Zachary Taylor Papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MC.1964.203

Staff Only

Collection Overview

The Zachary Taylor Papers are a collection of nine letters written by the military man and eventual President of the United States, Zachary Taylor. He was well known for his involvement in the Mexican-American War, though he died in the White House before his term of office could be completed. The letters deal chiefly with Native American affairs. For example, in one letter written from Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, July 19, 1836, he remarks about the deplorable condition of the Native Americans during the Creek and Second Seminole Wars, going on to share his belief that removing them from their homes to the West is tantamount to, if not worse than, annihilation. He also raised concern over the political division within the Cherokee tribe in a letter to the Adjunct General of the Army from Fort Smith, March 4, 1842. In another letter from Fort Smith, October 8, 1843, he relates the murders of William Vore and others by the Starr Brothers. Three of this collection’s letters exist only as typescripts.

Dates

1836-1848

Access Restrictions

Available by appointment only at the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR) with the exception of materials with donor restrictions. Contact Library staff in advance to inquire if materials exist pertaining to your research interests.

Use Restrictions

Please contact the Rights and Reproduction Department for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Gilcrease Museum as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.

Extent

9 item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

The Gilcrease Foundation acquired these materials before 1964 and is housed in the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR). The library currently receives most materials through community donation, board members, artists and the acquisition of manuscript collections.

Processing Information

Staff, interns, and volunteers of the Thomas Gilcrease Library and Archive have contributed to the organization and maintenance of the files since the collection passed to the City of Tulsa in the 1950s.