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Taos Blue Lake Collection, circa 1947 - 1972 (bulk 1965-1970): Inventory

MC106

Princeton University Public Policy Papers

Published in 2001.

© Princeton University Library

Summary Information

Creator:

Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.

Title and dates:

Taos Blue Lake Collection

1947 - 1972

bulk 1954-1970

Abstract:

Taos Pueblo lost thousands of acres of land as well as Taos Lake, a sacred Pueblo shrine, when Carson National Forest was created in 1906. After a sixty-four year fight, the government returned the land to the Pueblo. This collection brings together four discrete collections: the papers of Barbara Greene Kilberg, a White House Presidential Fellow at the time of the dispute; the papers of Corinne Locker, secretary to Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA) president Oliver LaFarge (1901-1963) and later AAIA Southwest Field Secretary; the papers of Rufus G. Poole, regional attorney for the AAIA in New Mexico, and the papers of William G. Schaab, an Albuquerque attorney who became involved in the fight in 1967.

Size:

9.87 Linear feet

23 archival boxes, 1 half-size archival box

Call number:

MC106

Location:

Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Public Policy Papers.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA

Language(s) of materials:

English

Storage note:

This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.

Biography/History

Taos Pueblo lost thousands of acres of land as well as Taos Lake, a sacred Pueblo shrine, when Carson National Forest was created in 1906. After a sixty-four year fight, the government returned the land to the Pueblo. This collection brings together four discrete collections: the papers of Barbara Greene Kilberg, a White House Presidential Fellow at the time of the dispute; the papers of Corinne Locker, secretary to Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA) president Oliver LaFarge (1901-1963) and later AAIA Southwest Field Secretary; the papers of Rufus G. Poole, regional attorney for the AAIA in New Mexico, and the papers of William G. Schaab, an Albuquerque attorney who became involved in the fight in 1967. (Oliver LaFarge's AAIA-related papers, including some related to Taos Blue Lake, can be found in the AAIA Archives.) In 1970 President Richard Nixon endorsed pending Blue Lake legislation; after the measure passed the Senate, Blue Lake and the surrounding wilderness were returned to the Taos Indians.

Description

Contains correspondence, memoranda, news releases, ledgers, and copies of bills and hearings documenting part of a land title dispute between the Taos Indians of New Mexico and the federal government. The Barbara Greene Kilberg Collection of White House Papers documents Kilberg's lobbying of the Nixon administration on behalf of the Pueblo and her efforts to end the strong opposition of New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson. Her papers include correspondence between White House administration and staff and the White House and members of Congress. The Corinne Locker Papers document her tenure in the AAIA with regard to the Blue Lake Case and the founding of the National Committee for Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands. Her papers contain a significant amount of correspondence regarding proposed Blue Lake Legislation as well as papers of the National Council of Churches, which replaced the AAIA as Taos Pueblo's Eastern representative. The Rufus G. Poole Papers include correspondence concerning his role as special attorney to the Pueblo and also document the founding of the National Committee for Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands. Significant correspondents include the Taos Pueblo Council and the Indian Claims Commission. The William C. Schaab Papers document the history of the dispute, particularly in relation to Senator Clinton Anderson, and contain publicity, records of congressional hearings, and correspondence with almost every principal individual involved in the case. Two boxes of miscellaneous photocopied material (bulk 1970-1972) include correspondence, legislative material, memoranda, reports, press releases, and articles.

Arrangement

This unprocessed collection is arranged alphabetically by individual's last name, and then loosely arranged by topic therein.

• Series 1: Barbara Greene Kilberg Collection of White House Papers, undated
• Series 2: Corinne Locker Papers, undated
• Series 3: Rufus G. Poole Papers, undated
• Series 4: William C. Schaab Papers, undated
• Series 5: Photocopies, undated

Access and Use

Access

Collection is open for research use.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Curator of the Public Policy Papers . Any copyright vested in Princeton University Library has passed to Princeton University; researchers are responsible for determining any other copyright questions.

Related Materials

Related Materials

Readers should be aware of other Princeton collections pertaining to the Blue Lake case, including the Association on American Indian Affairs Archive, which in turn includes the Oliver LaFarge Papers, Hildegarde B. Forbes Papers, and the Alden Stevens Papers.See also -- "The Return of Blue Lake to the Taos Pueblo" by William F. Deverell in the Princeton University Library Chronicle, Vol. XLIX, no. 1, Autumn 1987.

