Colonel A.B. Welch Papers

[Dietmar]

In my opinion this is one of the most interesting new websites regarding Indian history in the internet:

Oral History of the Dakota Tribes 1800s - 1945
as told by Colonel A.B. Welch
the First White Man adopted by the Sioux Nation

www.welchdakotapapers.com/

The site is still under construction, but you already find very interesting biographical information and rare photographs of Lakota, Hidatsa, Arikara and Mandan.

"Colonel Welch’s interest in and association with the Indians dates far back into his boyhood when his family lived near Fort Randall, South Dakota in 1882. There one summer day a party of Sioux braves came “calling” in a none too friendly a mood. While the Welch youngsters hid under a bed, their pioneer mother cooked flapjacks for the Indians as fast as she could. Their stomachs filled and somewhat appeased, the Sioux at last departed. But until the leader had pulled a kicking, scratching youngster from under the bed.

The youngster was Colonel Welch and the Sioux was Red Tomahawk, later one of the Sioux police who killed Sitting Bull.

“I guess that started me off”, Colonel Welch said. “I have been studying Indians, living with them, fighting with them, and working with them practically from that day to this. I realize more than most people, I think, all of their shortcomings. But I also know their good points. I had these people with me, under fire in France, and I know what they can do. There’s no finer soldier in the world than a good Indian.” Minneapolis Tribune, June 28th 1940.

This article gives a glimpse of the man, Colonel Welch. Welch was a prolific writer. Throughout his life he recorded all conversations he had with the Indians. In most of these conversations he had the aid of translator to insure his records were accurate as possible.

As you read this collection you will learn that Colonel Welch was highly respected by the Indians and in 1913 was adopted by Chief John Grass of the Blackfoot Sioux with 2900 members of the Dakota Tribes attending.

Because of this special and trusted relationship, Colonel Welch was told many private stories. Colonel Welch was untiring and meticulous in his efforts to record the oral history of the Dakota Tribes. These papers were passed to his brother, Eldred Welch, in 1945, the grandfather of Everett Cox."

[waganari]

This is a fantastic website, Dietmar. It contains all the official letters written by Indian Agent, James McLaughlin, during this time frame.

[Californian]

the so-called Welch papers ... the provenance and private ownership of a portion of these documents is questionable. No doubt was Col. A. B. Welch a prominent figure in North Dakota during the first quarter of the 20th century. There are numerous records missing from James McLaughlin's tenure as the federal Indian agent at Standing Rock Agency that rightfully would belong to within the custody and jurisdiction of the National Archives (NARA) for safekeeping and ensuring its perpetuity. To cite an example, McLaughlin's arrest order of Sitting Bull some time back was sold at auction - an act he did in official capacity. This document was formerly part of the Welch papers. James McLaughlin himself may have handed these documents to Welch, perhaps with the intent of allowing the latter to peruse and study them and then never were returned.

[Californian]

sold at Cowan's Auction Nov 16th, 17th and 18th 2005 - original documents ex Col. Alfred Burton Welch collection "The Letters that Led Directly to the Death of Sitting Bull". These really should not be in private possession since official US government correspondence of official government printed stationary. Welch likely borrowed these documents from somewhere and never returned them.

www.cowanauctions.com/lot/the-letters-that-led-directly-to-the-death-of-sitting-bull-27893