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John B. Garrett papers
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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
John B. Garrett (1836-1924) was the son of Thomas C. and Frances (Biddle) Garrett. He graduated from Haverford College in 1851. Garrett was an original member of the Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs. The committee originated in 1869 in response to President Grant's Peace Policy. That policy appointed the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends as managers of the Central Superintendency. Garrett served as secretary of the committee.
John B. Garrett (1836-1924) was an original member of the Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs. Topics discussed include appointment of agents, missionary work, education and citizenship of Indigenous peoples, use of military force, annuity goods, opening of Indigenous territory to settlement by white people, etc. Includes minutes of the 1871 committee meeting, letter of Garrett to his family telling of a 1865 visit to Fort Smith, Arkansas, as part of the Grand Indian Council, as well as 17 photographs of Indigenous Americans present at the Council and printed reports of the meetings.
Original processing information unknown. Reboxed and finding aid updated in September 2021 by Hannah Kolzer.
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- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
Letters discuss various topics related to Indigenous American affairs in Kansas and other territories: changes in representation, land acquisition, boarding schools and education. Correspondents include: Cyrus Beede; Josiah Butler; H.R. Clum; Amos Doan; Edward Earle; Joseph D. Hoag; D.W. Hunt; John D. Miles; Thomas Miller; Joel H. Morris; Ely S. Parker; Mahlon Stubbs; Asa C. Tuttle; Benjamin H. Wright
Letters from Benjamin Tatham, Vincent Coyler, others to Associated Executive Committee--discussing issues related to Indigenous Americans, opening of territory, constitutional rights, etc. Notices of appointments from various Yearly Meetings to the committee; handwritten drafts and printed proof of minutes from 1871.
Letters from John B. Garrett: to his sister 12/1/1863 telling of contraband relief efforts for freedmen, cutting and making clothing; to his friend Benjamin F. Trueblood 1/7/1895 regarding the death of a mutual friend, Dr. James E. Rhoads. [gift of Mrs. George C. Stalkins, 1957]; to his parents 9/9/1865 about his situation in Fort Smith, Arkansas, peace principles, and Indigenous Americans in the Civil War.
List of nominations for offices, 1871; rough draft of minutes for meeting 4/17/1871
Garrett's certificates of membership for "Henry" society at Haverford school, "Loganian" Society at Haverford School, and "Pennsylvania Institute"
Letter 5/16/1871 Isaac T. Gibson to Ely S. Parker detailing conflict between the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) and white settlers; asking for police presence.
Photographs "Agent Taylor with Reclaimed Captives"; letters to Associated Committee of Friends on Freedmen regarding Black settlers on Chickasaw Nation land; Colonel Grierson; John B. Garret--all on issues related to Indigenous Americans. Newspaper clipping containing Tatum's article on captive Indigenous American children.
Letter from Ohio Yearly Meeting to Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs objecting to Lawrie Tatum's request for use of military force. 11th month 1871
Letters 11/29/1870 and 1/12/1871 from Johnathan Richards to John B. Garrett; Letter to editor of the "Evening Bulletin" in Philadelphia, 12/10/1872. Discuss Richards' involvement with the Wichita Tribe.
Letters to John B. Garrett ranging 1/23/1871 to 8/24/1872 discussing government funding, education, other issues related to Indigenous Americans, and Lawrie Taylor's use of force and conflict with Ohio Yearly Meeting's Meetings for Sufferings. Note to "the committee, etc." undated.
"Official report of the proceedings of the council with the Indians of the West, and South-West held at Fort Smith, Arkansas in September, 1865"
17 portraits of Indigenous Americans who were present at the "Indian Council" of 1865, and copies given to Haverford by the Smithsonian Institution July 24,1961 (Haverford had loaned the portraits to Archivist Margaret Blaker May 12,1961).
Miscellaneous items: 1961 report by Anna Rhoades Ladd on photographs of Indigenous Americans in Quaker /Special Collections; minutes for 1870 meeting for sufferings of Indiana Yearly Meeting; newspaper clipping "Indians: Work of the Friends Among Them", 1870; Letter 8/6/1872 W.B. Collins to Edward Earle; report and handwritten notes on "Indian school"; carbons of reports 1876-77 sent to John B. Garrett; printed message of the President communicating second annual report of the Board of Indian Affairs; floorplan of "Kickapoo Mission"
minutes, treasurers reports 1869-1871 for "Indian Aid Association"; report of "Female Indian Aid Association" 1870-71; report of Executive Committee to "Indian Aid Association" 1871.
Letters from Enoch Hoag to John B. Garrett 1/27/1871, 11/24/1871, 12/26/1872; copy of letter H. R. Clum to Enoch Hoag 3/1/1871 regarding closing of Osage River Agency; note re: clothing for Indigenous American children; printed notice to white tresspassers on "Indian Territory" 9/11/1871; newspaper page (The Tribune, Lawrence, Kansas) containing "Report of the condition of Indian Affairs in the Indian Territory" 8/27/1872
Papers from John B. Garret's time at school--handwritten book containing poems by Haverford students which appeared in "The Collegian", essays, class notes, valentines, notices from the Loganian society; autograph book dated 11th mo. 1877 belonging to John B. Garrett and Hannah Rhoads Garrett.