Collection 2204 - John G. Carter Papers, 1855-1952 - MSU Library

Creator: Carter, John Galen, b. 1891

Provenance Note: Special Collections received the John G. Carter Papers from Mary Ellen Grogan of Washington D.C. in July of 1990.

Historical Note: John Galen Carter, the son of Senator Thomas Henry Carter and Ellen L. Galen Carter, was born in Washington. He was educated in Helena and Georgetown Prep School. He received his BA from Georgetown University in 1914 and his MA in 1915. He graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1918. The same year he enlisted in the Army and served until after the Armistice. In 1921, he joined the A. R. Serven law firm, and worked with cases mainly involving the government and specialized in Indian Affairs. He was a member of the American Anthropological Society and served in county and state conventions of the Republican party in Lewis and Clark County. He married Celina D. Calvo and they had one daughter, Mary Ellen.

Content Description Note: The John G. Carter papers appear mostly to be professionally prepared transcriptions or typescript carbon copies from original documents whose present location is unknown. The transcriptions include material from his law and writing career mainly on topics concerning Native Americans. The papers have been arranged according to topic and have been divided into five series: Series 1: Diaries, Manuscripts and Publications, 1909-1936; Series 2: Business and Legal Papers, 1855-1940; Series 3: Native American Manuscripts and Publications, 1893-1939; Series 4: Carter Family Papers, 1878-1952; and Series 5: Photographs, 1904-1906. The papers include diaries of trips Carter took in the Western United States, Cuba, the Panama Canal Zone, and Western Europe. His diaries also include a visit to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana in 1909. Also included are his writings as well as manuscripts and publications that he collected on Native Americans. His legal papers contain documents from court cases including Blackfeet et al. vs. United States and Okanogan et al. vs. United States. These papers include petitions, arguments, depositions, analysis of the cases, opinions of the court, reports, and motions. Also included in the John G. Carter papers are family papers concerning his parents such as newspaper clippings and correspondence. Photographs of Native Americans, mainly on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, are also included in the papers.

Series 1: Diaries, Manuscripts and Publications, 1909-1936

Series 1 contains transcripts of diaries, manuscripts, and research notes of John G. Carter. Most of his writings were on Native Americans and include topics such as Indian Sign Language, Fort Belknap, the Piegan Tribe of the Blackfoot Nation, and Native American ceremonies. His diaries and notes cover trips he made to Montana, North and South Dakota, Indiana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Vermont. Other trips include Cuba, the Panama Canal Zone, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, and Canada

Box 1: 1. John G. Carter: Bibliographic notes; 2. John G. Carter obituary, 1941; Rawhide Rawlins Stories (1921); McClure's Magazine (1907); 3. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, June 29-September 15, 1909; 4. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, December 1909-January 1910; 5. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, June-September 1910; 6. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, April 12-26, 1924; 7. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, June-July 1926; 8. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, Sun Dance Fort Belknap, 1906-1907; 9. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, Cree Sun Dance, Helena, 1908; 10. Diaries and Notes, Book 1, Gros Ventres, Fort Belknap, 1909; 11. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 116-131; 12. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 132-149; 13. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 150-170; 14. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 171-191; 15. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 192-208; 16. Diaries and Notes, Book 2, 1932, pages 209-228; 17. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 229-250; 18. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 251-268; 19. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 269-289; 20. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 290-305; 21. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 306-325; 22. Diaries and Notes, Book 3, 1936, pages 326-348; 23. Diaries and Notes, Book 4, June 25-July 17, 1936; 24. Diaries and Notes, Book 4, July 18-25, 1936; 25. Diaries and Notes, Book 4, July 26-31, 1936; 26. Diaries and Notes, Book 4, Maps; 27. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 1, pages 1-21; 28. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 1, pages 22-48; 29. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 1, pages 49-74; 30. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 2, pages 75-95; 31. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 2, pages 96-118; 32. Notes on North American Indian Sign Language, Book 2, pages 119-148; 33. Notes on North American Indians, Book 3, pages 149-167; 34. Notes on North American Indians, Book 3, pages 168-191; 35. Notes on North American Indians, Book 3, pages 192-222; 36. Indian Sign Language Lists: 1800-1893, Book 4, pages 223-243; 37. Indian Sign Language Lists: 1800-1893, Book 4, pages 244-279; 38. Indian Sign Language Lists: 1800-1893, Book 4, pages 280-296

