Michael Steck Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-134-BC
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection consists of monthly correspondence and business records relative to Steck's tenure as Indian Agent (1852-1863) and as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for New Mexico (1863-1865). Correspondence and papers also relate to his involvements with the New Mexico Mining Company (1865-1880), and Muncy Creek Railroad, (Pennsylvania, 1873-1877), as well as personal and family correspondence and papers. This material is in chronological order, divided into series roughly corresponding with Steck's career.
Correspondence and business records, 1839-1953: consists of business records, family letters, and records from his first appointment as Indian Agent for the Southern Apache.
Correspondence and business records, 1854-1862: pertains mostly to Steck's tenure as Indian Agent after his reappointment.
Correspondence and business records, 1863-1865: pertains mostly to Steck's tenure as Superintendent for Indian Affairs, New Mexico Territory.
Correspondence and business records, 1866-1882 & undated: consists largely of personal and business records. Also includes some newspaper clippings in English and German.
The collection also contains an oversize series and a series of bound volumes.
The volumes include notebooks, books of memoranda, and various account, tax, and receipt books relative to Steck's business affairs, 1851-1872. One book of special interest is a hand written translation into English from the 1838 French translation of Narrative of the Expedition of Cibola undertaken in 1540 written by Pedro de Castaeda de Nagera. In the same book is hand copied Pueblo Indians, the translation, in English and Spanish, of a document found in the Pueblo of San Juan, dated Mexico, May 25th, 1840.
Additions to the collection were processed in 1993 and 2004. The 1993 addition contains correspondence, receipts, and certificates, 1852-1889. The 2004 addition contains letters between Steck and his second wife-to-be, Elizabeth Wood, 1865-1867, along with some miscellaneous documents and correspondence, 1861-1875. The Steck/Wood letters shed light not only on their personal relationship, but also on Steck's impresions of New Mexico, and the social and political climate of the times.
Materials in this collection are in English and Spanish with some clippings in German.
Correspondence and business records, 1839-1953: consists of business records, family letters, and records from his first appointment as Indian Agent for the Southern Apache.
Correspondence and business records, 1854-1862: pertains mostly to Steck's tenure as Indian Agent after his reappointment.
Correspondence and business records, 1863-1865: pertains mostly to Steck's tenure as Superintendent for Indian Affairs, New Mexico Territory.
Correspondence and business records, 1866-1882 & undated: consists largely of personal and business records. Also includes some newspaper clippings in English and German.
The collection also contains an oversize series and a series of bound volumes.
The volumes include notebooks, books of memoranda, and various account, tax, and receipt books relative to Steck's business affairs, 1851-1872. One book of special interest is a hand written translation into English from the 1838 French translation of Narrative of the Expedition of Cibola undertaken in 1540 written by Pedro de Castaeda de Nagera. In the same book is hand copied Pueblo Indians, the translation, in English and Spanish, of a document found in the Pueblo of San Juan, dated Mexico, May 25th, 1840.
Additions to the collection were processed in 1993 and 2004. The 1993 addition contains correspondence, receipts, and certificates, 1852-1889. The 2004 addition contains letters between Steck and his second wife-to-be, Elizabeth Wood, 1865-1867, along with some miscellaneous documents and correspondence, 1861-1875. The Steck/Wood letters shed light not only on their personal relationship, but also on Steck's impresions of New Mexico, and the social and political climate of the times.
Materials in this collection are in English and Spanish with some clippings in German.
Dates
- 1839-1933 (bulk 1852-1880)
Language of Materials
English Spanish German
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.
Biographical Information
Michael Steck, son of John and Elizabeth Steck, was born in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, on October 6, 1818. He attended the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and graduated in 1844. Steck practiced medicine in Mifflinville, Pennsylvania for a number of years before accepting an appointment from President Fillmore as Indian agent for the Mescalero Apache in Southeastern New Mexico in 1852. He was recalled by President Pierce, who later reappointed him to the post. In 1863 Steck was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for New Mexico Territory.
Steck strongly and bitterly opposed the Navajo Indian policy established by General Carleton. Frustrated by his inability to stop Carlton's campaign to relocate the Navajo, Steck retired from the Indian Service. He engaged in gold mining in New Mexico with Stephen B. Elkins, who later became U.S. Senator from West Virginia. Steck was successful in this venture but later lost his fortune in the Williamsport and North Branch Railroad, part of the Pennsylvania Railroad System, which he invested in after his return to Pennsylvania. He retired to a farm five miles from Winchester, Virginia, and there he died on October 6, 1880.
Steck strongly and bitterly opposed the Navajo Indian policy established by General Carleton. Frustrated by his inability to stop Carlton's campaign to relocate the Navajo, Steck retired from the Indian Service. He engaged in gold mining in New Mexico with Stephen B. Elkins, who later became U.S. Senator from West Virginia. Steck was successful in this venture but later lost his fortune in the Williamsport and North Branch Railroad, part of the Pennsylvania Railroad System, which he invested in after his return to Pennsylvania. He retired to a farm five miles from Winchester, Virginia, and there he died on October 6, 1880.
Extent
4 boxes (4.3 cu. ft.)
Abstract
The Steck Papers contain correspondence and business records relating to Steck's tenure as Indian Agent and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for New Mexico. Also contains records of his involvement with the New Mexico Mining Company and with railroad operations in Pennsylvania.
Collection Available Online
All of Box 1 and other portions of the Michael Steck Papers are available online via New Mexico's Digital Collections. Links to the digitized materials for each folder appear after the folder dates in this finding aid.
Separated Material
Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the years 1856, 1858, 1859, 1863, and 1864 were cataloged as government publications. See List of Reports.
List of Reports
- U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Report, 1856. Wash, A. O. P. Nicholson,1857.
- U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Report, 1858.Wash, Wm. A. Harris,1858.
- U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Report, 1859.Wash, George W. Bowman,1860.
- U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Report, 1863.Wash, Govt. Pr. Of. 1864.
- U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Report, 1864.Wash, Govt. Pr. Of. 1865.
Processing Information
Due to irreconcilable inconsistencies between finding aid and microfilm, microfilm will no longer be used to access this collection, as of February 2009
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Michael Steck Papers, 1839-1933 (bulk 1852-1880)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Described by D. Trujillo. Reprocessed by Twyla Reinig.
- Date
- ©2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 134 BC::Michael Steck Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss134bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu