157:, the average Indian agent was primarily nominated by various Christian denominations due to the increase in civilization reforms to Indian-white affairs, especially over land. Part of the Christian message of reform, carried out by the Indian agents, demonstrated the pervasive thought of Indian land ownership of the late 19th century: civilization can only be possible when Indians cease communal living in favor of private ownership. Many citizens still held the activities of Indian agents in poor esteem, calling the agents themselves "unprincipled opportunists" and people of low quality.
207:
126:... and should be retained in the service when they prove themselves to be efficient and helpful by their character and moral influence." This civilian run board was charged "with responsibility for supervising the disbursement of Indian appropriations" from state and federal governments. However, the United States Army command was extremely dissatisfied of the transfer of the Bureau of Indian Affairs from the Department of War to the
91:
See to the proper distribution of annuities granted by the state or federal government to various Indian tribes; and this usually occurred through a transfer of money or goods from the Indian agent to the respective chief which would then be distributed to the tribe, although this practice went into
70:
From the close of the 18th century to nearly 1869, Congress maintained the position that it was legally responsible for the protection of
Indians from non-Indians, and in establishing this responsibility it "continue to deal with Indian tribes by utilizing agents to negotiate treaties under the
57:
of 1793, a revision of the original 1790 law. This required land sales by or from
Indians to be federally licensed and permitted. The legislation also authorized the President to "appoint such persons, from time to time, as temporary agents to reside among the Indians," and guide them into
182:
As of July 1884, Indian agents were to compile an annual report of their reservations for submission aimed at collecting the following information from Indian respondents: Indian name, English name, Relationship, Sex, and Name among other statistical
109:
decided to place the position of Indian agent under civilian jurisdiction. This came at a time when many white
Americans saw the role of Indian agent as largely inefficient and dishonest in monetary and severalty dealings with various Indian tribes.
130:
by 1849, so they began to make public complaints about the corruptive nature of the civilian presence in the job of Indian agent. Despite its deeply felt convictions that its Indian agents were appointed and removed on merit, the civilian
101:
In the 1830s, the primary role of Indian agents was to assist in commercial trading supervision between traders and
Indians, while agents possessed the authority to both issue and revoke commercial trading licenses.
146:
stated that the "chief duty of an agent is to induce his Indian to labor in civilized pursuits. To attain this end every possible influence should be brought to bear, and in proportion as it is attained
135:
was frequently deemed corrupt, portrayed derogatorily in print and propaganda, and inadvertently assumed the scapegoat for the perceived inefficiency of Indian-White affairs: the Indian agent.
864:"The Official Correspondence of James S. Calhoun: While Indian Agent at Santa FĂŠ and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in New Mexico" by James S. Calhoun, 1915 U.S. Government Printing Office
118:
By 1850, many citizens had been calling for reform of the agents in the Bureau of Indian
Affairs. Their wish had been granted when in 1869 the bureau created the civilian-controlled
633:
198:
reached the presidency at the turn of the 20th century (1901â1909), the Indian agents that remained on the government payroll were all replaced by school superintendents.
154:
523:, Indian agent from 1792 to 1812; considered a "white Indian" because of his former association with the Miami Indians and role as an Indian agent interpreter
815:"Indian agent and wilderness scholar: the life of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft" by Richard G. Bremer, 1987 Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University
164:
See that
Indians in one's designated locality are not "idle for want of an opportunity to labor or of instructions as to how to go to work," and
456:
906:
138:
By the late 19th century, the job title of Indian agent began to change slightly in the wake of the recent attempts to 'civilize' Indians,
806:"Prairie Man: The Struggle between Sitting Bull and Indian Agent James McLaughlin" By Norman E. Matteoni, 2015 Rowman & Littlefield
658:
637:
139:
170:
See to it that the
Indians under one's jurisdiction can farm successfully and solely for the subsistence of their respective family
59:
53:
The federal regulation of Indian affairs in the United States first included development of the position of Indian agent in the
901:
295:
221:
39:
788:"The Life of Kit Carson, Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent, and Colonel U.S.A." By Edward Sylvester Ellis, 1899 G.M. Hill
911:
385:
271:
179:
Allow
Indians to leave the reservation only if they have acquired a permit for such (permits were only irregularly granted)
122:. The board "never more deeply felt, that Indian agents should be appointed solely for merit and fitness for their work
291:
530:, Indian agent for the Ponca, Pawnee, Otoe, and Oakland Agency, in the Indian Territory, 1889â1893. Brother of Col.