Box 2: 1. Fort Belknap Notes, Atsina Indians, 1909, Book 5, pages 297-316; 2. Fort Belknap Notes, Atsina Indians, 1909, Book 5, pages 317-337; 3. Fort Belknap Notes, Atsina Indians, 1909, Book 5, pages 338-361; 4. Fort Belknap Notes, Atsina Indians, 1909, Book 5, pages 362-380; 5. The Piegan Tribe of the Blackfoot Nation of Indians: Original Source Material, 1730-1814, Book 6, pages 1-18; 6. The Piegan Tribe, Book 6, pages 19-35; 7. The Piegan Tribe, Book 6, pages 36-81; 8. The Piegan Tribe, Book 6, pages 82-116; 9. The Piegan Tribe, Book 6, pages 117-140; 10. Big Snake (Black Snake Man): A Chief of the Piegan Tribe of the Blackfoot Indians; John Two Guns; 11. Documents on Unfamiliar Ceremonies, Observations, and Customs of the North American Indians, pages 1-19; 12. Documents on Unfamiliar Ceremonies, pages 20-31; 13. Documents on Unfamiliar Ceremonies, pages 32-44; 14. Documents on Unfamiliar Ceremonies, pages 45-51; 15. The Northern Arapaho Flat Pipe and the Ceremony of Covering the Pipe, pages 1-20; 16. The Northern Arapaho Flat Pipe and the Ceremony of Covering the Pipe, pages 21-41

Series 2: Business and Legal Papers

As an attorney with A. R. Serven, John G. Carter was involved with numerous legal cases concerning Native Americans. Series 2 contains the business and legal papers of his law career. Important law suits include the Blackfeet et al. vs. United States during the 1920s and 1930s in which the Blackfeet, Blood, Piegan, and Gros Ventre nations sued the U. S. concerning the Common Hunting Ground set up by a 1855 treaty; Okanogan et al. vs. United States of the 1920s in which the Okanogan, Methow, San Poeils, Nespelem, Colville, and Lake Indian tribes of Washington sued the U. S. Also included in Series 2 is correspondence, petitions, arguments, depositions, analysis of the cases, opinions of the court, reports, motions, bills, and contracts.

Box 3: 1. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1895; 1913-1929; 2. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1930-1931; 3. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1932-1941; 4. Blackfeet Claim: Abandonment by Canadian Blackfeet of Right to Participate in Claims of American Blackfeet against the United States; 5. Blackfeet Claim: Comments on the 1855 Treaty, April 21, 1933; 6. Blackfeet Claim: Common Hunting Ground; 7. Blackfeet Claim: Digest of the Case; 8. Blackfeet Claim: Fur Trade, 1821; 9. Blackfeet Claim: Maps and Boundaries, 1855-1896; 10. Blackfeet Claim: Maps of Land Taken by Unratified Treaties; 11. Blackfeet Claim: Memorandum on the Blackfeet Indians of Montana for Judge Galen; 12. Blackfeet Claim: Minutes of the Blackfeet Business Council, 1932; 13. Blackfeet Claim: Population Data; 14. Blackfeet Claim: Report to the Secretary of the Interior; 15. Blackfeet Claim: Statement of Fact; 16. Blackfeet Claim: Story of the Blackfoot Claim; 17. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders; 18. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders, Ratified Treaty of 1855; 19. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders, Unratified Treaty of 1868 (Fort Benton); 20. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders, Unratified Treaty of 1868 (Fort Hawley); 21. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders, July 5, 1873-July 13, 1880; 22. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders Act of May 1, 1888; 23. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders Act of June 10, 1896; 24. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders Treaty with the Nez Perce; 25. Blackfeet Claim: Treaties, Acts and Orders, Ratified Treaty of 1863 with Nez Perce; 26. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Petition, July 10, 1925; 27. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Statements of 7 Blackfeet Indians re: Common Hunting Ground, March-May, 1926; 28. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Statements of 14 Gros Ventre Indians re: Common Hunting Ground, March, 1926; 29. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Statements of 12 Nez Perce Indians re: Common Hunting Ground, February-April, 1926; 30. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Correspondence regarding statements on Common Hunting Ground, June 1926; 31. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Value of Oil Extracted from Blackfeet Territory; 32. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Depositions, June 24, 1926 (Mrs. Horse Capture, Mrs. Lame Bull, Stiff Arm, The Boy and Flea); 33. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Depositions, June 26, 1926 (Mountain Chief, Eagle Head, Margaret Marceau, Scarce Woman, Calf Tail, Read Head, After Buffalo); 34. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Depositions, June 29-July 1, 1926 (James W. Brown Abe McKnight, Thomas Burd, Sr., William Lewis, Catches Two White Calves, Young Running Crane, Eagle Tailfeathers, Cuts at Night Black Face Man, Ground, Red Plume, Wood Chief Woman, J. Willard Schultz, George Pablo, John Ground, and Francis X. Guardipee); 35. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Depositions, July 7, 1926 (John Walker, Philip Evans, Wa Win Wah Tsan My, Sally Wilber, Amelia Johnson, Elisa Miller, Paul Corbett, Sr., James S. Hines and John Wilson); 36. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Motion for Call on the Department of the Interior, 1927; 1927; 37. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Correspondence January to April 1927; October 1929; 38. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Motion of Plaintiff to Print Depositions, August 16, 1929; 39. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Supplementary Stipulations; 40. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Plaintiffs' Request for Findings of Fact and Brief, November 25, 1929; 41. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Motion for New Trial, 1933; 42. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Motion to Amend Finding of Fact, Conclusion of Law and Correction of Judgment, 1934; 43. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: History of the Case, 1935; 44. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Other Items, E427; 45. Blackfeet et al. vs. United States: Notes, E427

