Manuscript Collection: J. Rhett Motte
Collection Overview
Collection summary derived from "Guidebook to Manuscripts", 1969: Dr. J. Rhett Motte was a surgeon in the U.S. Army and these are a few papers written by him. In this collection is his commission as assistant surgeon of the 16th Regiment Infantry, 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, So. Carolina Militia, dated 1846. In 1842 he was at Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory, and an account book kept by him at that time is also included here. Interesting item: Probably the most important document is a journal kept in the summer of 1836 on a journey from Charleston, So. Carolina, to Columbus, Georgia, entitled "Reflections produced Thereby." The diary skips from Chapter II to Chapter IV so at least one chapter is missing. In this journal he writes that he became proficient in the Creek language and lists a number of Creek words and their meaning in English.
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.