Thomas Henry Tibbles papers - Omaha Ponca Relief Committee, 1880

Help us transcribe "Omaha Ponca Relief Committee, 1880" (Box 1, Folder 22) from the Thomas Henry Tibbles papers! Thomas Henry Tibbles (1840-1928) was as a journalist and lecturer on Indian rights from the 1870s until his death in 1928. His papers include articles, essays, correspondence, lectures and photographs. Of particular note are the documents related to his work on the Standing Bear (Ponca) vs. George Crook Habeas Corpus trial in 1879. During his time as a journalist for the Omaha Daily Herald Tibbles was instrumental in bringing the case of Standing Bear and the Ponca Indian people before the United States District Court at Fort Omaha. Standing Bear, along with thirty other Poncas, had returned to their home in Nebraska after being forcibly removed to Indian Territory 1878. They were being detained at the Omaha Reservation on an order from the Secretary of the Interior. Tibbles began to circulate the story of the plight of the Ponca to major newspapers gathering the support of the public. Eventually Tibbles had attorneys John L. Webster and A.J. Poppleton help Standing Bear petition the court with a writ of habeas corpus. On April 30, 1879 Judge Elmer Dundy declared that an Indian is a person within the law and that the Ponca were being held illegally, setting Standing Bear and the Ponca free. Following the trial, Tibbles continued to report on violations against Native American rights. On June 29, 1882, Tibbles married Susette "Bright Eyes" LaFlesche (Omaha), daughter of Joseph "Iron Eye" LaFlesche. Susette LaFlesche worked closely alongside Tibbles during the Standing Bear's trial in her role as chief interpreter. Together, LaFlesche, Tibbles and Standing Bear carried out a successful lecture tour in England and Scotland in 1886-1887 speaking on issues of Indian rights. LaFlesche became well known as an eloquent writer and orator. Some of her speeches and correspondence are also included in the Tibbles papers.