Category Archives: Primary Sources

A Fable Agreed Upon

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have mused, “What is history but a fable agreed upon?”  ***** In July, 1918 the Minnesota historical community was buzzing: the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) Bulletin had just published a recently discovered letter written by John P. … Continue reading →

Posted in Minnesota Historical Society, Primary Sources, Thomas J. Galbraith, William Watts Folwell | 2 Comments

“I am pained by the severe criticisms…upon Mr. Galbraith.”

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

Missionary Mary Ann Longley Riggs wrote to her husband on September 18, 1862, “I am pained by the severe criticisms of the St. Paul Press upon Mr. Galbraith…. I am sure we have never had as good an agent since … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Historical Research, Minnesota Historical Society, Primary Sources, Thomas J. Galbraith | Leave a comment

Thomas J. Galbraith Defends Himself: September 12, 1862

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

St. Paul Daily Press April 26, 1861. Galbraith was in Washington D.C. giving his bond as Sioux Agent on April 12, 1861 when the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, prompting recruiting notices like this one in newspapers across the North. … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources, Thomas J. Galbraith | 1 Comment

Thomas J. Galbraith, Believe It or Not

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

  Lobby card for the movie, Titanic, 1953. Twentieth Century Fox. “Based on the actual logs and incidences and persons aboard the doomed ship, screenwriters Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch and Richard Breen came up with an Academy Awarding winning Best Writing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources, Thomas J. Galbraith | 2 Comments

Two New Dakota War Letters

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

page 1 of the Emeline Foot Blood letter in the Clements Library at the University of Michigan linked below It will be a long time until digital history replaces traditional archival research (if it ever does). Not because paper is … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Historical Research, Primary Sources | Leave a comment

“Let Them Eat Grass” Revisited

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

Andrew Myrick insulted Dakota people the summer of 1862. What he said, and what he meant, have been matters of debate for a century. Last summer, just in time to update A Trilling Narrative before it went into production, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Myrick, Commemorating Controversy, Little Crow, Primary Sources, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Fifth Winter: July 5, 1862

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lower Sioux Agency, Minnesota, construction arrested by the Dakota War, photographed by Adrian Ebell in late fall, 1862.  On July 4, 1862 Episcopal Bishop Henry Whipple laid the cornerstone for St. John’s, the Episcopal chapel at … Continue reading →

Posted in Commemorating Controversy, Primary Sources, Wabasha | Leave a comment

Follow the Money: August 17, 1862

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

Before I leave the story of the 1862 annuity delay, I want the change gears and share one of my favorite stories on this subject. I will not ague that if the guys escorting the  annuity payment had not wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Commemorating Controversy, Primary Sources | 1 Comment

Follow the Money: August 14, 1862

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

So the 1862 annuity, on a train headed west toward Minnesota 150 years ago, was late. Why does it matter what was going on behind the scenes in Washington D.C. in 1862? You’ve read part of the answer if you’ve had … Continue reading →

Posted in Commemorating Controversy, Primary Sources | Leave a comment

Follow the Money: August 13,1862

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Carrie Zeman

One hundred and fifty years ago today, the 1862 Dakota annuity payment was a month overdue. Why? This post only hints at the reasons, but supplies the sequence of what happened behind the scenes. After the Treaties of 1851 were proclaimed … Continue reading →

Posted in Commemorating Controversy, Primary Sources | 1 Comment