Processing and Other Information

Processing Information

This is an unprocessed collection. The contents list provided is a preliminary inventory.

Descriptive Rules Used

Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

Encoding

This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-04-18T11:45-0400

Language(s) of this Finding Aid

Finding aid written in English.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Taos Blue Lake Collection Papers, Box and Folder Number; Public Policy Papers, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Subject Headings

These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

• Association on American Indian Affairs.
• Taos Pueblo Council.
• United States. Indian Claims Commission.
• Indians of North America -- New Mexico -- History -- 20th century.
• Indians of North America -- New Mexico -- Land tenure -- 20th century.
• Indians, Treatment of -- New Mexico -- 20th century.
• Legal assistance to Indians -- New Mexico -- 20th century.
• Lobbyists -- United States -- 20th century -- Correspondence.
• Pueblos -- New Mexico -- Blue Lake -- 20th century.
• Taos Indians -- Government relations -- 1934-
• Taos Indians -- Land transfers -- 20th century.
• Blue Lake (N.M.) -- Claims -- 20th century.
• Blue Lake (N.M.) -- History, Local -- 20th century.
• Taos Pueblo (N.M.) -- Boundaries -- 20th century.
• Correspondence.
• Memorandums.
• Press releases.

Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:

• American history/20th century
• American politics and government
• Legal history
• Native American history

Contents List

1. Series 1: Barbara Greene Kilberg Collection of White House Papers, undated Description: Like other Taos Blue Lake collections at Princeton, the Bobbie Greene Collection of White House Papers documents part of an important land title dispute between the Taos Indians of New Mexico and the federal government. The 1906 creation of the Carson National Forest robbed Taos Pueblo of thousands of acres of land, including Blue Lake, a vital and sacred Pueblo religious shrine. After a fight of sixty-four years, the United States returned the disputed land to the Pueblo.This small manuscript collection pertains to the involvement of the Nixon administration in the case. Bobbie Greene, a graduate of Yale Law School, was serving as a White House Presidential Fellow when Blue Lake restoration legislation was pending in C ongress. From her position in the White House, Greene lobbied for administration support of the Pueblo and of the return of the sacred lands. She also endeavored to dissolve or mitigate the strident opposition of New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson (18 95-1975). Her efforts on behalf of the Taos Indians helped make administration support a reality: Nixon endorsed restoration legislation before Congress in July of 1970, and 48,000 acres of land, including Blue Lake, were shortly thereafter returned to th e Taos Indians. The Bobbie Greene Collection of White House Papers includes copies of correspondence and memoranda exchanged between various administration personnel and White House staff. Also included are documents pertaining to the history of the dispute, various policy statements and recommendations, and correspondence exchanged between the Nixon White House and various congressmen.

2. Administration, undated Description: Memoranda, statements, correspondence exchanged by White House and government officials regarding Indian policy and Taos Blue Lake.

   Box 1, Folder 1

3. Administration, undated

   Box 1, Folder 2

4. Vice Presidential Memorandum, undated Description: Memorandum prepared by Vice-President regarding U.S. Indian policy.

   Box 1, Folder 3

5. Taos Pueblo Briefing Book, undated Description: Documents, statements, miscellaneous newspaper articles prepared by White House staff in support of Taos Pueblo.

   Box 1, Folder 4

6. Administration to Senate, undated Description: Memoranda and correspondence from administration officials and staff seeking support for Taos Pueblo position.

   Box 1, Folder 5

7. Senate, undated Description: Miscellaneous correspondence and statements in support of and in opposition to proposed pieces of Blue Lake legislation.

