History of the Indian Tribes of North America – Antique Originals

First published in three volumes between 1838 and 1844, the History of the Indian Tribes of North America captures 125 portraits of Native American chieftains, orators, and translators who engaged in territorial negotiations with the U.S. government. The project was initiated by Thomas Loraine McKenney, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and James Hall, who authored the corresponding text. The project records the likeness and biography of many of the Native individuals who acted as liaisons between their tribes and the United States federal government during the period of negotiation prior to  President Andrew Jackson’s endorsement of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. As a result, the History of the Indian Tribes of North America is unique in that it records the struggle and resilience of many Native American diplomats who sought to combat the U.S. possession of their land.