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William Clark Papers - Index

This is a searchable database of correspondence read NARRATIVE see sample IMAGESduring William Clark's tenure as the Superintendent, U.S. Office of Indian Affairs, Central Superintendency, St. Louis, and the tenures of others thereafter. Read more about the collection. This index currently includes vols. 1-9, and vol. G --the only lettered volume in the series, which contains the last of Clark's correspondence. All 34 volumes are available to search and view on Kansas Memory.

Search some of the Clark Papers here:
 

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Microfilm of the Clark Papers is available for interlibrary loan: vols. 1- 4 (reel no. MS 94); vols. 5-8 (reel no. MS 95); vols. 9-13 (reel no. MS 96); vols. 14-20 (reel no. MS 97); vols. 21-25 (reel no. MS 98); vols. 26-33 (reel no. MS 99).

Below are broad, simple pre-defined searches--although useful, they may not return all possible results due to spelling variations in the original records or may include a few non-related items

Searchable Names:

American Fur Company
Boilvin, Nicholas
Brish, Henry C.
Chouteau, P.L. (Paul Ligueste), 1792-1851
Clark, William, 1770-1838
Cumming, Alfred, 1802-1873
Davenport, Marmaduke S.
Dougherty, John, 1791-1860
Forsyth, Thomas, 1771-1833
Graham, Richard
Hamtramck, John Francis, 1798-1858
Kennerly, Augustin
Kennerly, George H.
McNair, Alexander, 1775-1826
Maguire, G.
Menard, Pierre, 1766-1844
Mitchell, D.D.
O'Fallon, Benjamin, 1793-1842
Pilcher, Joshua, 1790-1843
Saint Vrain, Felix
Sanford, John S.A., 1806 OR 7-1857
Taliaferro, Lawrence, 1794-1871

Searchable Native American Nations:

Arickara Delaware Fox
Illinois Iowa/Ioway Kansa
Kickapoo Mandan Menominee
Omaha Osage Ottawa
Otoes/Ottoes Pawnee Peoria
Piankishau Potawatomi/Pottawatomi Sauk/Sac
Seneca Shawnee/Shawonee Sioux
  Winnebago  

Searchable Subjects:

Agency Claim Crime
Education Fur Trade Government
Half-breed Illness Land
License Liquor Property
Relocation Road Smallpox
Steamboat Survey Trade
Treaty War  


Even though the database centers around Clark's tenure, the entire collection of records known jointly as the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs, Central Superintendency, St. Louis, Missouri, and William Clark Papers, 1807-1855, 34 vols., is available on microfilm reels MS-94 to 99, MF 3166. Collection 741. Records of William Clark (of Voyage of Discovery fame) and other superintendents, including field notes and plats of Indian lands, 1830-1836; and treaties and other agreements between the U.S. and various tribes, 1831-1838; and other records of the Missouri (1807-1821), Central (1822-1851), and St. Louis (1851-1855) Superintendencies of Indian Affairs. The collection also includes records of the Missouri Fur Co., 1812-1817, of which Clark served as a director. These records are largely copies of documents written into ledgers.

Indian records include correspondence, 1813-1855; claims, 1807-1830; licenses and permits 1813-1825; descriptions, 1815-1817; journals, 1826-1835; property returns, 1840-1853; accounts, 1822-1853; and correspondence registers, 1837-1839, of the Missouri, Central, and St. Louis Superintendencies of Indian Affairs. The records contain information on the Indian emigration, treaties, the fur trade, claims, Indian education, roads, employees, meteorology, and steamboats. Indian agencies represented include the Osage, Sac & Fox, St. Peters, Upper Missouri River, and others; Indians represented include the Delaware, fox, Ottawa, Sauk, Seneca, Shawnee, and others.

Missouri Fur Co. records consist of articles of association, Jan. 24, 1812; records of the Board of Directors, 1812-1814; accounts 1812-1814; and legers, 1812-13 and 1817.


The sources listed are available in our reading room, some through interlibrary loan. You may contact the reference staff with questions.

Completion of this database was made possible by volunteer Don Manley.