   Box 1, Folder 6

8. Fragments/Undated Material, undated

   Box 1, Folder 7

9. Newspaper Comment, undated

   Box 1, Folder 8

10. Signing Ceremony H.R. 471, undated Description: Administration preparations for signing ceremony

    Box 1, Folder 9

11. Tribal Celebration, undated Description: Taos Pueblo celebration of Blue Lake victory, August 14-15, 1971.

    Box 1, Folder 10

12. Series 2: Corinne Locker Papers, undated Description: This collection of manuscript materials documents a significant part of the history of an important land title dispute between the Taos Pueblo Indians of northern New Mexico and the federal government. in creating tie Carson National Forest in 1906, Pr esident Theodore Roosevelt carved away thousands of acres of Taos Pueblo land. This land, viewed as sacred by the Indians, surrounded and included Blue Lake: a vital religious shrine in Pueblo religion. Sixty-four years passed before the United States ret urned the land to the Indians.Instrumental in the fight for the return of Blue Lake and the surrounding wilderness was Corinne Locker (1927 - ). Locker became involved in the Blue Lake case while serving as secretary to Oliver La Farge (1901-1963) in Santa Fe, during La Farge's tenure as President of the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA). At La Farge's death, Locker became Southwest Field Secretary for the Association and stepped up her involvement in the Blue Lake fight. in doing so, she worked closely with the members of Taos Pueblo, most notably Paul Bernal. When, in 1966, disputes arose between the Pueblo and its attorneys, Locker filed a report with the AA1A that addressed possible conflict of interest existing among lawyers for the tribe who also served on AAIA decision-making bodies. The report resulted in Locker's dismissal from her AAIA position.Shortly thereafter, Locker formed the National Committee for the return of the Blue Lake Lands in conjunction with Rufus Q. Poole, an Albuquerque attorney, Paul Bernal, and others. As Coordinator of the organization, Locker operated as an effective liaison from the tribe to the non-Taos world. The National Committee lobbied for congressional and administration support of Blue Lake's return to the Indians; it also engineered a fundraising and publicity drive. Locker also worked closely with William C. Schaab (1927- ), special attorney to the Pueblo in the Blue Lake campaign. Much of the work of the committee involved attempts to mitigate the opposition of New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson (1895-1975) and the United States Forest Service.The Nixon administration endorsed Blue Lake restoration legislation in the summer of 1970. Later that year, a bill returning 48,000 acres of land, including Blue Lake, was signed into law. Corinne Locker was honored for her efforts on behalf of Taos Pueblo at a subsequent ceremony in New Mexico.The Corinne Locker Papers, originals and copies alike, include the correspondence of Oliver La Farge in regards to AAIA involvement with the Blue Lake case; correspondence and documents relating to Locker's involvement as Southwest Field Secretary; materials in regards to Locker's report addressing possible conflict of interest among Pueblo attorneys; correspondence regarding the founding and functioning of the National Committee for the Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands; considerable correspondence r elating to proposed Blue Lake Legislation; materials related to the opposition of Senator Clinton P. Anderson, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Forest Service. There are also folders that pertain to miscellaneous activities of the AAIA in New Mexico and among the Pueblo Indians in particular. Locker's files were “working files,” and their organization, for that purpose, has been largely been maintained. Readers will perhaps find it helpful to first read through the entire guide.

13. A.A.I.A. Correspondence, 1947-1963 Description: OLIVER LA FARGE Papers and correspondence of Oliver La Farge (1901-1963), President of the Association on American Indian Affairs, regarding Taos Pueblo and early involvement with Blue Lake case.

    Box 2, Folder 1

14. A.A.I.A. Blue Lake, 1963-1964 Description: Correspondence and papers regarding Blue Lake, primarily from A.A.I.A. Southwest Field Secretary Corinne Locker.

    Box 2, Folder 2

15. A.A.I.A. Blue Lake Brochure, undated

    Box 2, Folder 3

16. A.A.I.A. Blue Lake, 1965 Description: Correspondence regarding A.A.I.A. position and decision of U.S. Indian Claims Commission September 1965).

    Box 2, Folder 4

17. A.A.I.A. Claims Case, undated Description: Correspondence and papers regarding history of Taos Pueblo Blue Lake case before United States Indian Claims Commission.

    Box 3, Folder 1

18. A.A.I.A. Blue Lake, 1966 Description: Correspondence regarding proposed Blue Lake legislation.

    Box 3, Folder 2

19. Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, undated Description: Hearings on proposed Blue Lake legislation.

