Thomas Adams Papers

This collection consists of four journals and one letter book documenting Thomas
Adams's life from 1852 to 1859. In addition to detailed descriptions of Adams's
experiences, the journals also contain expertly drawn sketches of Native
Americans, landscapes and forts, and animals.The first journal dates from June 30 to August 8, 1852, and describes Adams's
voyage on the S.S. Gallatin, possibly off the coast
of Nantucket. The remaining three journals document Adams's travels to the West
Coast with Governor Isaac Stevens, and his travels around Washington Territory,
including Fort Hall in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana (particularly Fort Benton and
Fort Owen), Oregon, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Washington State. During his
journeys, Adams describes and sketches his day-to-day life, as well as the
challenges of travel (including the number of miles marched each day, the
weather, the food, shortages of wood for fuel, problems with horses and mules,
etc.), building camps, the Native Americans he meets (the Assiniboin, Gros
Ventre, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead, and \Shoshonee\ tribes), treaties,
raising and trading horses, the Mormons, and panning for gold. At least two of
these three journals appear to have been copied by Adams from earlier drafts, no
longer extant, and illustrated in part with copies of published
illustrations.The letter book contains ten letters, all in Adams's hand: both copies of letters
written to Adams and retained copies of Adams's outgoing letters. These letters
concern the Council of Indian Tribes and the Blackfeet Treaty. The first letter,
from Governor Stevens, appoints Adams as \Special Indian Agent\ in preparation
for these events. Correspondents include: Governor Isaac Stevens (seven
letters); Rufus Ingals, Captain Army Quarter Master (one letter); and James
Doty, Secretary to the Treaty Commission (two letters). The letters are
particularly interesting for their expression of Governor Stevens' specific
goals for white-Native American relations.