LibGuides: Indigenous Tribes of Missouri: Missouri's Native Peoples

Seven Original Tribes of Missouri

Before the Indian Removal Act (1830) there were seven tribes in Missouri:

https://peacestudies.missouri.edu/di/tribes

Print Encyclopedias in the Library

Each of these encyclopedias can be found in the Reference section of the JCH Library. Reference materials are for in-house use only and cannot be checked out.

Encyclopedia of Native American History
ISBN: 9780816072507
Encyclopedia of Native American Wars and Warfare
ISBN: 0816033374
The Encyclopedia of Native American Religions
ISBN: 0816039496
The Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes
ISBN: 0787610852
Dictionary of Native American Mythology
ISBN: 0874366216

Government Documents

The Jefferson College library collection includes many books and government documents, both in the general collection and the Federal Depository Collection. To search for government documents use the online catalog Archway.

Slideshow

A delegation of members from the Oto Nation. National Archives Washington, D.C.; photograph by John K. Hillers, c. 1881–1907.

Women and children of the Osage Nation

Anna Brown (left) and Mollie Burkhardt (right) with their mother, Lizzie. Anna and her mother were murdered for their land during the infamous Osage Murders in the 1920s.

Helpful Databases

Below is a list of databases that may be useful for researching information about Native Americans. A complete alphabetical list of the library's database collection can be found on the library homepage under Find Articles >> A-Z.

American Indian Experience
Provides in-depth historical accounts and cultural information about the indigenous peoples of North America.
Academic Search Complete
Academic Search Complete offers an enormous collection of full-text journals, providing users access to critical information from many sources unique to this database. In addition, it includes peer-reviewed full text for STEM research, as well as for the social sciences and humanities. Scholarly content covers a broad range of important areas of academic study, including anthropology, engineering, law, sciences and more.
Masterfile Premier
Has many popular periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more. This database also contains reference books, primary source documents, and images including maps & flags. Contains the popular title Consumer Reports.
JSTOR
JSTOR consists entirely of scholarly journal articles from titles in various disciplines. Topics include: archeology, art & art history, Asian studies, biology, botany, business, ecology, economics, education, history, language & literature, law, music, psychology, political science, sociology, and more.
Issues & Controversies in History
Explore both sides of controversial issues in history with this Infobase database.
Britannica Online
Combines Encyclopædia Britannica and Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, periodicals, atlas, world data, the Classics, biographies, news, and multimedia.

Prominent Figures

Peter Bigheart, Chief of the Osage tribe, 1909 - Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; photograph by William J. Boag, c. 1909.

Osage Chief James Bigheart

Shauhaunapotinia, an Ioway Chief, hand-coloured lithograph by Charles Bird King, c. 1835. - SMU Central University Libraries

Missouri Life Magazine

This three-part series from Missouri Life magazine provides an overview of the history of the original tribes of Missouri.

Part 1: When the Osage and Missouria Reigned

Part 2: Things Fall Apart

Part 3: Homecoming

Terminology

Native Americans can be described using a number of terms. The following keywords can help you in your research process:

Keywords:

Native Americans
American Indians
Indians
First Nations
Indigenous Peoples
Specific Tribal Names (Osage, Cherokee, etc.)

Indigenous Tribes of Missouri: Missouri's Native Peoples

Missouri's Native Peoples

Getting Started