    Box 3, Folder 3

20. Congressional Hearings, undated

    Box 3, Folder 4

21. Senator Clinton Anderson, undated Description: Correspondence regarding views of New Mexico Senator Clinton Anderson; Anderson's sponsor ship of Senate bills, opposition to Taos Pueblo claims.

    Box 3, Folder 5

22. Senator Clinton Anderson, undated Description: Correspondence, publicity relating to Anderson bills in Senate and House bills of Rep. James A. Haley

    Box 3, Folder 6

23. Representative James A. Haley, undated Description: Correspondence regarding Haley's sponsorship of Blue Lake bills in House of Representatives.

    Box 3, Folder 7

24. A.A.I.A. Report on Conflict of Interest, undated Description: Correspondence regarding report by A.A.I.A. Southwest Field Secretary Corinne Locker: “The Association and the Taos Blue Lake.”

    Box 4, Folder 1

25. A.A.I.A. Blue Lake, 1967 Description: Correspondence relating to views of Senator Clinton Anderson; correspondence regarding dispute between A.A.I.A. and Corinne Locker.

    Box 4, Folder 2

26. National Council of Churches, undated Description: Correspondence regarding N.C.C. support for Taos Pueblo; correspondence regarding Pueblo special attorney William C. Schaab.

    Box 4, Folder 3

27. New Mexico Council of Churches, undated Description: Correspondence regarding position of N.M. Council of Churches.

    Box 4, Folder 4

28. Opposition, undated Description: Opposition to Taos Pueblo position expressed by various organizations and individuals.

    Box 4, Folder 5

29. National Committee, undated Description: Correspondence regarding formation and aims of National Committee for the Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands.

    Box 4, Folder 6

30. National Committee, undated

    Box 4, Folder 7

31. National Committee, undated

    Box 4, Folder 8

32. Legal Counsel, undated Description: Correspondence regarding Taos Pueblo legal counsel in Blue Lake case, primarily that of William C. Schaab.

    Box 5, Folder 1

33. Legal Counsel, undated

    Box 5, Folder 2

34. Rufus Poole, undated Description: Correspondence regarding Rufus G. Poole, Taos Pueblo liaison to Senator Clinton Anderson.

    Box 5, Folder 3

35. Interior Department, undated Description: Interior Department positions, statements and correspondence regarding Taos Blue Lake.

    Box 5, Folder 4

36. U.S. Forest Service, undated Description: Forest Service positions, statements and correspondence regarding Taos Blue Lake.

    Box 5, Folder 5

37. Administration, undated Description: Correspondence and documents regarding Nixon Administration position on Taos Blue Lake.

    Box 5, Folder 6

38. Congressmen. Miscellaneous, undated Description: Statements and correspondence regarding positions of various congressional representatives.

    Box 5, Folder 7

39. Legislation, undated Description: Miscellaneous Blue Lake legislation proposals and revisions, 1955-1970.

    Box 5, Folder 8

40. Congressional Hearings, 1968 Description: Documents, statements and correspondence regarding proposed Blue Lake bills.

    Box 6, Folder 1

41. Congressional Hearings, 1969 Description: Documents, statements and correspondence regarding H.R. 471.

    Box 6, Folder 2

42. Congressional Hearings, 1970 Description: Documents, statements and correspondence regarding S. 750, H.R. 471.

    Box 6, Folder 3

43. Senate, undated Description: Documents, correspondence and statements regarding Senate bills and individual positions.

    Box 6, Folder 4

44. Senate, undated Description: Documents, correspondence and statements regarding Senate bills and individual positions.

    Box 6, Folder 5

45. Congressional Records and Reports, undated Description: On H.R. 3306, S. 1624, S. 1625.

    Box 7, Folder 1

46. Position Statements, undated Description: Various position statements and documents in support of Taos Pueblo.

    Box 7, Folder 2

47. Legal Authorities, undated Description: Documents regarding Taos Pueblo legal position.

    Box 7, Folder 3

48. Precedent Issue, undated Description: Documents, correspondence and statements regarding question of legal precedence set by Blue Lake legislation.

