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This is a copy of a letter that Isaac McCoy sent on behalf of the Delaware Indians. McCoy was a missionary in Indian Territory (present-day Kansas), and Crawford was Commissioner of Indian Affairs. In the letter, the Delaware asked for government patents that would prove their ownership of their new lands in Indian Territory. Apparently, some of their lands had also been claimed by Kansa Indians. The Delaware refer in this letter to a treaty signed on September 24, 1829, and express their desire to be permanently settled in this new territory. However, the Delaware did not enjoy a permanent home in Kansas--treaties in 1854 and 1860 diminished Delaware lands and, in 1867, the Delaware were moved to present-day Oklahoma. In sum, this letter highlights the difficulties that Native Americans faced during the 19th century with regard to retaining control over the land that they occupued.
Creator: Delaware Indians
Date: January 6, 1840
This brief letter provides an excellent example of how the government did not follow through on its treaty obligations. Also, it illustrates how removal to Kansas did not always ensure a permanent relocation. This would be particularly useful for discussions regarding the native perspective on removal.
KS:7th:1.4:Indian Removal (2005)
Item Number: 208230
Call Number: Isaac McCoy Papers Coll. 422 Box 12 Folder 4
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 208230
Collections - Manuscript - McCoy, Isaac
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Delaware
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Inter-tribal conflict
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Loss of land and resources
Date - 1800-1819
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Indian affairs
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Interior, Department of
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Interior, Department of - General Land Office
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Policies and programs - Land - Indian Removal Act
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - American Indians - Indian lands
People - American Indians - Indian removal
People - American Indians - Tribes - Delaware
People - Notable Kansans - McCoy, Isaac, 1784-1846
Places - Other States - Missouri - Jackson County - Kansas City
Thematic Time Period - Indian Territory, 1820 - 1854
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Letters
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/208230