American Historical Ephemera and Photography

A group of 3 letters addressed to attorney Daniel B. Henderson, and associated with the Nez Perce, comprising: letter from Chief David WILLIAMS ("Interpreter or Written by Henry Wilson"), Nespelem, Washington, 10 February 1918, 2pp, recalling their meeting in Washington, DC years before, and wishing to be informed regarding "Chief Joseph's money" and "how we would ever get that money for we Indians here are very much in need of money right now...." -- ALS from Otis HALFMOON, Slickpoo, Idaho, 5 December 1918, 2pp, with reference to the "epidemic sickness" [1918 flu pandemic] and WWI, "we will see who are coming back from France, much talks of this were when the Indians were drafted." -- ALS from James J. MOORE, Lenore, Idaho, 11 January 1919, 2pp, with reference to the sale of timber on Indian lands to the government, efforts to become a citizen, and family updates. -- A 4th letter addressed to Henderson, from John OTTERBY, Cheyenne Head Man and former Indian Scout, Clinton, Oklahoma, 26 May 1924, 2pp, regarding tribal matters, most notably the opposing views of tribal elders and the "Native American church" with its defense of "the Payote Drugg."

[With:] Letter addressed "To the Secretary of the Interior / Washington, D.C." [Franklin K. Lane], Bassbury, Washington, 18 February 1918, 2pp, undersigned by members of the "Indian Peoples of the North and South Half of the Colville Indian Reservation," indicating a desire to serve their country in the ongoing war but requesting to be placed on guard within the United States and not in Europe. With the signatures or marks of 18 identified tribal members. -- "Proposed Contract / Indian Protective Association [Indians of Colville Reservation] with [Attorney] Marian Butler," 14 December 1903, 3pp. -- Copy of "Colville Power of Atty. Columbia Tribe to Moses." 28 March 1894, 8pp, includes the names of 92 tribal members as witnesses.

The Nez Perce tribe is one of the twelve tribes associated with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state. The Colville Reservation was established by Executive Order in 1872 and is currently located in north-central Washington.

Daniel Brosius Henderson, Sr. (1862-1940) spent the bulk of his career litigating on behalf of America's Native peoples. His work centered in large part on the legal aftermath of the Dawes Act, allotments, and evaluation of treaties and Native American rights. He was born in Hancock, Maryland, attended the University of Virginia, and by the late 1800s had established a law practice in Kansas City, Missouri. After more than a decade in Missouri, Henderson and his growing family returned to Virginia in 1901. It was in Washington, DC, where the young lawyer would distinguish himself as a prominent attorney with a specialization in Indian claims litigation. Over the course of a decades long career, he represented the claims of multiple tribes in disputes against the US government.