Description:

Harry S. Truman
various, various
Harry S. Truman Original Pen Used to Sign Historic Indian Claims Commission Act and Related Archive
Archive
Offered here is an archive of material emanating from the files of Napoleon B. Johnson (1891-1974), the first president of the National of American Indians (NCAI). The material largely dates from 1948, while Harry S. Truman was campaigning for the Presidency in Oklahoma. The archive includes a historic pen used by Truman to sign the Indian Claims Commission Act in 1946, signed photographs, one with Truman, inauguration ephemera, telegrams to Johnson, a plethora of newspaper clippings, and more. Condition varies but generally good to very good. We invite bidders to preview this archive in our Connecticut offices, and to view our terms regarding lots of five items or more.

The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) was established under the Indian Claims Act of 1946 as a judicial arbitrator between the U. S. Government and Native American tribes. The ICC was created on August 13, 1946 "…to hear and determine the claims of tribes and other identifiable groups of American Indians living in the United States. These claims represent attempts by Indian tribes to obtain redress for any failure of the Government to complete payments for lands ceded under treaty, for the acquisition of land at an unconscionably low price or for other failure to comply with a treaty or legislative action regarding Indian lands that grew out of the westward expansion of the United States" (U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs). Between August 1946 and September 30, 1978, when the ICC was abolished, the Commission heard and issued rulings in hundreds of cases, with many being land claims. The ICC ultimately awarded over $800 million to tribes.

Judge Napoleon B. Johnson, or N. B. Johnson as he was more commonly known, was a renowned Cherokee lawyer who became president of the National of American Indians, founded on Nov. 16, 1944. The Congress was created to represent the tribes and resist Federal government pressure to assimilate; also working to liquidate the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, and to establish joint federal-state programs to help Native Americans manage their own affairs.

The material in the archive includes:
1. An original wood pen with which Truman signed the 1946 Indian Claims Commission, presented to Johnson.
2. A fine signed photograph, 10" x 8" b/w, showing Truman standing with nine members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, including Johnson at right. Each member signs on his respective image.
3. A series of seven original Western Union telegrams congratulating Johnson on his nomination as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1948.
4. Printed schedules and other information regarding Truman and Barkley's inaugural trip through Oklahoma.
5. Johnson's invitation to the Inauguration, Inaugural Ball, original tickets for the event, and other ephemera.
6. A large signed photo, 14" x 11" b/w, showing the Oklahoma Supreme Court and signed by all nine members.
7. A signed photo of Cherokee author Gertrude Chewani Ruskin, 8" x 10" b/w, inscribed to Johnson.
8. Dozens of period newspaper clippings from the era.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: Archive

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September 18, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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