Ten original journals, from ca. 36x23 cm (14x9 in) to ca. 30,5x13,5 cm (12 x 5 ¼ in) or ca. 30,5x19 cm (12 x 7 ¼ in). Each from ca. 130 to ca. 30 leaves filled in manuscript text on recto and verso (only one journal with 12 blank leaves); in all over 1350 pp. of text. Pencil or ink on lined paper, text in English and Lakota language. All but one journal with the dates of entries and names of the compilers (“Nich. Cadotte,” “Mr. Nicholas Cadotte,” “John J. Cadotte”) either on the front cover, the front endpaper or the first leaf. Period grey full cloth or card bindings; one with period sheep covers with cloth spine. One journal with loss of the front cover, other journals rubbed and worn, with tears and losses on the spines, several with leaves detached and loosely inserted, occasional tears, but overall very good journals with legible text.

Documents: [Wakpala, Pine Ridge, Pierre (all S.D.), Fort Yates (N.D.), Washington, D.C., &c.], ca. 1911-1956. Ca. 140 original documents (manuscripts, typewritten, printed forms completed in hand), many multi-page; in English and Lakota language. In all over 290 pp. of text. At least seven documents with fingerprints and names of Lakota people. A number of letters with official printed letterheads (“Department of the Interior, U.S. Indian Service/ Office of Indian Affairs/ Indian Field Service/ Bureau of Indian Affairs,” “U.S. Senate,” “Congress of the United States, House of Representatives,” “U.S. Indian School, Flandreau, South Dakota,” “War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General,” &c.). Fold marks, occasional tears, splits or losses on extremities; overall very good documents written in a neat, legible hand. With twelve printed booklets and ephemera (mostly, multi-page) in English and Native American languages, from ca. 27x19,5 cm (10 ½ x 7 ½ in) to ca. 7x9,5 cm (2 ¾ x 3 ¾ in). Overall an important extensive archive in good condition.

Historically significant, unusual extensive archive of ten unique manuscript journals and ca. 140 original documents, created and collected by the members of the prominent Cadotte family of the Lakota (Teton Sioux) people from the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. The earliest materials (two journals) were compiled by Nicholas Cadotte, who in 1872 served as a scout in Lt.-Col. George Custer’s Yellowstone Expedition of 1872-1873 (Seek Pension for Old Black Eagle: Indian who served Custer in an emergency is in need of help// The Minneapolis Journal. Nov. 14, 1911, p. 6). The original certificate of Cadotte’s service as a scout in the Yellowstone Expedition is also included in this archive. Nicholas Cadotte’s wife was Elizabeth (Tawaci Wastewin – Her Good With Woman) Grass, a daughter of a prominent Lakota chief, John Grass (ca. 1837-1918), who fought against Custer in the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn (or Custer’s Last Stand, June 25-26, 1876), and became one of the founders of the Standing Rock Agency in 1889 (see more about John Grass).

Most of the other materials were compiled and collected by Nicholas Cadotte’s son and John Grass’s grandson, John Jacob Cadotte Sr. (Chief Standing Alone), who was a Catholic catechist and a passionate champion of his people’s history and language. John J. Cadotte was known to document oral histories of Lakota people, some of which are present in this archive as well. Some materials in the archive relate to John Jacob’s son, Ignatius Leo Cadotte (1902-1982), who in the 1950s was a secretary of the Standing Rock Reservation Council and met with President Harry S. Truman in January 1951 (Wakpala Men in Washington: Indian Present Peace Pipe// Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. 21 January 1951, p. 12).

Two journals by Nicholas Cadotte are written in a mix of English and Lakota and cover the period of ca. 1891-1897. The entries record important events in the Standing Rock Reservation (births, deaths, losses of materials and animals, &c.), allotments of house parts and furnishings, farming tools and livestock to the local members (John Grass’s band, Mad Bears Camp, Galls Band on the Grand River, Sitting Bull’s Camp at Wakpala, Flying By’s Band, &c.). There are also later pencil notes by John J. Cadotte, adding information to the entries. One of the journals contains a 2,5-page entry dated March 1893 with Lakota names for 103 birds and a 4-page entry dated April 12, 1893 recording local place names, with additional notes by John J. Cadotte. Another journal contains entries about Nicholas Cadotte receiving the Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction in August 23, 1914, a few months before his death; Fourth of July Celebration at Oak Creek Station; “The Names of the dead” (a list of names of 222 deceased tribe members, with later commentaries by John J. Cadotte), &c.

