Edward E. Ayer U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners files

Collection

Identifier: VAULT-Ayer-MS-911

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, minutes, reports, memoranda, bulletins, 1912-1922, relating to Edward E. Ayer's work as a commissioner. Dating primarily from Ayer's period of active service, 1912-1917, there is both incoming and outgoing correspondence with commission members and officials (H.C. Phillips, W.K. Moorehead, G. Vaux, F.H. Abbott, M. McDowell, W.H. Ketchum), the secretary of the interior (F.K. Lane), the commissioner of Indian affairs (C. Sells), the foreman of the Menominee sawmill (A.S. Nicholson), and senators and congressmen (R. La Follette, etc.). Minutes of annual meetings, office reports, memoranda, bulletins, annual reports, and special investigative reports issued by the commission are included. There are also mimeographed circulars of the Office of Indian Affairs. Topics include political struggles between the commission and other government agencies responsible for Indian affairs, Indian appropriation bills and other legislation pending in Congress, conditions on Indian reservations throughout the country, and the Menominee investigation conducted by Ayer.

Dates

Creation: 1912-1922

Creator

Ayer, Edward Everett, 1841-1927 (Person)

Historical note

From Nov., 12, 1912, to June 29, 1919, Edward E. Ayer was a member of the U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners, an advisory body established by Congress in 1869 that was authorized to visit and investigate any Indian reservation or branch of the Indian service.,An active commission member, Ayer during 1913-1914 investigated the administration of the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin and the operation of the sawmill there. On his trips west he frequently visited and reported on the Indians of Arizona and Southern California. He also lobbied for subjecting Indians on reservations to the provisions of state laws and for better pay and working conditions for Indian service employees.