.MTM3OA.Njk4OQ

[Begining of Handwritten Text] II Received with manuscript 6/42. M.C.F. [EndHandwritten Text]

Report on the "Indian Project".

The research work, in compiling a history of the Maine Indians, for the Department of Health and Welfare, under whose direction, the two Indian Tribes in Maine now find themselves, continues slowly.

For the past seven weeks, the Council Reports, from 1820 to 1850, containing the petitions, communications and remonstrances of the Indians, and important and indispensable information from their Agents, have been studied, and the material classified. Notes have been taken on valuable information found therein, and these notes added to those already collected from time to time, while unearthing material.

This project is still in the first phase - that of unearthing the material. There remain 40 years of Council Reports to be annotated. It is impossible to compile this work, without having the knowledge at hand, and at the present time the Council Reports are in manuscript form, filed at the top of a two story vault.

Due to the Legislature being in session, the worker on this project Miss Dorothy Snow, has been unable to work at the State House. All of the material needed, except the Council Reports already annotated, is to be found at the State House, in volumes and files, which cannot be removed from the building. This has slowed up the work considerably, and makes it difficult to obtain the desired results.

Scattered information has been gathered, from various sources in the library. There is still material in the State Department, Treasury, Land office, Forestry Department, Educational Department, to be compiled. All of this must be reduced to a workable medium, involving considerable time and labor.

The facts should be compiled systematically, year

by year, department by department.

It is essential that the Council

Reports from 1850 on, be typewritten, so that the material in them, will

