Native American History Subject Guide
The Rare Books Room has a large collection of books on the history of Native Americans. This subject guide aims to compile books that cover a broad range of Native American tribes across the United States.
It is essential to note that most of these histories are written by missionaries and outsiders to the culture, and thus some conclusions drawn and language used are incorrect or outdated.
Belden, the White Chief [E77 .B42 1871]
By George P. Belden about his time with the Native Americans of the plains.
North American Indians [E77 .C397 1913 vol. 2]
By George Catlin, a painter who was the first white man to depict Native Americans in their native plains territory.
Daughter of the Sioux [PS2172 .D3 1902]
By General Charles King. This is a novel based on some of the experiences King had while fighting in the Indian Wars.
The publication year of 1902 and the decorations on the cover indicate that this is most likely a first edition.
Indian and White in the Northwest [BX1415 .M9P3 1922]
By L.B. Palladino
The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus and the Origin of the North American Indians [E58 .M15 1836]
By J. Mackintosh
The Book of the Indians [E77 .D79 1841]
By Samuel Gardner Drake
The Indian Tribes of North America [E77 .M135 1933 vol. 1-3]
By Thomas Loraine McKenney
Memoirs, Official and Personal [E77 .M14 1846]
By Thomas Loraine McKenney
The Indian in His Wigwam [E77 .S426 1848]
By Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
The Red Race of America [E77 .S437 1847]
By Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
Stories from Indian Wigwams and Northern Camp-Fires [E78 .C2Y8 1900z]
By Egerton Ryerson Young
Our Wild Indians [E78 .W5 .D6 1882]
By Richard Irving Dodge
North American Indians of the Plains [E78 .W5W8 1912]
By Clark Wissler
Antiquarian Researches [E82 .H86 1824]
By E. Hoyt
A True Account of the Most Considerable Occurrences that have Happened in the Warre Between the English and the Indians in New England [E83.67 .T86 1676]
Published in London in 1676
A Narrative of the Manner in Which the Campaign Against the Indians [E83.79 .S13 1812]
By Arthur St. Clair
Wakefield’s History of the Black Hawk War [E83.83 .W15 1908]
By John Allen Wakefield
Dakota War Whoop [E83.86 .B622 1864]
By Harriet E. McConky (better known as Harriet Bishop)
War Path and Bivouac [E83.866 .F5 1890]
By John F. Finerty
Seven and Nine Years Among the Camanches and Apaches [E87 .E13 1874]
By Edwin Eastman
Memoirs of Odd Adventures, Strange Deliverances, etc. in the Captivity of John Giles [E87 .G983 1869]
By John Giles
A Narrative of the Incidents Attending the Capture, Detention, and Ransom of Charles Johnston [E87 .J72 1827]
By Charles Johnston
Three Years Among the Camanches [E87 .L47 1860]
By Nelson B. Lee
A Narrative of the Captivity, Sufferings, and Removes of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson [E87 .R885 1856]
By Mary Rowlandson
Course of Study for the Indian Schools of the United States [E97 .U59 1901]
The Myth of Hiawatha [E98 .F6S34 1856]
By Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
History of Baptist Indian Missions [E98 .M6M2 1840]
By Isaac McCoy
A Discourse on the Religion of the Indian Tribes of North America [E98 .R3J3 1820]
By Samuel Farmar Jarvis
Narrative of Twenty-One Months of Servitude as a Prisoner Among the Comanche Indians [E99 .C85P55 1977]
Originally published in 1838 by Rachel Plummer. Our edition is a facsimile reprint of the only known copy of the narrative.
Rachel Plummer’s captivity narrative is considered the first known example of a captivity narrative that was utilized as propaganda for instigating war with Native Americans, and Plummer’s captivity was the first example of capture by Native Americans from Texas. It is also considered an excellent source for Comanche history.
Dahcotah, or Life and Legends of the Sioux around Fort Snelling [E99 .D1E19 1849]
By Mrs. Mary Eastman
Among the Sioux Dakota [E99 .D1P8 1881]
By D.C. Poole
Mary and I: Forty Years with the Sioux [E99 .D1R5 1880]
By Stephen Riggs
Tah-koo Wah-kan [E99 .D1R532 1869]
By Stephen Riggs
O-kee-pa [E99 .M2C3 1867]
By George Catlin
History of the Mission of the United Brethren Among the Indians in North America [E99 .M9L82 1794]
By George Henry Loskiel
Life of Tecumseh and his brother the prophet [E99 .S35T12 1850]
By Benjamin Drake
A Dakota-English Dictionary [E71 .C76 vol. 7]
By Stephen Riggs
The Mound Builders [E73 .M16 1887]
By JP Maclean
Historical and Statistical Information...History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes [E77 .S3.81 vol. 1-5 ]
These are 5 volumes, published in the years 1851-1855, in a series by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft that were done during Schoolcraft’s work with the US government to document Native American tribes. There was additional research for more volumes, but Schoolcraft was unable to publish these.
Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States [E77 .S381 1851 vol. 3]
This is the Omaha Project copy of volume three.
The Life and Practice of the Wild and Modern Indian [E78 .I5N4 1923]
By J.A. Newsom
Patterns and Ceremonials of the Indians of the Southwest [E78 .S7C6 1949]
By John Collier
American Indians: The First Families of the Southwest [E78 .S7H3 1928]
By Fred Harvey
Traits of American Indian Life and Character by a Fur Trader [E78 .W3O32 1933]
By Peter Skene Ogden
History of the Conspiracy of the Pontiac [E83.76 .P2.4 1851]
By Francis Parkman
Indian Fights and Fighters [E83.866 .B81 1904]
By Cyrus Townsend Brady
The Fighting Norths and Pawnee Scouts [E83.866 .B88 1932]
By Robert Bruce
Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer [E90 .W8A3 1931b]
This work was interpreted by Thomas B. Marquis from Indian Sign Language by Wooden Leg. Wooden Leg provided eye-witness accounts and insights into the lives of Plains Indians as well as the battle with Custer. This work created a lot of controversy due to its promotion of the Northern Cheyenne version of events, which conflicted with some Sioux accounts of Little Bighorn.