.5/H 551/p. 210).

[Brief discussion of the Wyandot sub agency from 1839 – 1863, and 1870 – 1872. Names of agents and appointment dates are listed. May be of some value.]

“History of the Wyandot Indian Nation.” (K/970.1/MSS/no. 5).

[A history of the tribe, located on 10 bronze tablets, at the entrance of the Huron Indian Cemetery, 7th and Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Might be of benefit.]

History-Wyandotte County. (Coll 738/Box 1).

[Notes on the history of Wyandotte County, the Wyandotte Indians, and the Wyandotte Mission, from the manuscripts of Lucy B. Armstrong.]

“The Huron Cemetery.” Kansas City Gazette Globe. Nov. 9, 1915. (MF 70).

[Brief, but interesting article about the cemetery and the long fight to preserve it, by two young women of Wyandot ancestry. Worth reading.]

“Huron Place Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas.” 62nd Congress. 2nd Session. 1912.
(Report no. 328/Ser. Doc. 1120).

[A letter from a Mr. Curtis, to the U.S. Senate, urging the passage of a bill to keep the cemetery as a national monument, despite the wording of previous treaties. Interesting.]

“Investigation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs”. House Report. Washington: 1953.
82nd Congress. 2nd Session. (Ser. no. 11582/p. 1022).

[A list of treaties between the U.S. government and the Wyandotte tribe, denoting the facts of each treaty. Very interesting and worth reading. Could be used as a reference source.]

“Investigation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs”. House Report. Washington. 1953.
82nd Congress. 2nd Session. (Ser. no./11582/p. 133).

[Compilation of material related to the Indians of the United States, including
materials, laws, and treaties, affecting all Indians. Very informative and an excellent source of information. See Appendix II.]

Irvin, Kathleen. “Removal of the Wyandot Indians.” Washburn University History. 1972. Washburn University Research papers. (Coll. 659/Box 3).

[Well-written history of the tribe, especially about their settlement in Kansas and the slavery issue. Contains a brief, good bibliography and excellent footnotes. Worth reading.]

Journal of William Walker, Provisional Governor of the Nebraska Territory, 1845 – 1854. (MS/1110.03).

[The writing contains a brief history of the tribe and includes a map of the Wyandott purchase in 1843. Excellent footnotes.]

Kapler, Charles J. Indian Affairs, Laws, and Treaties. Government Printing Office.
Washington, D.C. 1904. (970.5/Un3TK/v. 2).

[As a former clerk to the Committee of Indian Affairs, the author presents exact treaties between the Wyandot and the U.S. Government, from 1786 – 1867. The treaties provide an interesting look at the assimilation of the tribe into the white culture, and the price the Indian had to pay. Worth reading.]

Klopfenstein, Carl. G. “The Removal of the Wyandots from Ohio". The Ohio Historical Quarterly. Vol. 66 no. 2 April, 1957. (GL/977.106/Oh3/v.66/p. 119).

[An excellent account of the movement of the tribe west, with new facts and data. Well-written and containing excellent footnotes. A must read.]

“Lucy Armstrong Papers, 1846 – 1858.” History Indians-Wyandotte. (Box 7/XXV/B).

[The letters are difficult to read, but denote a strong sense of the tribe’s belief in the anti-slavery movement. There are also letters to family, friends, and the government. Interesting.]

Marsh, Thelma. Moccasin Trails to the Cross. Sandusky, Ohio: United Methodist Historical Society of Ohio, 1974. (GL/970.3/-W97/M354/p. 117).

[Written as a history of the mission to the Wyandot Indians, the book presents an interesting view of the cross cultural ideas relating to religion. There is an excellent chapter on the Wyandot migration to Kansas. Worth reading, with an excellent bibliography.]

“Memorial of the Chiefs and Headmen of the Wyandott Indians.” 37th Congress,
3rd Session. 1863. (Misc. Doc. no. 15/Ser. Doc. 1150).

[A letter to the U.S/ Congress, requesting to be paid for losses to white settlers. Includes references to past treaties and claims. Interesting and informative.]

Merwin, Ray E. ‘The Wyandot Indians.” Kansas State Historical Society, 1905-1906.
Topeka: State Printing Office, 1906. (SP/906/K13/v.9/p. 73).

[A revealing history of the tribe from the 1600’s to the 1890’s. Well-written, with many facts, including the early cultural assimilation of the tribe. Definitely worth reading.]

Morgan, Lewis Henry. The Indian Journals, 1859 – 1862. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1993. (GL/970.1/M823/p. 67).

[Although some new facts are presented, i.e. numbers and names of clans, chiefs, and war chiefs; little information can be retrieves from this source.]

Nieberding, Velma. The History of Ottawa County. Marceline, Missouri: Walsworth Publishing Co., 1983. (GL/976.61/-ot8/N55/p. 309).

[A very brief history of the Kansas settlement, including the claim for burial grounds in Kansas City, Kansas. Interesting.]

“Petition of the Wyandott Indians.” 37th Congress, 2nd Session. 1862. (Misc. Doc. No, 16./Ser. Doc. 1150).

[A letter to the U.S. Congress, requesting a final settlement of all business transactions
with the U.S. Government, Interesting in that the tribe has contacted lawyers to represent them. Very Informative.]

Plank, M.A. Mrs. “A Wyandotte Legend.” The Agassiz Companion. Wyandotte, Kansas. Vol. II December, 1857, no. 2. (K505/Ag. 1/p. 134).

