ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #409
DATES: 1874-1976
SIZE: 5 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The Edward A. Milligan Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Maurice Robinson, Michigan, North Dakota, on May 25, 1977, and opened for research in March 1978 (Acc. #77-419).
ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
Edward Archibald Milligan was born on June 14, 1903, at Michigan, North Dakota, the son of Robert and Emma (von Evers Gennamt Behme) Milligan. He attended Mayville Teachers College in 1927, and then became a teacher of history and anthropology at the North Dakota School of Forestry in Bottineau, North Dakota from 1927-1934. Milligan conducted archaeological and ethnological research among American Indians in North Dakota from 1934- 1940.
He served in the U.S. Army from November 14, 1942, to September 2, 1945. Milligan served in the European theater, received the Bronze Star, and separated at the rank of Sergeant. After his separation, he attended the University of North Dakota, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1947. He also obtained a Master of Science degree in Education in 1948. From 1948-1972, he was head of social sciences and instructor at North Dakota State University in Bottineau. From 1972-1977, Milligan was curriculum coordinator of the Turtle Mountain School of Paramedical Technology in Bottineau.
Milligan's teaching, writing, and research centered around the history of American Indians in general, and the tribes of North Dakota in particular. In pursuit of this interest he was also associated with several anthropological digs in the Upper Midwest. He also served in an official capacity on several boards and commissions, including the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission.
Other interests of Milligan included the American Legion (North Dakota Department Commander); the Timberwolves (104th Infantry) Association (Past President); the Sondre Northern Fund, Inc. (Executive Director); and the North Dakota State Historical Board (Board member and President).
Edward Milligan died in 1977.
The Edward A. Milligan Papers date from 1874-1976 and are divided into six series as follows:
Series I: Correspondence
This series contains the correspondence of Edward A. Milligan. Topics covered
include Indian life, history and culture, Milligan's anthropological and
archaeological interests, his personal life, and his correspondence as
Executive Director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission from
1959-1963. The majority of the correspondence is incoming and is arranged
chronologically covering the years 1930-1976. Box 1, Folder 1 - Box 1,
Folder 22
Series II: Personal Material
Series II contains various personal materials. Important aspects of this series
include class and teaching material, subject files on the American Legion, the
Timberwolves (104th Infantry) Association, Exposition Press, Sondre Norheim,
and miscellaneous and related items. The files are arranged alphabetically by
subject title. Box 2, Folder 1 - Box 2, Folder 28
Series III: Indian Affairs Materials
This series deals essentially with Milligan's interest in Indian life, history,
and culture. Included are folders on Indian Affairs, land claims, treaties,
North Dakota Indian tribes, Indian artifacts and relics, etc. The series is
arranged alphabetically by subject title. Box 3, Folder 1 - Box 3, Folder
17
Series IV: Manuscripts
Series IV contains published and unpublished manuscripts and primary source
material written and collected by Milligan. The materials are separated by
subject, and cover such areas as anthropology, archaeology, history, Indian
life, the Timberwolves (104th Infantry Division), and miscellaneous and general
topics. Also included in this series are the original Letter Press copy books
of outgoing correspondence of the Indian Agent of the Standing Rock Agency,
1874-1880. Box 3, Folder 18 - Box 4, Folder 5, Security File Cabinet
Series V: Newspaper clippings
Series V contains newspaper clippings and articles relating to the various
interests of Milligan. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Box 4, Folder 6 - Box 4, Folder 17
Series VI: Photographs and oversize material
539 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph
Collection. This series contains photographs of various subjects, particularly
of Indian activities, especially those depicting the 1936 Sun Dance at Little
Eagle, South Dakota. The photographs are filed by broad subject category and
are arranged alphabetically. This series also contains two oversize folders
mainly comprising maps.
Box 1
Folder
SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE
Box 2
Folder
SERIES II: PERSONAL MATERIAL
Box 3
Folder
SERIES III: INDIAN AFFAIRS MATERIAL
Ledgers in the Fireproof File Cabinet
SERIES IV: MANUSCRIPTS
Box 4
Folder
SERIES V: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
539 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection. The photographs were divided into the following subjects:
SERIES VI: PHOTOGRAPHS AND OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Photographs
Oversize
Folder
| Original Donation | First Addition: 1861-1960 |
| Second Addition: 1936, 1949 |
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