Black and white photograph of Native Americans guarding the Cherokee millions. Stairs leading up to porch attached to large building. Several men lined up along porch rail all wearing hats, some holding rifles. This photograph comes from the Grant Foreman Collection at the Gilcrease Museum. Folder 23

Inscribed, "Guarding the Cherokee Millions: The Cherokee payment of $6,640,000 of the money paid in the U.S. for the Cherokee strip began at Tahlequah June 4 1894. The reverse picture represents the guard on duty during the six days payment at Fort Gibson beginning July 9. The payment was made in the old barracks building of the Fort, in the second storey of the building and 50 well armed Cherokee stood guard day & night over the money. The picture shows a part of the guard, and in the room back of them is not less than ten thousand people of all kinds. The was never before congregated in the Territory so much sin, vice intemperate characters. During the whole 3 months of the period there were no outlaws so bold as to undertake to hold up the Cherokee millions." on verso