58:
acculturation of
American society by changing their agricultural practices and domestic activities. Eventually, the
861:"The Silver Man: The Life and Times of Indian Agent John Kinzie" By Peter Shrake, 2016 Wisconsin Historical Society
412:
404:
72:
608:
230:, Indian Agent for the Fort Berthold Agency in the Dakota Territory, 1877â1877. Known as Rev. Robert Alden in
79:
Initially, and before the reforms of the late 19th century, an Indian agent's average duties were as follows:
867:"Christopher Gist: Colonial Frontiersman, Explorer, and Indian Agent" by Kenneth P. Bailey, 1976 Archon Books
119:
775:
176:
Both provide and supervise the instruction of
English education and industrial training for Indian children
31:
886:
448:, Indian agent for the Kickapoo Agency, 1868â1871. Indian agent for the Cheyenne and Arapaho, 1878â1884.
127:
858:"Indian Agent: Peter Ellis Bean in Mexican Texas" By Jack Jackson, 2005 Texas A&M University Press
85:"He was to keep an eye out for violations of intercourse laws and to report them to superintendents"
479:
1886â1890. Part-Cherokee by birth, Owen was later elected one of the first two U.S. senators from
161:
In the 1880 Instruction to Indian Agents, it states the job duties of the Indian agent as follows:
106:
712:
Chaput, Donald (July 1972). "Generals, Indian Agents, Politicians: The Doolittle Survey of 1865".
520:
42:
556:
527:
395:
16:
Individual authorized to interact with Native Americans tribes on behalf of the U.S. government
778:. Legal and Administrative Background: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
20:
561:
231:
95:
See to the successful removal of tribes from areas procured for settlement to reservations
8:
543:
431:
24:
855:"Indian Agents: Rulers of the Reserves" By John L. Steckley, 2016 Peter Lang Publishing
834:
756:
729:
694:
531:
472:
389:
304:
195:
54:
797:"Benjamin Hawkins, Indian Agent" By Merritt B. Pound, 2009 University of Georgia Press
677:
Unrau, William E. (October 1972). "The Civilian as Indian Agent: Villain or Victim?".
652:
486:
445:
408:
381:
363:
308:
277:
132:
825:
Hutton, Paul A. (September 1978). "William Wells: Frontier Scout and Indian Agent".
877:
721:
686:
537:
476:
422:
399:
371:
355:
314:
285:
211:
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from 1770 to 1810. Freeman also ran a tavern in Rowan and owned 250 acres of land.
426:
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in 1856; resigned to serve as a military officer in the Confederate Army in 1860.
508:
466:
460:
452:
349:
338:
281:
237:
747:
Castile, George P. (April 1981). "Edwin Eells, U.S. Indian Agent, 1871-1895".
895:
514:
418:
249:
143:
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absolutely "no work must be given to white men which can be done by Indians"
500:
377:
359:
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299:
253:
227:
882:
334:
142:
them into American culture. Despite the public scorn for the agents, the
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760:
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The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians
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243:
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698:
504:
439:
345:
267:
217:
Individuals who have served as Indian agents include the following:
206:
725:
690:
494:
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435:
326:
322:
257:
62:
ceased using the word "temporary" in the Indian agent's job title.
48:
246:, Indian agent to the Ute Indians and the Jicarilla Apaches, 1850s
507:
Agency to the Kiowa and Comanche. Guardian of future President
490:
88:
Maintain flexible cooperation with U.S. Army military personnel
878:
Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture â Indian Agencies
82:
Work toward preventing conflicts between settlers and Indians
65:
330:
261:
240:, Last Indian Agent for the Arizona Territory, 1871-1873
517:, Indian agent in Muskogee Indian Territory, 1879â1887
224:, Indian agent for the Ute Mountain Agency, 1870â1874
459:
to the Osage and Kaw, 1878â1893. Uncle of president
773:
425:for a brief time, 1878â1879, until killed in the
893:
49:Agents established in Nonintercourse Act of 1793
38:was an individual authorized to interact with
150:... an agent is successful or unsuccessful."
362:and other southern Indians under Presidents
66:Changing role of Indian Agents, 1800â1840s
596:. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
587:
585:
583:
581:
579:
577:
205:
201:
113:
746:
672:
670:
668:
540:, Indian agent in California, 1850â1852
153:By the 1870s, due to president Grant's
894:
824:
711:
657:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
591:
311:to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, 1869â1872
676:
574:
774:National Archives (15 August 2016).
