Kate and Sue McBeth, Missionary Teachers to the Nez Perce
COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
AND INDIAN AGENTS REPORTS
By far, the largest amount of information about each Indian tribe was collected and published in the annual reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Not only is every report from each Indian agent published, the Commissioner's comments on policy and actions taken during the year on various tribes are also included. For those interested in statistical data on a variety of topics, including expenditures, employees, censuses, numbers of Indians in schools, and the types of diseases found on the reservations, these reports are a treasure trove of information.
Commissioners of Indian Affairs, 1843 - 1893
Agent John Monteith, (Nez Perce Indian Agent 1871 - 1879) with James Reuben (1),
teacher, Archie Lawyer (2) and Mark Williams (3) ministers, prior to their mission to
the Joseph band of the Nez Perce in Oklahoma Territory, December 1879.
Photograph courtesy of Historical Photograph Collection, Washington State University
Libraries.