Samuel M. McCowan papers and photographs relating to Indigenous schools, 1894-1904

Correspondence, loose manuscript and typescript pages, a scrapbook, and two photograph albums related to Samuel M. McCowan’s time as superintendent of the Phoenix Indian School in Phoenix, Arizona, and efforts creating the “Model Indian School” exhibit as part of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis, Missouri, 1894-1904

Circa 118 photographs in 2 photograph albums show students of the Phoenix Indian School. A scrapbook with photographs, press releases, and newspaper clippings related to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition documents McCowan’s exhibit and the work completed by students of the Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma. Included is a draft of a speech by McCowan regarding Indigenous education, as well as “Asakeeta” and “A Tale of the Cataract” (essays likely relayed to McCowan by a Samuel Beecher).