Choctaw Chronology

Part I | Part II | Part IIII | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Part V 1918-1962
Recognized at last by the federal government, the Mississippi band of Choctaws began to receive assistance in their struggle with poverty. Lands were purchased by the United States Government for the tribe and literacy attained. But mistrust at the local level, caused at least in part by the proximity of two divergent cultures, has continued to be the source of disappointment.

1919 Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Francis E. Leuppp, boldly concluded that "The Indian problem has now reached a stage where its solution is almost wholly a matter of administration."

1920 The education program became a major operation among the Choctaws with the opening of Pearl River School, Tucker School, and Standing Pine School.

The Choctaw land Acquisition Program was begun.

1921 Dr. Frank J. McKinley began serving a five year term on November 8 as the first superintendent of the Choctaw Agency in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

1922 The Indian Bureau doubled its efforts to destroy native religions, holding that they were the great obstacle to acculturation.

Bogue Homa School was opened in Jones County near Hattiesburg.

1923 The committee of One Hundred surveyed the Indian situation.

1924 Citizenship granted by Congress to all Indians.

July 21: Agricultural Extension Program established.

1925 The Indian death rate continued to exceed the birth rate and the overall Indian economy was worsening.

Red Water School was opened as the second Choctaw school in Leake County.

1926 A thirty-five bed hospital was established for the Mississippi Choctaws at Philadelphia.

Dr. Robert J. Enochs served as superintendent to the Choctaw Agency from May 18, 1926 until June 1932.

1928 Publication of The Problem of Indian Administration by the Brookings Institution and a subsequent investigation by the Senate disclosed publicly the anti-Indian bias of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Conehatta School opened.

1929 Under the administration of Herbert Hoover, Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur and Indian Commissioner Charles J. Rhoades called for tribal corporate organization under statute.

1930 The Indian death rate began to decline.

Bogue Chitto School opened in the Bogue Chitto community.

1931 Tribes increased pressure on the federal government to "Enfranchise our societies". Policy statements were issued which went far to rectify decades of mistreatment of the Indians, but it would not be until the next administration before suggestions would become legislation.

1932 Mr. A.C. Hector served as superintendent to the Choctaw Agency from October 1932 until April 1938.

1933 March: Franklin Delano Roosevelt entered into office as President of the United States. John Collier became Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

1934 Indian Reorganization Act. These were its dominant features: (1) The Indian societies would be reorganized, (2) Provision was made for an Indian Civil Service, (3) Land allotment was stopped and the revestment of Indians with land was started, (4) A credit fund was established. This act was a complete reversal of acculturation and severalty efforts of nearly 50 years duration. Public Health Nursing Program began. January: First notation of an active 17-member Choctaw Business Committee holding an election. A detailed roster of the Temporary Tribal Council was complied as follows:

• Bob Henry, 36, Route 2, Philadelphia
• Houston Steve, 56, Route 4, Philadelphia
• Anthen Johnson, 26, Conehatta
• Pat Chitto, 67, Carthage
• Joe Chitto, 44, Walnut Grove
• Billy Nickey, 60, Heidelberg
• Dempsey Morris, 43, Route 2, Philadelphia
• Willie Solomon, 60, Conehatta
• Nicholas Bell, Route 7, Philadelphia
• Baxter York, Route 7, Philadelphia
• September 27: In Union the 104th anniversary of the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty in Mississippi representatives of the Choctaws met to complete the organization of the Mississippi Choctaw Indian Federation. On this date Reverend Ed Willis was installed as the first recognized chief since the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty.

1935 March 30: The Choctaws of Mississippi voted to accept the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act. Of 736 eligible voters, 218 voted to accept and 21 voted to reject.

1938 Mr. Lewis W. Page served as superintendent to the Choctaw Agency for one month until he was replaced by Mr. Harvy K. Meyer. Mr. Meyer remained superintendent until August 1940.

