James Milton Turner was an African American Missourian who was a prominent politician, education advocate, and diplomat in the years after the Civil War. Turner was born a slave in St. Louis, Missouri sometime in 1840. His father, John Turner (also known as John Colburn), … Read MoreJames Milton Turner (1840-1915)
James Coody Johnson was an African Creek lawyer, politician and entrepreneur, and a leading voice for inclusion of African Americans both before and after Oklahoma statehood. Johnson was the son of Robert Johnson, the African Creek interpreter for the Seminole nation and Elizabeth Davis (Johnson), … Read MoreJames Coody Johnson (1864-1927)
Island Smith was a celebrated African Creek native healer (or root doctor) who practiced his art in the hinterlands southwest of Okmulgee in the years after Oklahoma statehood. Smith was born outside of Taft, Oklahoma in 1877 to Hannah (later Robinson) and Isaac Smith. His … Read MoreIsland Smith (1877-?)
The First Indian Home Guard Regiment was a tri-racial Union regiment first organized in Kansas in May 1862. The regiment was made up of Creek and Seminole Indians, African Creeks and African Seminoles with white officers commanding the unit. Though their numbers were few, the … Read MoreFirst Indian Home Guard Regiment (1862-1865)
On August 4, 1865, the Loyal Creek Council formally declared that African Creeks would be considered full citizens of the Creek Nation. African Creeks soon designated August 4th “Emancipation Day” and organized celebrations, including picnics, parades and speakers beginning as early as 1867, which continued … Read MoreEmancipation Day (August 4th)
OPINION IN GUINN v. UNITED STATES JUDGES: White, McKenna, Holmes, Day, Hughes, Van Devanter, Lamar, Pitney; McReynolds took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. OPINION BY: WHITE OPINION: MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE delivered the opinion of the court. This case is … Read More(1915) Guinn v. United States: The Grandfather Clause
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: The undersigned, your memorialists, respectfully show that they are residents of the Chickasaw nation, and area “persons of African descent” and were born and bred in the said nation. They … Read More(1882)The Memorial of the Chickasaw Freedmen
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where any tribe or band of Indians has been, or shall hereafter be, located upon any reservation created for their use, either … Read More(1887) Dawes Severalty Act
Mar. 21, 1866. Ratified, July 19, 1866. Proclaimed, Aug. 16, 1866. Whereas existing, treaties between the United States and the Seminole Nation are insufficient to meet their mutual necessities; and Whereas the Seminole Nation made a treaty with the so-called Confederate States, August 1st, 1861, … Read More(1866) U.S. Treaty with the Seminole Nation
June 14, 1866, Ratified July 19, 1866, Proclaimed Aug. 11, 1866 PREAMBLE Whereas existing treaties between the United States and the Creek Nation have become insufficient to meet their mutual necessities; and whereas the Creeks made a treaty with the so-called Confederate States, on the … Read More(1866) U.S. Treaty With The Creek Nation
