Manuscript Collection: Thomas Richardville
Collection Overview
Collection summary derived from "Guidebook to Manuscripts", 1969: Reverend Thomas F. Richardville was ordained a Baptist minister in 1865. He became a Miami Chief in 1888 after having been an interpreter and secretary for his people. This collection consists of account books; letters concerning church affairs in southeastern Kansas and vicinity ; legal documents, some concerning land grants; various papers concerning the affairs of the Miami and Ottawa tribes; the Miami National Council Book (1860-62) which contains the records of meetings and copies of letters concerning tribal affairs; and the book of marriage records kept by Richardville in Miami County, Kansas, and with the Miami Indians in Indian Territory. Also in these papers are letters from A. C. Bacone (see Bacone entry). Interesting item: There are two documents granting certain areas of land to the Miami Indians signed by President Buchanan.
Access Restrictions
Available by appointment only at the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR) with the exception of materials with donor restrictions. Contact Library staff in advance to inquire if materials exist pertaining to your research interests.
Use Restrictions
Please contact the Rights and Reproduction Department for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Gilcrease Museum as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.
Provenance
The Gilcrease Foundation acquired these materials before 1964 and is housed in the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR). The library currently receives most materials through community donation, board members, artists and the acquisition of manuscript collections.
Staff, interns, and volunteers of the Thomas Gilcrease Library and Archive have contributed to the organization and maintenance of the files since the collection passed to the City of Tulsa in the 1950s.