    Box 7, Folder 4

49. Editorial and Columns, undated

    Box 7, Folder 5

50. Endorsements - Individuals, undated

    Box 8, Folder 1

51. Endorsements - Organizations, undated

    Box 8, Folder 2

52. Endorsements - Tribes, undated

    Box 8, Folder 3

53. Promotional Materials, undated

    Box 8, Folder 4

54. Promotional Materials, undated

    Box 8, Folder 5

55. Publicity, 1956 July-1969 December

    Box 8, Folder 6

56. Publicity, 1970 January-1970 December

    Box 8, Folder 7

57. Publicity, 1971 January-1971 August

    Box 8, Folder 8

58. Publicity, 1972

    Box 8, Folder 9

59. Publicity - Fragments and Undated, undated Description: (Note: See Oversize Publicity items)

    Box 8, Folder 10

60. Publicity, 1970 December

    Box 8, Folder 11

61. News Media, undated

    Box 9, Folder 1

62. News Releases, undated

    Box 9, Folder 2

63. Individuals. Miscellaneous, undated

    Box 9, Folder 3

64. Organizations, undated Description: Correspondence and documents regarding support for Taos Pueblo by various organizations.

    Box 9, Folder 4

65. Donations, undated

    Box 9, Folder 5

66. Donations, undated

    Box 9, Folder 6

67. Fundraising, undated

    Box 10, Folder 1

68. Mailing Lists and Addresses, undated

    Box 10, Folder 2

69. Miscellaneous Notes, undated

    Box 10, Folder 3

70. Blue Lake Area, 1971-1972 Description: Correspondence and documents regarding Taos Pueblo and Blue Lake area following return of Blue Lake lands.

    Box 10, Folder 4

71. Vital Statistics, undated Description: Notes and statistics regarding Taos Pueblo and Blue Lake case.

    Box 10, Folder 5

72. Maps, undated

    Box 10, Folder 6

73. Vouchers - Regular, undated

    Box 10, Folder 7

74. Vouchers - Special, undated

    Box 10, Folder 8

75. Vouchers - Correspondence, undated

    Box 10, Folder 9

76. Fund Accounts, undated

    Box 11, Folder 1

77. Fund Accounts, undated

    Box 11, Folder 2

78. Fund Accounts, undated

    Box 11, Folder 3

79. Printer's Plates. Commemorative Brochure, undated

    Box 11, Folder 4

80. Proposed Commemorative Booklet, undated

    Box 11, Folder 5

81. National Committee: Stationary Envelopes, undated

    Box 11, Folder 6

82. A.A.I.A. Newsletters, undated Description: Miscellaneous newsletters of the American Association on Indian Affairs.

    Box 12, Folder 1

83. A.A.I.A. Southwest Office Miscellaneous, 1961-1965

    Box 12, Folder 2

84. A.A.I.A. Southwest Office Miscellaneous, 1966

    Box 12, Folder 3

85. A.A.I.A. Southwest Office Miscellaneous, 1967

    Box 12, Folder 4

86. A.A.I.A. Southwest Office Miscellaneous, 1967

    Box 12, Folder 5

87. Taos Pueblo Miscellaneous, undated Description: Miscellaneous notes, correspondence and documents regarding A.A.I.A. and Taos Pueblo.

