Welch Dakota Papers

The Col. A.B. Welch Dakota Papers is an extensive digital collection that preserves the rich oral histories and experiences of Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Mandan, Arikara, and Hidatsa, primarily from the mid to late 1800s. Compiled by Col. A.B. Welch, a soldier and friend of Native American communities, this collection features over 4,000 pages of interviews, documents, and photographs that offer unique insights into the lives and stories of indigenous warriors and communities during a transformative period in American history.

Raised on a South Dakota homestead and adopted by the Sioux tribe in 1913, Welch gained the trust of many Native leaders, often engaging in one-on-one conversations which yielded invaluable firsthand accounts. His papers detail pivotal events, including the last Indian campaigns and cultural exchanges, as well as documents related to his military service. The collection is meticulously edited by his grandnephew, Everett R. Cox, and provides an essential resource for understanding Native American heritage and history in the context of American expansion.