[Pawnee Scout] Archive of Captain Luther North Correspondence

Item Details

[Pawnee Scout] Archive of Captain Luther North Correspondence

Compelling collection of archival material from the property of and documenting the life and career of Pawnee Scout Luther Hedden North (1846-1935). Luther North enlisted in the 2nd Nebraska Cavalry in 1863, to fight the increasingly hostile Sioux Indians. In 1866 he joined his brother Frank, who served as commander of the Pawnee Scouts.  In 1867 Luther was commissioned as Captain as the Scouts patrolled and protected the Union Pacific railroad construction across the plains. The North Brothers participated in the Powder River Campaigns of 1865 and 1876 and the Republican River Campaign of 1869. Luther left the Scouts in 1876 after General Crook’s campaign. He and his brother then went into partnership with "Buffalo Bill" William F. Cody at Dismal River Ranch. Luther's good friend George Bird Grinnell wrote the forward for "Man of the Plains Recollections of Luther North, 1856-1882", which are collected letters published by University of Nebraska Press.  Grinnell encouraged Luther North to write his memoirs, which were completed in 1925 but never published. Grinnell did include portions of the memoir in "Two Great Scouts and Their Pawnee Battalion" published in 1928.

Collection includes 14 letters to Luther North (all originals except photostat of letter from General Crooke and one photostat letter from North), one statement from Adjutant General's Office, one invitation, a file of 21 sleeves of newspaper clippings and several miscellaneous items. Full itemization below.

Letters in very good to fine condition; all sleeved. Newspaper clippings are also sleeved and uniformly toned. Some chipping to edges of clippings, with annotations likely in North's hand. One water damaged copy of September 1930 article "Fighting Cheyenne's" by Robert Bruce.

We presume this collection was owned by Luther North and lent or given to Robert Bruce for research purposes. Bruce was the author of the 1932 Nebraska State Historical Society publication, "The Fighting Norths and Pawnee Scouts : Narratives and Reminiscences of Military Service on the Old Frontier", plus the serial article "Fighting Cheyenne's" as published in Motor Travel Magazine in 1930.

Archive Includes:

Autograph letter signed by J.L. Beardsley to North re the story of a Pawnee buffalo hunt that was to be published in the Blue Book magazine, Stanley Vestal's book about White Bull Warpath, the Wagon Box fight, etc., October 1, 1934, 2 pages. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 10-19-34".

Photostat of letter to Robert Bruce from Luther North dated February 9, 1929. Letter (the Photostat) contains information on several Pawnee Indians and the murder of McMurray by them. With transmittal envelope bearing Bruce's corner card and docketed by North "Photostat letter".

Short typed letter signed by Robert Bruce to North re transmitting the July 1930 Chapter "A Day with the 'Fighting Cheyennes" an article in Motor Travel magazine, August 5, 1930. With copy of article and transmittal envelope. Also, a water damaged copy of September 1930 chapter with some pencil holograph notes probably by Robert Bruce or North.

Photostat copy of a letter to Captain Frank North from General George Crooke re the muster out of the Pawnee scouts, April 19, 1877. Marked in pencil on the back (probably by Robert Bruce) "Photostat copy of original belonging to Capt. Luther North". [Reproduced on page 61 The Fighting Norths by Bruce, 1932.]

Typed copy of Statement from the Adjutant General's Office / Major Frank North Commander of Pawnee Scouts. With pencil notes (probably by Robert Bruce) "Copy for Capt. North to keep" and "Of course this covers only the later period of service".

Autograph letter signed by James H. Cook to North re material Robert Bruce edited for North, the booklet Bruce plans regarding the experiences of North and his brother Frank, Dr. Sheldon's book on Chief Red Cloud, Cook's experiences with Red Cloud, etc., March 19, 1932, 2 pages. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 3-23-32".

Typed letter signed by R.S. Ellison to North on Stanolind Crude Oil letterhead re oil industry, FDR, upcoming election, Major Ostrander, General Cooke, Frank North, Fort Fetterman massacre, etc., September 29, 1932, 3 pages. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans on 13 32".

Typed letter signed by R.S. Ellison to North on Stanolind Crude Oil letterhead re Major Ostrander, Walter Camp, Frank North's diary, Pawnee battles, oil industry, etc., November 3, 1933, 4 pages. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 12-21- 33".

[Note: Robert Spurrier Ellison (1875-1945) correspondence is in the Manuscripts Department of the Lilly Library, Indiana University.]

Typed Letter Signed by T. J. Gatchell (1872-1954) to North re Indian Wars, Killing of Yellowhand, etc., Buffalo, Wyoming, October 1, 1928. Enclosed is 2 page typed carbon copy of a letter Gatchell sent to R.S. Ellison re when Fort Connor was established, signed with initials. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 5 Oct 28". [see Jim Gatchell The Man and the Museum by Gil Bollinger, 1999]

Typed letter signed by Albert W. Johnson to North re the Dull Knife campaign, funeral of Major Ostrander, Custer celebration of 1926, R.S. Ellison, etc., 2 pages. With transmittal envelope.

Typed letter signed by Albert W. Johnson to North transmitting 9 photographs of Indian War sites and providing descriptions, September 1, 1930. Accompanied by the 9 photos mentioned in the letter.

Engraved invitation to Captain Luther North for 128th anniversary of raising of the American flag over Pawnee Indian Village, September 1934. "Compliments of Maj. Montana Mack, with transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 9-20-34.

Autograph letter signed by K.C. Morse to North re asking specifics about the Summit Springs battle and battlefield, type of rifles used, met Captain Jack Crawford, saw Buffalo Bill, grandfather ran a gun store in Pueblo, Colorado in the 1870's etc., July 7, 1933, 6 pages. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans - 7-8-33".

Typed letter signed by Rev. E.C. Newland to North re visit and poem, July 26, 1933. With typed one page poem "Captain Luther North", July 1933. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 7-31-33".

Typed letter signed by Marx Reimers to North re Parson Bob, Old Bill Hamilton, etc., November 6, 1932. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 11-28-32".

Typed letter signed by Marx Reimers to North re Parson Bob, Dr. Tanner quite sick, death of General King, Bill Hooker, Buffalo Bill, etc., March 24, 1933. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 4-12-33".

Typed letter signed by Elmo Scott Watson (author, 1892-1951) to North re Pony Express Riders (and Buffalo Bill was not), killing of Yellow Hand by Frank North (not Buffalo Bill), etc., December 3, 1934. With transmittal envelope docketed by North "Ans 12-6-34".

Miscellaneous

Very brief typed outline of Captain Luther North's life to 1876.

United States Department of the Interior circular "Changes in Map Prices" October 1, 1946

"James Bridger" by Grace Raymond Hebard, offprint from The Frontier, January 1929.

Photograph of Christmas Greeting by Charles Bernard, "Circus Day", 1929.

North's file of 21 sleeved newspaper clippings on himself, the Indian Wars, etc. from Nebraska newspapers, 1920's and 30's.