    Box 12, Folder 6

88. Accounting Ledger, undated

    Box 12, Folder 7

89. Paid Bills, 1965

    Box 13

90. Bank Statements, 1966

    Box 13

91. Water Adjudication, undated

    Box 13

92. Checkbook, undated

    Box 13

93. Key, undated

    Box 13

94. Rubber Stamp, undated

    Box 13

95. Bank Statements, undated

    Box 13

96. Checkbook Ledger (Black), undated

    Box 13

97. Corinne Locker Diary, undated

    Box 13

98. Long Distance Telephone Call Book, 1968 June

    Box 13

99. Check Ledger (Black), undated

    Box 13

100. Check Ledger (Blue), undated

     Box 13

101. Oversize: Publicity Placard (2), undated Description: “Benefit for Blue Lake”

     Box 13

102. Oversize: Blue Lake Defense Fund Placard, undated

     Box 13

103. Series 3: Rufus G. Poole Papers, undated Description: Like other Taos Blue Lake collections at Princeton, the Rufus G. Poole Papers chronicle a portion of the fight by New Mexico's Taos Indians to regain land taken from them in the 1906 creation of the Carson National Forest.Rufus G. Poole (1902 - 1968), a New York attorney who had settled in New Mexico for health reasons, was a regional attorney for tie Association on American Indian Affairs when the Pueblo retained him as a special liaison to Senator Clinton P. Anderson (1895-1975') in 1966. Anderson, a powerful New Mexico Senator, was opposed to congressional legislation which would return large amounts of land to the Pueblo directly; his opposition was enough to keep Blue Lake restoration legislation bottled up in Senate committees. Poole was hired to mollify Anderson's strident opposition. Not until President Richard Nixon issued an endorsement of the Blue Lake restoration bill in 1970, however, was the Pueblo able to see its long fight come to a successful end.The Rufus G. Poole Papers include copies of Poole's correspondence regarding the Blue Lake case and his role as special attorney to the Pueblo. Also included are copies of materials relating to Poole's role as a founding member of the National Committee for the Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands. Poole and other Pueblo supporters founded the National Committee in 1967, following a break with the Association on American Indian Affairs, included in the collection are copies of correspondence exchanged between Poole and William C. Schaab (1927--), tie Albuquerque attorney who replaced Poole as special attorney (at Poole's suggestion). Documentation regarding tie history of the Blue Lake case, contained in Box 3, was prepared by Schaab.

104. A.A.I.A. Correspondence: S.3085, undated Description: Correspondence regarding Senate Bill 3085 and Rufus G. Poole's role as Pueblo liaison to New Mexico Senator Clinton Anderson.

     Box 14, Folder 1

105. A.A.I.A. Correspondence: S.3085, H.R.15184, Amendments, undated Description: Correspondence regarding proposed Blue Lake legislation and Poole's role as liaison to Anderson.

     Box 14, Folder 2

106. Indian Claims Commission Findings, undated Description: Correspondence regarding I.C.C. findings in favor of Taos Pueblo (September 1965).

     Box 14, Folder 3

107. Memorandum H.R. 3306, undated Description: Memorandum and appendix on proposed legislation; prepared by William C. Schaab.

     Box 14, Folder 4

108. Omnibus Legislation, undated Description: Indian policy legislation proposed by Bureau of Indian affairs.

     Box 14, Folder 5

109. Regulations on Rights of Way, undated Description: Association on American Indian Affairs memorandum regarding proposed changes in rights of way regulations governing Indian lands.

     Box 14, Folder 6

110. Working File For Amendments, undated Description: Correspondence, documents, clippings regarding Taos Blue Lake legislation.

     Box 14, Folder 7

111. Supporting Organizations and Editorials, undated

     Box 14, Folder 8

112. S.1624, H.R.3306, undated

     Box 14, Folder 9

113. Corinne Locker Controversy, undated Description: Correspondence and documents regarding A.A.I.A. dispute with Southwest Field Secretary Corinne Locker.