[A poem explaining the hostilities between the Wyandot and Seneca tribes, and their move to the west. Brief, but interesting.]

Powell, J.W. First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1879 – 1880. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1881. (GL 572/Sm 6/p. 57).

[An excellent source of information concerning tribal society, the government and the laws within the tribe. Worth reading.]

Reports of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. Washington: William A. Harris, Printer. 1858. (GL/336.1/Un3a/1857/p. 198).

[From Lecompton, Kansas Territory, Oct. 1857, a list of the Wyandott reserves, with names, dates, and locations. Includes a map of the various Indian reservations in Kansas, which shows how small the Wyandott reservation was, compared to other tribes. Interesting.]

“Report of the Secretary of the Interior.” 39th Congress, 2nd Session. Washington, 1866.
(Ser. Doc. no. 12/p. 252).

[Letters from the Office Superintendent to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, concerning the sale of Wyandott lands, and the movement of the tribe to Oklahoma. Interesting, especially the vocabulary used to describe some of the Indians.]

Smith, Robert E. “The Final Removal of the Wyandot Indians.” Westport Historical Society. Kansas City, Missouri. June, 1972. Vol. 8, no. 1. (GL/977.81/-J13/W52/p. 3).

[A well-written historical perspective of the move to Kansas, including financial data relating to treaties with the U.S. Government and the taxation of Indian lands. Also noted is the tribe’s activity during the Civil War. Contains an excellent bibliography. Worth reading.]

Smith, Robert E. Keepers of the Council Fires: A brief History of the Wyandot Indians.
Joplin, Missouri: Missouri Southern State College, 1974. (K/970.3/Pam./v.1/no. 1).

[Well-written work, denoting the tribe’s history from the mid 1500’s to 1937. Treaties, culture, and the role of the Wyandot in American history are discussed. Short, but good bibliography. Worth reading.]

Smith, Robert E. The Wyandot Indians, 1843 – 1876. PhD. Dissertation. Oklahoma State University. May, 1973. (K/970.3/W 97/Sm 64).

[An excellent, well-written source of information concerning the historical, social, cultural, and political aspects of the Wyandot Indians in American history. Although the above years are the main foci, there is some discussion of the tribe, up to 1973. The work contains an excellent bibliography and informative footnotes. Important information about Kansas City, Kansas is included. Definitely, a must read.]

“Taxation of the Wyandotte Indian Lands in Kansas.” 37th Congress, 1st Session. (Misc.
Doc. no. 7/Ser. Doc. 1115).

[A copy of the act providing for taxation of the Wyandotte lands in Wyandotte County, 1861. Interesting but, not overly informative.]

“Tells of the Wyandottes”. Jan. 17, 1907. (Kansas Scrap Book Biography/TA-TH/vol. 3/p. 361).

[Article discusses the Kansas history of the Wyandot’ with the oldest living survivor of the tribe, the daughter of Chief Silas Armstrong. Present a very interesting ,first person account.]

Treaty Between the Unites States and the Wyandott Indians. 1855. (970.1/Pam/v. 12/no. 20).

[The treaty denotes relinquishment of lands to become U.S. citizens and other stipulations. Very interesting and worth reading.]

Wyandott Indian Council records: 1855 – 1871. (MS 1110.02).

[Well kept records denoting the activities of the tribe over the above years. Records divulge tribal laws, finances, voting records, and an excellent knowledge of council formalities. Although lengthy, it is worth reading.]

Tabor, Milton. “This Day in Kansas History. “ Topeka Capital Journal, 1954. (K/978.1/T114/p. 26).

[Articles denoting the Wyandot Indians becoming U.S. citizens, in 1855, a Wyandot Indian becoming governor of Nebraska, 1853., and the Nebraska-Kansas Provisional Government of 1853. Though brief, the articles are definitely worth reading.]

U.S. Bureau of Indian affairs. Final Roll of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma. 1956. (970.3/W97u).

[Importance is primarily directed at genealogical references. The roll lists members of the tribe from across the country.]

Whitlock, E. D. “The Wyandot Mission”. Ohio Archeology and Historical Quarterly.
Columbus, Ohio. Vol. X October 1901, no. 2. (977.106/Oh3/v.10/p. 195).

[While mostly religious in nature, this work does present some historical and cultural beliefs of the tribe. Written by an individual who lived among the tribe, the article is very interesting.]

“Wise Indians Were These”. No paper, date given. (K 385./Clip./vol. 3/p. 23).

[Discusses the important role of the Wyandot, in relation to the expansion of the railroads west. Interestingly written, with some new information.]

“Wyandotts.” History Indians-Wyandotte. (Box 7/XXV/A).

[A brief history of the tribe from 1842 – 1880, providing details of their views on slavery, and the U.S. Government. Also a general report of the tribe. Worth reading. This box also contains a copy of the civil action by Lucy B. Armstrong, widow of John Armstrong, against the children of same, in 1859. Interesting.]

“Wyandot and Shawnee Indian Lands in Wyandotte County, Kansas.” Kansas State
Historical Society. 1919-1922. Topeka: Kansas Printing office, 1923. (SP/906/
K13/v. 15/p. 103).

[Based on the Treaty of 1855, this historical writing of Wyandot titles to lands, includes a list of families, divided into competent and incompetent individuals, the difference not being explained. Worth reading, as names are associated with the allotments.]

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.