Ely Samuel Parker was a Seneca Indian born on the Tonawanda Reservation in Indian Falls, NY. In his lifetime he would become Grand Sachem of the Six Nations, a Lieutenant General in the Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant and the first Native American Commissioner of Indian Affairs. In late 1870, during his time as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Parker was accused by William Welsh of defrauding the Government. This paper is looking at the accusations and investigation that followed to determine weather the they were based on factual evidence or racism. The historical significance of this event is that it has the possibility to show that even if Native Americans had assimilated to white culture they would not have been accepted into it.

-- Chipman, Norton. “Investigation Into Indian Affairs.” (1871): 1-18. Microfilm. Perry-

Castañeda Library. FILM 2596 REEL 107.

Investigation Into Indian Affairs is important because it gives the most detailed account of the investigation of Ely Parker as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. It also includes Parker's response to William Welsh’s accusations.

-- Parker, Ely S. “Ely Parker’s Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs

(1869).” Milestone Documents. http://www.milestonedocuments.com/.

“Ely Parker’s Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs (1869)” gives a good look into the way Parker ran things and acted as Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

-- Parker, Ely S. “Ely Parker’s Letter of Resignation as Commissioner of Indian Affairs

(1871).” Milestone Documents. http://www.milestonedocuments.com/.

“Ely Parker’s Letter of Resignation as Commissioner of Indian Affairs (1871)” gives a great look into the way Parker acted during this time of frustration.

Secondary Sources:
-- Armstrong, William. Warrior In Two Camps. Syracuse: Syracuse UP, 1978. Print.

Warrior In Two Camps gives a very detailed account of Ely Parker’s life and childhood. It also has a great bibliography that was very helpful in finding other sources.

-- Campbell Jr., Edward. “Caught Between Two Worlds.” American History 35 (Apr.

2006):1.

“Caught Between Two Worlds” is a great quick-reference biography of Parker.

-- “Ely Parker Biography: A Time of Crisis.” The Biography of Ely Parker.

http://www.pbs.org.

“Ely Parker Biography: A Time of Crisis” is a great source for some of the odd details of Parker’s life. Along with this it is a PBS document, and thus, is fairly reliable.

-- Gilmore, Gerry J. “Seneca Chief Fought Greed, Injustice.” American Forces Press

Service. http://www.defense.gov.

“Seneca Chief Fought Greed, Injustice” is important in that it gives more details on the life of Parker.

-- Parker, Arthur C. The Life of General Ely S. Parker: Last Grand Sachem of the Iroquois and General Grant’s Military Secretary. Buffalo: Buffalo Historical Society, 1919.

The Life of Gen. Ely S. Parker is important because it gives a very detailed look at the life of Ely Parker and a great walkthrough of Parker’s time as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Along with this it is the oldest book on Ely Parker, and thus, they had a closer line to Parker’s life.