Francis Cushman Wilson Papers on Pueblo Legal Issues
Collection
Identifier: MSS-304-BC
Scope and Content
Pamphlet prepared by the Indian Rights Association. (Box 1, Folder 7).
This collection focuses on Pueblo Indian legal issues that Francis Wilson was involved with as a private attorney, following his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Pueblo Indians. Government publications on Pueblo Indian lands, prohibition, irrigation, and Indian schools form the bulk of this collection. Additionally, there is a transcript of the New Mexico Supreme Court Case,Pueblo of Taos v. A.R. Mabry, et al., settling discrepancies concerning the Antonio Martinez land grant. Other publications, pamphlets, flyers, and news clippings support these themes, as well as oil on the Navajo reservation, Indian welfare, reorganization of the United States Indian Service, and Dr. Edgar L. Hewett's position on the Pueblo Indians. There is a directory of Indian schools in New Mexico, containing data such as teachers names and number of students, as well as one piece of correspondence from Wilson to his wife, when Wilson went to Washington D.C. with a delegation of Pueblo Indians (1913).
This collection focuses on Pueblo Indian legal issues that Francis Wilson was involved with as a private attorney, following his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Pueblo Indians. Government publications on Pueblo Indian lands, prohibition, irrigation, and Indian schools form the bulk of this collection. Additionally, there is a transcript of the New Mexico Supreme Court Case,Pueblo of Taos v. A.R. Mabry, et al., settling discrepancies concerning the Antonio Martinez land grant. Other publications, pamphlets, flyers, and news clippings support these themes, as well as oil on the Navajo reservation, Indian welfare, reorganization of the United States Indian Service, and Dr. Edgar L. Hewett's position on the Pueblo Indians. There is a directory of Indian schools in New Mexico, containing data such as teachers names and number of students, as well as one piece of correspondence from Wilson to his wife, when Wilson went to Washington D.C. with a delegation of Pueblo Indians (1913).
Dates
- 1913-1956
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biographical Information
Francis Cushman Wilson was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 8, 1876. He was educated in the public schools in Winchester, and then entered Harvard as a member of the class of 1898. His studies at Harvard were interrupted in the middle of his senior year, when he volunteered with the army at the beginning of the Spanish American War. After the war, Wilson worked in the securities business in New York and Boston, and in 1900, moved to Washington D.C. to work for the Department of the Interior. While in Washington, he began studying law at the Columbian Law School, graduating with his LL.B. in 1903.
In 1907, Wilson came to Santa Fe as part of a team of federal officials investigating fraudulent mining patents on federal lands. Following the investigation, Federal Judge John R. McFie appointed Wilson clerk of the Federal District Court of the First District of the Territory of New Mexico. During his clerkship, Wilson formed a partnership with Judge Richard Hanna in a private law practice. The partnership lasted until 1912, when Hanna was elected to the Supreme Court.
Wilson resigned his clerk position in 1909, to become U.S. attorney for the Pueblo Indians. During his tenure in this position, Wilson represented Indian interests in a variety of matters, including suits to quiet title to Pueblo lands, to eject squatters, and to safeguard Indian access to water. He also represented Pueblo interests regarding whether or not the Pueblo Indians were subject to state regulation and taxation.
Wilson resigned his position as Indian attorney in the fall of 1914, when he was nominated to Congress on the progressive ticket. Following his loss in this election, he returned to private practice, but remained involved with Indian issues. He was retained by several organizations to testify against and help defeat the Bursum Bill (also known as the Pueblo Lands Bill), and to draft a substitute bill.
Wilson's career included appointments to the Committee on Conservation and Administration of the Public Domain; River Commissioner of New Mexico (1927-1931); Secretary of the Colorado River Commission (1927-1932), member of the Rio Grande Compact Commission (1928-1932) and member of the National Chamber of Commerces Committee on Interstate Compacts (1936).
In 1938, oil was struck on some lands in Lea County where Wilson held oil leases. He quickly organized and became very involved with the Wilson Oil Company. Declining health forced him to retire from active legal practice in 1942. Francis Cushman Wilson died in Santa Fe on January 17, 1952.
In 1907, Wilson came to Santa Fe as part of a team of federal officials investigating fraudulent mining patents on federal lands. Following the investigation, Federal Judge John R. McFie appointed Wilson clerk of the Federal District Court of the First District of the Territory of New Mexico. During his clerkship, Wilson formed a partnership with Judge Richard Hanna in a private law practice. The partnership lasted until 1912, when Hanna was elected to the Supreme Court.
Wilson resigned his clerk position in 1909, to become U.S. attorney for the Pueblo Indians. During his tenure in this position, Wilson represented Indian interests in a variety of matters, including suits to quiet title to Pueblo lands, to eject squatters, and to safeguard Indian access to water. He also represented Pueblo interests regarding whether or not the Pueblo Indians were subject to state regulation and taxation.
Wilson resigned his position as Indian attorney in the fall of 1914, when he was nominated to Congress on the progressive ticket. Following his loss in this election, he returned to private practice, but remained involved with Indian issues. He was retained by several organizations to testify against and help defeat the Bursum Bill (also known as the Pueblo Lands Bill), and to draft a substitute bill.
Wilson's career included appointments to the Committee on Conservation and Administration of the Public Domain; River Commissioner of New Mexico (1927-1931); Secretary of the Colorado River Commission (1927-1932), member of the Rio Grande Compact Commission (1928-1932) and member of the National Chamber of Commerces Committee on Interstate Compacts (1936).
In 1938, oil was struck on some lands in Lea County where Wilson held oil leases. He quickly organized and became very involved with the Wilson Oil Company. Declining health forced him to retire from active legal practice in 1942. Francis Cushman Wilson died in Santa Fe on January 17, 1952.
Extent
1 box (.5 cu. ft.)
- Alcohol -- Law and Legislation -- New Mexico
- Antonio Martinez Land Grant (N.M.)
- Hewett, Edgar L. (Edgar Lee), 1865-1946
- Indians of North America -- Alcohol Use -- New Mexico
- Indians of North America -- Education -- New Mexico
- Pueblo Indians -- Education -- History
- Pueblo Indians -- Government Relations
- Pueblo Indians -- Land Tenure
- Pueblo Indians -- Legal Status, Laws, etc.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Francis Cushman Wilson Papers on Pueblo Legal Issues, 1913-1956 (bulk 1917-1930)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by B. Silbergleit
- Date
- ©1999
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- 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 304 BC::Francis Cushman Wilson Papers on Pueblo Legal Issues)//EN" "nmu1mss 304 bc.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