[Oklahoma]. [Native Americans]

[Archive of Documents Relating to the Wellsville Oil Company and the Ownership of Claims and Leases in Oklahoma on Lands Held by the Five Civilized Tribes]

Muskogee, Ok. [1909, 1914-1919]. Twenty-two documents, [27]pp. Folio sheets, typed on recto only. Typescript documents, some with manuscript signatures or notations. Some light wear and soiling. Very good. Item #2480

Group of documents concerning oil leases for the Wellsville Oil Company on lands owned by the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. Most of the documents are from the desk of Gabe E. Parker, the Superintendent for the Tribes. The contents concern royalties, leases, inheritance issues on leased, and requests for delinquent reports from Wellsville. Several documents name specific tribal land holders or mention legal issues surrounding the owner and the oil company. An example of the legal issues herein reads, "There is herewith returned, for correction, division order between your company, as lessee, and Job Thomas, as lessor, Royalty No. 1586. It will be necessary to eliminate from this division order the NE4 of the NE4 and the SE4 of the NW4 of the NE4 of Section 20, Township 24 North, Range 17 East, being surplus allotment of Job Thomas, and, as he is dead, supervision over this land has been relinquished by the Department." One document concerns the price of oil, and reads: "This office is directed by the Secretary of the Interior...to require leases under the supervision of the Department at not less than the minimum price basis heretofore fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, pending full investigation by the Department of the market price of oil. If, after investigation, it is ascertained this price is too high, adjustment will be made with lessees in accordance with the findings of the Secretary of the Interior."

Oil production in Oklahoma took off in 1907, making it the leading producer of oil in the country. When oil was found in California, the two states competed for the title of "Biggest Producer" for the next two decades. Given that prior to statehood Oklahoma was known as Indian Territory, much of the oil was on tribal land. This resulted in a rush to swindle the Native Americans. The present archive provides a peek into the workings of the oil boom as it relates to the interchange of the federal government, the oil companies, and the Five Civilized Tribes.

Price: $2,750.00