665:
388:; Arizona Territory under President
386:San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
374:. One of the most successful agents.
272:San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
19:For the similar role in Canada, see
907:United States federal Indian policy
883:Fort Wayne Indian Agency Collection
546:, agent at Standing Rock, 1898â1903
511:and his siblings Theodore and Mary.
13:
189:
14:
923:
871:
606:
776:"Indian Census Roles, 1885-1940"
294:, Alabama's first member of the
818:
809:
800:
749:The Pacific Northwest Quarterly
849:
791:
782:
767:
740:
705:
626:
600:
1:
902:Indigenous affairs ministries
592:Prucha, Francis Paul (1984).
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173:Enforce prohibition of liquor
120:Board of Indian Commissioners
45:on behalf of the government.
714:Western Historical Quarterly
679:Western Historical Quarterly
344:Aaron Freeman, agent to the
7:
912:United States Indian agents
887:William L. Clements Library
827:Indiana Magazine of History
609:"Outline of Indian Affairs"
550:
10:
928:
413:Standing Rock Sioux Agency
128:Department of the Interior
18:
469:, Indian agent in Indiana
23:. For the 1948 film, see
384:), Indian Agent for the
296:House of Representatives
274:in the Arizona Territory
107:Bureau of Indian Affairs
92:decline by the mid-1800s
421:, Indian agent for the
317:, Indian agent for the
270:, Indian agent for the
252:, Indian agent for the
557:William Holland Thomas
528:David John Mosher Wood
497:in the 1820s and 1830s
396:Valentine McGillycuddy
214:
133:Board of Commissioners
209:
202:Notable Indian agents
114:Mid-late 19th century
21:Indian agent (Canada)
562:Indian agency police
298:, then agent to the
232:Laura Ingalls Wilder
71:jurisdiction of the
544:George Bingenheimer
432:Return J. Meigs Sr.
25:Indian Agent (film)
532:Samuel Newitt Wood
503:, Indian agent at
475:, Indian agent in
473:Robert Latham Owen
455:, Indian agent at
409:Devils Lake Agency
407:active 1876â1923,
398:, Indian agent of
390:Theodore Roosevelt
307:, Indian agent at
305:Brinton Darlington
215:
196:Theodore Roosevelt
55:Nonintercourse Act
487:Henry Schoolcraft
446:John DeBras Miles
442:from 1801 to 1823
382:Yellowstone Kelly
364:George Washington
309:Darlington Agency
278:Douglas H. Cooper
264:beginning in 1866
73:Department of War
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538:O. M. Wozencraft
477:Indian Territory
423:White River Utes
405:James McLaughlin
400:Red Cloud Agency
372:Thomas Jefferson
356:Benjamin Hawkins
315:George Davenport
286:Chickasaw Nation
280:, agent for the
212:Benjamin Hawkins
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427:Meeker Massacre
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190:End of position
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60:U.S. government
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419:Nathan Meeker
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642:. Retrieved
638:the original
628:
616:. Retrieved
602:
593:
501:Lawrie Tatum
457:Osage Agency
378:Luther Kelly
360:Creek people
337:through the
333:, after the
300:Creek people
292:John Crowell
284:in 1853 and
228:Robert Alden
216:
193:
183:information.
155:Peace Policy
152:
140:assimilating
137:
117:
104:
100:
69:
52:
36:Indian agent
35:
34:history, an
29:
850:Works cited
618:11 December
614:. p. 1
392:, 1904â1909
335:War of 1812
896:Categories
833:(3): 189.
644:2023-08-07
568:References
368:John Adams
244:Kit Carson
755:(2): 62.
505:Fort Sill
440:Tennessee
268:John Clum
234:'s books.
839:27790311
761:40490672
653:cite web
551:See also
495:Michigan
481:Oklahoma
436:Cherokee
415:(1881â?)
327:Illinois
210:Bust of
885:at the
341:of 1832
837:
759:
734:967424
732:
699:966865
697:
526:Major
491:Ojibwe
451:Major
370:, and
346:Chowan
148:
124:
43:tribes
835:JSTOR
757:JSTOR
730:JSTOR
695:JSTOR
612:(PDF)
194:When
659:link
620:2012
331:Iowa
329:and
321:and
262:Iowa
256:and
722:doi
687:doi
493:in
438:in
348:in
325:in
323:Fox
319:Sac
260:in
258:Fox
254:Sac
75:."
30:In
898::
831:74
829:.
753:72
751:.
728:.
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693:.
681:.
667:^
655:}}
651:{{
576:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
