George Davenport Trading Post, 1835

The Indian trade ledgers collection, 1819-1979 (bulk 1819-1935), primarily includes eight original and two photocopied ledgers recording trade relations between settlers and Indigenous groups in the Upper Mississippi Valley. The trade ledgers list merchandise traded by Native Americans and settlers, such as food, work tools, and animals. Some ledgers also list inventories of merchandise in stock at the trading posts and accounts for money owed. The collection also includes a list of persons licensed to trade with Indian Nations by Thomas Forsythe, Agent of Indian Affairs, photographic slides of each page from the eight original trade ledgers, a speech by William D. Barge about Native American trade, and an academic paper by Aaron Backman about the trade ledgers.