ABSTRACT: Collection of papers relating to Green McCurtain and family.
SCOPE: This collection includes correspondence, land documents, financial records, and one matted photograph relating to Choctaw Chief Green McCurtain. Many of the documents directly reference McCurtain or family members like Katie, Lester, and J. F. McCurtain. One letter, dated May 26, 1892, is partially written in the Choctaw language, and two documents are official records from the Cherokee Nation. The papers span from the 1890s to approximately 1930.
EXTENT: One folder.
HISTORY: Greenwood “Green” McCurtain (1848-1910) was a Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. He was elected to four terms (1896-1900 and 1902-1906) and also served as a delegate to the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention. After the dissolution of tribal lands under the Dawes Act and the Choctaw Nation’s assimilation into Oklahoma statehood, McCurtain was appointed chief by the United States government, a role he would retain until his death.
ACCESS: Due to the fragile nature of this collection, physical access may be restricted. Please contact the library for further information. Information on conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building on the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ north campus.
PREFERRED CITATION: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis."
