Clio Wired (History 696)

The sources included in such a database could potentially become as far-reaching as to include government documents, treaties, missionary writings, tribal correspondence, oral histories, manuscripts and art. However, at the outset I will develop this database as an easily accessible repository for government documents pertaining to Indian Affairs. My own research currently centers around Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Trade and later of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (1816-1830), and his involvement with American Indian reform and removal. His office’s and personal correspondence reside in the National Archives and are available in laborious microfilm searching. A global presentation of these American Indian sources would greatly enhance researchers ability to understand the mechanics of United States government policy toward American Indian Tribes.

Examples of other websites, which expand upon the traditional archive to present full-text primary materials and will act as models for this project include: George Washington’s Writings and North American Women’s Letters and Diaries. Both of these archives present full-text transcribed versions of primary sources, searchable by author, recipient, date, location and word/phrase. My database would include these same search options and also incorporate a “browsing” option based upon author, recipient, date or location. Therefore a user could simply see all sources to or from (or both) Thomas McKenney in chronological order for the year 1827. Similarly one could browse all correspondence for the Creek Agency during a particular period.

Certainly I have limited expertise in the digital media. In fact I’m highly impressed by the fact I even know how to use a cascading style sheet. Therefore I will need guidance from someone with technical experience, especially when it comes to the searching tools. With design assistance this digital archive could prove exceedingly useful for researchers in American Indian studies.