1939 June 21: An act authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to declare the lands in trust for the benefit of the Mississippi Choctaws.

1940 Mr. Archie McMullen served as superintendent to the Choctaw Agency from September until August 1951.

1942 As of February 11 seven Mississippi Choctaws had volunteered for service and six had been drafted to fight in World War II. One hundred and thirty-four were registered in the most recent registration.

1944 August: The proposed Choctaw Constitution was in Washington where minor legal details were being worked out in correspondence with the tribe.

December: A Proclamation issued by the Secretary of the Interior declaring the Choctaw lands to be in trust as an Indian Reservation.

In a proclamation dated December 4, 1944, 15,150 acres were declared to be an Indian Reservation for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The Revolving Credit Program began.

1945 Mississippi Choctaw Tribal Council organized under the act of 1934.

April 20: Qualified voters, who were twenty-one year old residents of Mississippi of one-half or more Choctaw Indian blood, held an election to vote on the adoption of a Constitution and By-Laws. Voting polls in the Bogue Chitto, Bogue Homa, Conehatta, Pearl River, Red Water, Tucker, and Standing Pine precincts were open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

May 22: The Constitution and By-Laws of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

June 16: The Temporary Choctaw Council in accordance with the Constitution called an election for the purpose of electing a sixteen member council to serve two years.

July 10: First regular meeting of the Choctaw Tribal Council. Joe Chitto of the Standing Pine Community was elected as Chairman.

1946 Congress created the Indian Claims Commission.

1947 August 20: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians held their second tribal council election. Emmett York was elected to his first term as Pearl River Councilman.

1949 Emmett York was elected Chairman of the Choctaw Tribal Council.

Hoover Commission recommended transfer to state government of social programs for Indians. Tribal termination was suggested.

October 29: The first Choctaw Indian Fair was held. Exhibits were displayed from the homes and farms of all the Choctaw communities in Mississippi. The five government schools from Carthage, Standing Pine, Tucker, Pearl River and Jones came together and held the fair at Pearl River School.

1950 The federal termination policy was given impetus with the statutory termination of several tribes by Congress.

Cleddie Bell became the first woman to serve on the Choctaw Tribal Council.

1952 May 5: The Social Services Program began. A home extension agent was assigned to word with the Mississippi Choctaw women. A full time dentist was assigned to the agency.

1955 The public health service assumed responsibility for the Indian health program. (Public Health Service Indian Hospital)

1956 The ardor for termination was subsiding. A home sanitation aid was assigned to the health staff of the Mississippi Choctaws.

June: Mr. Paul Vance was appointed as superintendent of the Choctaw Agency. He remained until 1962.

The first Choctaw Indian Princess, Patsy Sam Buffington, was selected at the Choctaw Indian Fair.

1957 July 1: Adult Education Program began.

1958 Secretary of Interior Seaton modified the federal termination policy.

1959 Pamela Coe did a research paper on the Mississippi Choctaws.

1960 July 1: Forestry Program began.

A film was produced by the Tennessee Conservation Commission entitled: "Chucalissa Indian Crafts", 16mm, sound/color which depicts step-by-step construction of a basket, pot, and blow gun by Mississippi Choctaws. (Tennessee later assigned all rights to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.)

1961 Mississippi Choctaw Tribal Chairman Phillip Martin, Emmett York and Tinsley John participated in the all-Indian meeting, June 13-20, for the purpose of drafting a "Declaration of Indian Purpose". Called the "American Indian Chicago Conference", it drew some 450 Indians from 90 tribes. The declaration was later presented to President John F. Kennedy.

1962 Choctaw communities in Mississippi: Bok Chito, Tucker, Red Water, Standing Pine, Conehatta, and Bok Homa. Rate of increase about 100 per year. Choctaws in Tennessee: 2 families in residence at Chucalissa Indian Village, Memphis; There was also small group at Ripley which had a Choctaw Preacher.

Continued