In The Hoop
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

Maybe they needed a Deputy Secretary for Indian Affairs
In case you haven't noticed, Ann DeFrange of The Daily Oklahoman has written some fascinating columns about U.S. Indian Service records made public over the years. She reports on some rather interesting documents pertaining to Olympic hero and Sac and Fox tribal member Jim Thorpe.

One document shows a worried father seeking for federal agents to send his son away to school, according to DeFrange. "He went to Haskell but I think it better one of the former places so he cannot run a way," his father wrote in 1903. "He is 16 years old and I cannot do anything with him."

It appears Indian agents took up the suggestion. Thorpe eventually attended Carlisle Indian School where he honed some of his athletic prowess.

But the feds weren't so pleased with Thorpe's international aspirations. The same year he led the Carlisle team to the national collegiate championship, where he scored 25 touchdowns and 198 points, he was set to attend the Olympics.

Documents, however, show that Thorpe had to beg for $100 to be released from his Individual Indian Money (IIM) account. Thorpe's letter reads: "Dear Sir, Please send me $100 Dollars from my account or funds. Will need same this summer in taking trip to Sweden with Olympic team. Very Respectfully, James Thorpe."

What was the Department of Interior's reply on June 11, the day before Thorpe left for the Games? "Have no authority to wire Thorp money," the telegraph said.

Eventually, the precursor to the Bureau of Indian Affairs coughed up $25 on Thorpe's departure date but with this suggestion: "I understand that a trip to Sweden might be of considerable benefit to the young man, but I am strongly convinced that instead of being a benefit it will be a detriment."

And while King Gustav V of Sweden told Thorpe he was the "greatest athlete in the world," the Indian Service wasn't impressed. Thorpe's attempt to gain control of his trust assets led to criticism even though he won two Olympic medals.

"I am personally acquainted with the applicant, wrote Agent Horace Johnson in 1913. "To the best of my knowledge he has accumulated no property. He is not industrious. His reputation is not good. It is reported that he is addicted to the use of intoxicants . . ."

DeFrange's observations: "It has something to do with treatment of Indians in those years. It has nothing to do with the fact that today Jim Thorpe would be making millions, dating Jennifer Lopez and appearing on late-night talk shows."

The records DeFrange examined are available at the archives of the Oklahoma Historical Society. They were made public eight years ago.

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