Eight journals compiled by John Jacob Cadotte cover the period of ca. 1928-1953 and include a wide range of materials: diary entries (record daily weather, family events, things the compiler did), latest community events (deaths, births, the activities of Wakpala Local Council - meetings, decisions, elections), his life as a Catholic and catechist (services and gatherings, Christmas celebrations and other events organized by St. Mary’s Society), local news (i.e. meetings with the survivors of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, news about Lakota claims in the Black Hills, &c.), records of money, farm animals and tools allotted to the Reservation members; lists of community members with the indication of family relations, &c. A large part of the journals is occupied with copies of received and sent letters (including correspondence with local and federal authorities), articles in contemporary periodicals concerning Lakota people, bills promoted by the Reservation Council and other legal documents (i.e. “Proposal to the Sioux Nation, Sept. 20th, 1932” from the “Attorney to the Sioux Nation” in Washington, D.C.). There are also programs of events John J. Cadotte took part in (“Armistice Program, Nov. 11, 1935”), and his original texts (sermons, short stories - “Father De Smet went out to Indians <…> Copyright 26 of Jan. 1931, John J. Cadotte St., catechist, Wakpala, S.Dak.,” “Ed Afraid of Hawk. Feb. 18, 1938,” &c.). A seven-page story, “The Crazy Band” (possibly, original), talks about the events of the Dakota War of 1862 (J. Cadotte’s Journal/1928). A 24-page list in the same journal records names/ brands of members of the Standing Rock Reservation (1600 entries with some gaps).

The journals also contain a number of valuable oral stories of Lakota people, recorded by Jonh J. Cadotte, i.e.:

“Wakpala, S. Dak., April 7 – 1931. Mr. Old Man Standing Bear or Howard or Indian name was Matokinajin or [Takipa?]. He said to me that Old old John Grass Sr. No. 1 or Shield or Grass or Kasakapisiri who was died at the Old old Fort or at the […?] Hospital at the mouth of the Oak Creek S. Dak. in summer of Aug. 1873…” (Journal/1928, p. 93).

“Sunday afternoon Jan. 25 – 1931. Mr. Paul Eaglehorn of Mahto S. Dak. He was telling me about where Rev. Father De Smet went to amongst the Indians first. So the Sioux Indians […?] carry him in a nice Buffalo robe and bring him in the camping tepees to one of the greatest Indian Chiefs and honoured him by their grace…” (Journal/1928, p. 94).

The loose documents contain over 150 pages of manuscript text in Lakota, including stories or interviews with locals Ignatius End of Cloud or White Cloud (a relative of John Grass) and Isadore Water (autobiography), a note on John Grass and his wives (dated March 30, 1939), texts of official documents and petitions, &c. The transcripts of stories told by Ignatius End of Cloud include his autobiography (“his own history telling to me on May 5-6, 1941”) and lengthy stories, mentioning “General Miles”, “General Crook,” “Sitting Bull,” “June 25, 1876” (the Battle of the Little Bighorn), “1868 Treaty,” “Republican Party,” “Oak Creek,” “Father Jerome,” “Rusia,” “Dec. 15 1890” (the murder of Sitting Bull), &c. Several transcripts bear End of Cloud’s thumb fingerprint.

A four-leaf manuscript, “Proclamation by the Sioux Nation,” is witnessed by five Lakota representatives, with their names, addresses, ages and “degree of Indian blood” recorded (Leo Kills Pretty Enemy, Garfield Driver, Theresa Cross, Wallace Sunkowicagu, John J. Cadotte). All five representatives left their fingerprints next to their names. A six-leaf manuscript tells the life story of Baptiste Gabe, as remembered by his son, Charles W. Gabe Jr.

There are also ca. 50 official papers related to land inheritance in the Standing Rock Reservation (estates of Henry Ironcedar, John Grass, Tatoheya or Talloheyamaniwin or Martha Thunder Bear, Vincent Albert Cadotte, Rosebud Sioux, Anthony White Thunder, Theresa Cross or Oyurpewin, Thomas Good Voice Bull, and others). Other documents include J.J. Cadotte’s mortgage papers (1918), “Ritual on admission of Indians to Full American Citizenship” and a “Registration Certificate” (with John Cadotte’s name filled in), “Service Flag Dedication Program” (1943, with John J. Cadotte’s name among others), “Program, Dedication of Service Flag for veterans of First and Second World Wars” (1944, John J. Cadotte’s name among others), official certificate of Nicholas Cadotte’s service during George Custer’s Yellowstone Expedition, “Certificate of Ore Assay” (September 1911), letters to John J. Cadotte from the U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives of South Dakota, Office of Indian Affairs (Department of the Interior), a typewritten program of “Catholic Sioux Indian Congress” (July 1952), typewritten “Attorney contracts with Sioux Indians of the Standing Rock Reservation” (Washington, D.C., May 1951), and others.

Printed booklets include “Diamond S. Brand Book” (Fort Yates, 1908 – Nicholas and John Cadotte listed), “Premium list, Sixth Annual Standing Rock Indian Fair for North and South Dakota” (Fort Yates, September 1917), a bill in Lakota language, titled “Howard-Wheeler Woope Kte, February 12, 1934” (published by Santee Normal Training School, Santee, Nebraska); a program of the 1943 Conference of Dakota Congregational and Presbyterian Churches, titled “Ptaya Owohdake Woekon Kin;” a speech “Why aren’t the Indians Free?” by Senator Harlan J. Bushfield (1945); “Indian family ticket” and a parking pass for “Corson County Fair, 1927;” a card titled “Eli Waktegli Totakuye Omniciye,” &c.

Overall an important, unusual extensive Lakota family archive, providing a fascinating, first-hand account of the history of Native Americans in South Dakota in the late 19th – first half of the 20th century.