Box 4: 1. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Petition, March 28, 1927; 2. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Demurrer, July 6, 1927; Petitioners' Brief in resistance to Defendant's Demurrer; 3. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Petitioners' Motion for New Trial, June 9, 1928; Brief in Support of Motion for New Trial; Petitioners' Supplemental Brief on Motion for New Trial; 4. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Digest and Analysis of Decision; 5. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Pocket Veto Cases; 6. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Brief in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari, October 21, 1928; Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Claims, 1928; 7. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Brief for The United States, 1928; Motion by The United States to Advance, 1928; 8. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Brief for Petitioners, 1928; 9. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Motion of Hatton W. Sumners for Leave to File Brief as Amicus Curiae and Brief of Amicus Curiae, 1928; 10. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Opinion of the Court, 1928; 11. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Petition and Transcript of Record, 1928; 12. Okanogan et al. vs. United States: Wright, Herbert F., The Constitutional Review, Editorial, April, 1929, pp. 103-120; Supreme Court Reporter, (v.49, no.16), June 15, 1929, pp. 463-470; 13. Shoshone Tribe of Indians vs. United States, H-219, December 1935; 14. Shoshone and Arapaho Council, January 9-11, 1940; 15. Shoshone and Arapaho Councils, February 15, 1940; 16. General Conference with the Shoshone and Arapaho Delegates May 2-9, 1940, Minutes pages 1-20; 17. General Conference with the Shoshone and Arapaho Delegates May 2-9, 1940, Minutes pages 21-41; 18. General Conference with the Shoshone and Arapaho Delegates May 2-9, 1940, Minutes pages 42-67; 19. An Act for the Relief of Certain Nations or Tribes of Indians in Montana, Idaho, and Washington, 1929, H.R. 3444, S.872; 20. Annual Report of the Department of the Interior (Canadian), June 30, 1877; 21. Appropriations, June 30, 1922; 22. A Bill Authorizing the Lower Spokane Tribes to Present Claims to the Court of Claims; 23. A Bill for the Relief of Certain Nations of Tribes of Indians in Montana, 1921, House Bill 2432; 24. Conferring Jurisdiction to the Court of Claims, Bill S. 641; 873; 25. Corporate Charter of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, a Federal Corporation Chartered Under the Act of June 18, 1934; 26. Department of the Interior, Memorandum for the Press, March 10, 1932; 27. Glacier National Park; 28. Maps: Montana-Laramie Treaty, 1851; Indian Reservations; 29. Message from the President of the United States re: Treaties, September 25, 1868-February 11, 1869; 30. New England Mutual Life Insurance Corporation, vs. The United States, No. K- 420, Court of Claims, October 22, 1931; 31. Northern Arapaho Tribe: Lawyers Contract, April 1, 1940 (John G. Carter and F. M. Goodwin); 32. Other Legal Matters: Executive Orders Relating to Indian Reservations, May 14, 1855-July 1, 1912; Indian Litigation, Cases pending, June 9, 1928; Community House in the Heart Butte District; Ex Parte: in the Matter of Kang-Gi-Shun-Ca, otherwise known as Crow Dog; Statutory Law Notes; Notes on Idaho and Montana Territorial Enabling Acts; 33. River and Mountain Crows Memorandum, September 1927; 34. The Sioux Tribe of Indians vs. The United States, No. C-431, Court of Claims, Petition, May 7, 1923; 35. State of Montana vs. County of Cascade, Depositions of US Proctor, January 31, 1931; 36. State of Montana vs. County of Glacier, Depositions of I. F. X. Guardipee, James B. Welch, George S. Martin, Emma Larsen, and Charles Simon, August 31, 1926; 37. Treaty between the United States and the Blackfoot Nation of Indians, November 16, 1865; 38. Treaty: Crow Reservation in Montana, 1873

