Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties - Edmon Low Library
About the Collection
Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler, Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties is a seven-volume compilation of U.S. treaties, laws, and executive orders that shaped federal policy toward Indigenous peoples. The set includes treaties negotiated between the United States and Tribal Nations from 1778 to 1883 (Volume II), along with federal statutes and executive actions related to Indigenous affairs from 1871 to 1970 (Volumes I and III-VII). This compilation remains a foundational resource for understanding the legal framework governing Tribal Nations during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Digitization of the work began in the mid-1990s, when the OSU Library undertook an early effort to scan 150 pages from Volume II with support from Amigos Library Services. Funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation enabled the completion of Volumes I-III, and in 2001, support from the Angie Debo estate enabled the digitization of Volumes IV-VII. Together, these efforts created one of the earliest large-scale digital collections at the OSU Library and greatly expanded public access to these significant historical documents.
Related Collections and Resources
- Kappler’s Indian Affairs: A digitized version of Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties hosted in Open Research Oklahoma, providing access to downloadable volumes for research and teaching.
- Tribal Treaties Database: A searchable public database that offers enhanced access to historical treaties, agreements, executive orders, and more between the United States and Tribal Nations.
- Indian Claims Commission Decisions: A digital collection of published decisions from the Indian Claims Commission, documenting mid-twentieth-century legal cases brought by Tribal Nations against the United States.
- Angie Debo Collection: A digital collection highlighting the life of historian Angie Debo, with access to photographs and related materials.