Wessel, Thomas R.

Dr. Thomas R. Wessel graduated from Iowa State University in History and earned his Master's and PhD degrees at the University of Maryland. He was professor of History and head of the Department of History and Philosophy at Montana State University before his retirement in the year 2000. He has authored numerous papers on the history of agriculture and American Indians and regularly published reviews for several professional publications. Dr. Wessel was retained as a researcher during the early 1970s to prepare a historical report on the Blackfeet Indian tribe for the Indian Claims Commission. While engaged in this activity he gathered the materials found in this collection.

In 1946, Congress passed the Indian Claims Commission Act as an independent agency to hear and determine claims against the United States by any tribe, band or other group of American Indians residing in the United States. Grievances of an Indian tribe were brought before the three member Commission (later expanded to five members) who were appointed by the president. Decisions were reviewed by the U.S. Court of Claims and the Supreme Court if necessary. Originally created for 10 years, the Commission lasted until 1978 when it was abolished. The U.S. Court of Claims took over pending cases. To establish its case, a tribe presented evidence about tribal history and culture by experts in anthropology, ethnology and history to establish that land claimed was rightfully attributed to that particular tribe. Tribal reservation records were also introduced. If the tribe was determined to have proven its case, the value of the land at the time the land was taken was decided and the U.S. Government paid the tribe compensation.