     Box 14, Folder 10

114. Correspondence to April 1967, undated

     Box 14, Folder 11

115. Correspondence to October 1968, undated

     Box 15, Folder 1

116. Hearings, Memoranda, Background, undated

     Box 15, Folder 2

117. Hearings, Memoranda, Background, undated

     Box 16, Folder 1

118. Taos Blue Lake Documents, 1903-1940 Size: bound Description: Prepared by William C. Schaab.

     Box 16

119. Taos Blue Lake Documents, 1941-1959 Size: bound Description: Prepared by William C. Schaab.

     Box 16

120. Taos Indians, undated

     Box 17

121. Taos Blue Lake Archive, undated

     Box 17

122. Series 4: William C. Schaab Papers, undated Description: Like other Taos Blue Lake collections at Princeton, the William C. Schaab Papers chronicle a portion of the history of the Blue Lake land title dispute. In creating the Carson National Forest in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt carved away thousands of acres of land belonging to the Taos Pueblo Indians in northern New Mexico. Sixty-four years later, Congress passed a bill returning the land, including sacred Blue Lake, to the tribe.William C. Schaab (1927- ) was an attorney in a large Albuquerque law firm when he entered the fight for Blue Lake in 1967. At the suggestion of Rufus G. Poole, already an attorney for the tribe, Schaab was retained as special attorney (ostensibly to replace Poole, who was in ill health). Though Schaab accepted the position reluctantly, he soon turned out to be invaluable to the cause. He quickly prepared detailed documentation of the history of the Pueblo's fight for Blue Lake restoration, deflecting point by point the objections raised by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service.While restoration legislation was continually bottled up in the Senate (after passing the House several times), largely because of the powerful opposition of New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson, Schaab was instrumental in seeking White House contacts in support of restoration. His efforts and those of the National Committee for the Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands proved successful, as President Richard Nixon issued a strong endorsement of pending Blue Lake restoration legislation in July of 1970. Shortly thereafter, the measure passed the Senate, and Blue Lake and its surrounding wilderness were returned to the Taos Indians.The Schaab papers contain documents prepared by Schaab which analyze the history of the dispute. Also included are Schaab's correspondence files which contain exchanges with nearly every principal individual involved in the Blue Lake case, friend and foe of the Pueblo alike. Publicity regarding the case is present, as are official records of congressional hearings on proposed legislation.Readers should be aware of other pertinent Princeton collections, including: the Corinne Locker Papers, the Bobbie Greene Collection of White House Papers, the Rufus G. Poole Papers, the archives of the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), an d the AAIA files of Oliver La Farge.

123. Taos Attorney Contract, 1968

     Box 18, Folder 1

124. Taos Pueblo Correspondence, 1968

     Box 18, Folder 2

125. Taos Pueblo Memorandum, undated

     Box 18, Folder 3

126. Taos Attorney Contract, 1969

     Box 18, Folder 4

127. Taos Pueblo Correspondence, 1969

     Box 18, Folder 5

128. Taos Pueblo Correspondence, 1970s

     Box 19, Folder 1

129. Hearings: S.3085, undated

     Box 19, Folder 2

130. Hearings: H.R. 3306, S. 1624, S.1625, undated

     Box 19, Folder 3

131. H.R. 3306, Bills and Amendments, Committee Reports, undated

     Box 19, Folder 4

132. H.R. 3306, S-1624, S.1625. Committee Statements, undated

     Box 19, Folder 5

133. H.R. 3306, S.1624, S.1625, Bills and Amendments, undated

     Box 20, Folder 1

134. Hearings, Statements: H.R.3306, S.1624, S.1625, undated

     Box 20, Folder 2

135. S-1624, S.1625 Hearings Materials, undated

     Box 20, Folder 3

136. H.R. 3306, S.1524, S.1625, Post-Hearing Documents, undated

     Box 20, Folder 4

137. Taos Bill-Drafts, undated

     Box 20, Folder 5

138. H.R. 471, undated

     Box 20, Folder 6

139. S.750, H.R.471: Bills, Hearings, Correspondence, undated

     Box 20, Folder 7

140. S.750, H.R.471: Bills, Hearings, Correspondence, undated

     Box 20, Folder 8

141. Newspaper Clippings/Publicity, undated

     Box 21, Folder 1

142. Miscellaneous Clippings/Publicity, undated

     Box 21, Folder 2

143. Miscellaneous Clippings/Publicity, undated

     Box 21, Folder 3

144. Editorial Comment, undated

     Box 21, Folder 4

145. Department of Agriculture Comments, undated

     Box 21, Folder 5

146. National Committee, undated Description: Correspondence and documents regarding activities of the National Committee for the Restoration of the Blue Lake Lands; William C. Schaab's role as special attorney to Taos Pueblo.

     Box 21, Folder 6

147. Tribal Comment, undated

     Box 21, Folder 7

148. Organizations: Comment, undated

     Box 21, Folder 8

149. Wilderness Area, undated

     Box 21, Folder 9

150. Taos Pueblo Anthropological Reports, undated Description: Various anthropological data regarding Taos Pueblo and significance of Blue Lake.

     Box 21, Folder 10

151. Special Use Permit, undated

     Box 22, Folder 1

152. National Council on Indian Opportunity, undated Description: Miscellaneous documents and correspondence regarding N.C.I.O. position towards administration Indian policy.

     Box 22, Folder 2

153. Miscellaneous, undated

     Box 22, Folder 3

154. Series 5: Photocopies, undated

     Box 23, Box 24

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