Cornish, Melven, 1873-1944

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Lawyer. Published court records and correspondence regarding McMurray's suit against the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for legal fees and expenses, incurred in McMurray's successful representation of Choctaw and Chickasaw individuals in an earlier lawsuit, regarding taxation of Indian lands.

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Attorney. Case files (1903-1904) and letter books (1900-1905) from cases involving Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal citizenship claims; dockets (1903-1904) for the Southern and Central Divisions of the U.S. District Court for Indian Territory; an account book (1899) and a record book (1876) entitled "Proceedings of the Board of Chief Commissioners of the Court of Claims, Choctaw Nation"; along with clippings (1896-1907) and published court documents (1900-1940) relating to Choctaw and Chickasaw cases in U.S. courts. Cornish's law firm, Mansfield, McMurray and Cornish, represented the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in cases involving tribal citizenship claims.

Abstract

Pamphlets (1820-1978) containing information on U.S. government / Indian tribal relations, and U.S. government Indian policy. Materials include memorials from Indian delegations concerning allotment, land transfer, and per capita payments; tribal agreements with the Dawes Commission; annual messages of Indian nations; legal cases argued before the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court; and annual reports of the Board of Indian Commissioners. Other pamphlets concern Oklahoma statehood, mining and oil and gas rights on Indian lands, railroads in Indian Territory; and claims of Old Settler Cherokees.

Scope and Contents FULL FINDING AID (PDF)Banker. Correspondence (1883-1951) of Thompson Benton Ferguson as Governor of the Territory of Oklahoma, and business and personal correspondence of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ferguson; printed materials (1893-1933), including newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, and magazines; financial and estate records (1941-1960) of the Walter Fergusons; pictographs of cattle brands (1906-1918) of Texas; government documents (1863-1915) of the Territories of Oklahoma and Arizona and of the United States; pins, ribbons and medallions (1895-1907) marking the statehood of Oklahoma, and the election campaigns of territorial Oklahoma politicians; literary productions (n.d.), including manuscripts, speeches, and art; legal documents (1934-1955); and scrapbooks (1862-1938) chronicling the history and contributions of the Ferguson family to Oklahoma. Also included in this...