Trade folder: accounts of supplies issued to wagons, 1903-1904

Abstract

Trade folder from Department of Interior, U.S. Indian Service. Each page lists a description of transactions, with customer name, items purchased, and charges for those items.BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Sam Day, Sr. (1845-1925) arrived in Arizona in 1883 to survey extensions to eastern and southern boundaries of the Navajo reservation for the federal government. At the time his wife, Anna, and their three boys Sam, Jr. (1889-1944), Charles Day (1879-1918) and William remained in Colorado. The family joined Sam, Sr. in Arizona, where they staked out a homestead at Cienaga (Sinagee). He was elected to the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1906 and served two terms in the Arizona House. From 1920 until his death in 1925 he held the post of United States Indian Commissioner. Sam, Sr., moved from Sinagee in 1901. His Sinagee ranch became part of the St. Michaels Mission. He joined son Charlie at Bill Meadows trading post, but eventually moved to the mouth of Canyon de Chelly and with his sons, Sam, Jr. and William, established what was to become the famous Thunderbird Trading Post.Sam's sons also entered into the Indian trade. Charlie operated the Meadows trading post until his untimely death in an automobile accident in 1918. Charles was known for his strong interest in documenting Navajo culture. He took photographs as well as created field recordings. He served as Edward S. Curtis' interpreter during the photographers trip to the reservation. In 1903 Charlie was appointed custodian of Canyon De Chelly and Canyon del Muerto.Sam Day Jr., second son of Samuel Sr., in addition to his work as an Indian trader, served as United States deputy marshal. Sam Day Jr. married Kate Roanhorse daughter of chief Manuelito, in 1912. He, like his brother became submersed in Navajo culture. He participated in a University of Arizona archaelogical dig in 1926 and helped facilitate other university expeditions.For a fuller biographical account of the Day family see "Sam Day and His Boys: Good Neighbors to the Navajos," by Clifford Trafzer in Journal of Arizona History, Spring 1977.