Series 3: Native American Manuscripts and Publications

Throughout his career, John G. Carter was very interested and connected to Native American concerns. Series 3 contains manuscripts and publications he collected on Native American topics. Included are works on Indian home life, customs, ceremonies, and habitat. Also included is a typescript of Lt. James Bradley's history of the march of General Gibbons Column at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Box 5: 1. The Battle of the Little Big Horn, Wallace D. Coburn; 2. Bison; 3. Blackfoot Lodge Tales, George Bird Grinnell; 4. The Discovery of the American Bison by the Spaniards; 5. The Forbidden Dance, E. L. Dorsey; 6. Habitat of Indian Bands; 7. History of the Sioux; Indian Use of Horses; 8. Indian and White in the Northwest: A History of Catholicity in Montana, 1831 to 1891, L. B.Palladino; 9. Indian Home Life, Commissioner of Indian Affairs; 10. Indian Stories, Customs, and Ceremonies; 11. Indian Tribes of Montana; 12. Indian Wars and Local Disturbances in the United States, 1782-1898; Wars, Military Expeditions and Armed Conflicts; 13. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 1-20; 14. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 21-39; 15. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 40-59; 16. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 60-78; 17. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 79-99; 18. The March of General Gibbons Column, pages 100-Bibliography; 19. Memorandum for Dr. A. K. Fisher on the Proper Usage of the Word Blackfoot" or "Blackfeet," as Applied to the Piegan Indians of Montana; 20. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 1-23; 21. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 24-50; 22. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 51-76; 23. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 77-104; 24. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 105-131; 25. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 132-157; 26. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 158-187; 27. Notes to Indian Sketches from the Collection in the Walters Gallery, Alfred J. Miller, pages 188-218; 28. The Progress of the Blackfeet Indians, Charles H. Burke; 29. Railroad Commission Map of Montana, 1908; 30. River Crows and Mountain Crows; 31. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum, and Indians, Superintendent of Documents; 32. Social and Educational Implications of the Navajo Program, W. Carson Ryan, Jr.; 33. Strong's History of Oregon; 34. Surrender of Sitting Bull, E. H. Allison; 35. Survey of Aboriginal tribes in the United States, Method of Gathering Data; 36. Tenure of Land Among the Indians, George Bird Grinnell; 37. Yellowstone Lake

Series 4: Carter Family Papers

Series 4 contains Carter family papers, including correspondence of Senator Thomas H. Carter and newspaper clippings and papers concerning his death and clippings and material on Trinity College regarding Ellen Galen Carter.

Box 6: 1. Thomas H. Carter, Correspondence, 1878; 1908; 2. Thomas H. Carter, Business and Financial Papers, 1899; 1905; 3. Thomas H. Carter, Newspaper Clippings, 1889-1905; undated; 4. Thomas H. Carter, Newspaper Clippings, September 1911; 5. Thomas H. Carter, Scrapbook: Montana Newspaper clippings re: Death of Thomas H. Carter; 6. Thomas H. Carter, Address of the Honorable Lee Mantle at the exercises in memory of the late Thomas H. Carter, January 31, 1913; 7. Thomas H. Carter, Resolution adopted by the Senate of Montana, upon the death of Thomas H. Carter, January 31, 1913; 8. Ellen Galen Carter, Letter from father, H. F. Galen, December 1896; letter from brother James Galen, Nome, Alaska, June 9-14, 1900; 9. Ellen Galen Carter, Family Genealogy: Family tree of Hugh Gillogly - Ellen Burke; 10. Ellen Galen Carter, Newspaper Clippings, 1932-1952; 11. Ellen Galen Carter, Trinity College, 1933-1934; 12. Mary Ellen Carter Grogan, Correspondence, 1984-1985; 13. Newspaper Clippings, 1928-1938; 14. Poems

Series 5: Photographs, 1904-1906

Series 5 contains photographs mainly of Native Americans that John G. Carter collected during his career. Most of the pictures are of ceremonies performed at the Fort Belknap Reservation including the Fool Dance, Grass Dance, and Sun Dance. The photograph titles are taken from information written on the verso of each image. Also included are pictures of a "sham" battle between the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre, Medicine Man "Nosey" and Little Chief, and building a medicine lodge. Two family photographs of Thomas H. Carter and Hugh Galen are also found in Series 5.