Earl Coffman Papers
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6199s0j9 No online items Earl Coffman Papers Jon M. Fletcher Agua Caliente Cultural Museum 901 E Tahquitz Canyon Way Ste C-204 Palm Springs, California 92262 Phone: (760) 778-1079 Fax: (760) 322-7724 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.accmuseum.org/ (c) 2009 Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. All rights reserved. Earl Coffman Papers 2006.046 1 Earl Coffman Papers Accession number: 2006.046 Agua Caliente Cultural Museum ACCM Archives Palm Springs, California Processed by: Jon M. Fletcher Date Completed: 04/13/2005 Encoded by: Jon M. Fletcher (c) 2009 Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Earl Coffman Papers Dates: 1923-1949 Accession number: 2006.046 Creator: Coffman, Earl Collector: Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Collection Size: 2.1 linear feet500 items Repository: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Palm Springs, California 92262 Abstract: Correspondence, telegrams, transcripts, and other documentation created and/or collected between the years 1923-1949, pertaining to relations between the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians. The Indian Affairs Committee, a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce, was made up of non-Indian business owners who organized their interests through pooled resources. Phil Swing, the subcommittee's lawyer, pursued the group's interests at the national level in Washington D.C. Earl Coffman, son of Nellie Coffman, acted as president. Notable events recorded include the attempts of the Chamber of Commerce to seize control of the Indian Canyons and Agua Caliente Hot Spring on Section 14, the Indian Affairs Committee's demand for retraction of Indian Canyons entrance and horse riding fees, the arrest of the Agua Caliente Band's traditional leaders, the 1937 federal takeover of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, and other topics pertaining to tribal land rights and sovereignty. Physical location: Stored off site. Advance notice required for access. Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English Access Collection is open for research. Publication Rights Ownership of the physical collection belongs to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum does not hold the copyright. For research purposes only. All copies and reproductions by permission of copyright holder[s]. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Earl Coffman Papers, 2006.046, Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. Acquisition Information Transferred from the Palm Springs Art Museum. Biography / Administrative History Earl Coffman acted as president of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce's Indian Affairs Committee. The Indian Affairs Committee was made up of non-Indian business owners who organized their economic and political interests through pooled resources. Earl Coffman Papers 2006.046 2 Scope and Content of Collection Correspondence, telegrams, transcripts, and other documentation created and/or collected between the years 1923-1949, pertaining to relations between the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians. Notable events recorded include the attempts of the Chamber of Commerce to seize control of the Indian Canyons and Agua Caliente Hot Spring on Section 14, the Indian Affairs Committee's demand for retraction of Indian Canyons entrance and horse riding fees, the arrest of the Agua Caliente Band's traditional leaders, the 1937 federal takeover of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, and other topics pertaining to tribal land rights and sovereignty. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection. Coffman, Earl Swing, Phil Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Indian Affairs Committee Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians Palm Springs Atwood, Stella Coffman, Nellie Agua Caliente Indian Reservation Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Coffman, Nellie Paramount Pictures Corporation Murray, Welwood McCallum, John Guthrie Atwood, Stella Lipps, Thomas Roberson, George Roberson, Elta White, Cornelia McManus, Austin White, Isabel Coffman, Helen Bayless Garlick, Hobart Powers, Nora Judd Brophy, William Crocker, Francis Agua Caliente Hot Spring Indian Canyons Palm Canyon Andreas Canyon San Jacinto National Monument Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Allotments Termination Indian Defense Association Agua Caliente Bathhouse Palm Springs Property Owners Association Maloney, William Ellis, Charles Earl Coffman Papers 2006.046 3 Arenas, Guadalupe Patencio, Francisco Wilson, A.D. Peter, Marcus Hatchitt, Juana Belardo, Willie Marcus Miguel, Saturnino Mott, L.T. Dady, John Ickes, Harold Rogers, Will Atwood, H.A. Willis,Purl Sloan, Thomas Andreas, Anothony Andreas, John Rosencrans, William Collier, John Patencio, Albert Santiago, Baristo Sol Willis, Purl Castillo, Adam Pinney, Warren Hicks, Alvah Boyd, Phil Pinney, Warren Pinney, Guy Boyd, Philip L. Quackenbush, H.H. Rosencrans Report Smart, Leta Myers Forlein, Jack Sheppard, Harry Segundo, Clemente Lugo, Lena California Federation of Women's Clubs Imperial Irrigation District Metropolitan Water District Whitewater Mutual Water Company Palm Springs Water Company American Indian Defense Association Coffman, Earl Wadsworth, H.E. Miguel, Richard Amado St. Marie, Ruth Boyd, Florian Rosencrans, William Desert Inn Earl Coffman Papers 2006.046 4 Box 2006.046.001 Box Inventory #001 1923-1937 Physical Description: 1 box;128 folders142 items Folder 1 Tax chart for years 1918-1933. Includes school district assessment, water district, and amount turned over to water board by county. 1918-1933 Creator/Collector: NA Physical Description: Tax Chart Folder 2 "Copy of Report of William J. Maloney, Patrolman, Palm Canyons, Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, California." Discusses level of visitors to the Indian Canyons during 1922-23; discusses problems such as littering and removal of palms. Expresses frustration that Indians would not help prevent burning of palm trees. May, 1923 Creator/Collector: William J. Maloney Physical Description: Report Folder 3 Hand-written, unsigned report stating the number of visitors to the Indian Canyons during the 1924-25 season. Suggests improvements such as better roads, parking, tables, trash cans, etc. 1924-25 Creator/Collector: Department of the Interior Physical Description: Report Folder 4 President of the Andreas Canyon Club to Nellie Coffman. Expresses desire for a National Monument and frustration that Indian Agent Ellis would not work with the Andreas Canyon Club and its aims. November 30, 1923 Creator/Collector: President, Andreas Canyon Club Physical Description: Letter Folder 5 Walter Woehlke to H. L. Coffman. Accuses H. L. Coffman of viewing Indians as "a Methodist businessman." Mentions Collier's article and his investigation of the reservation and Dr. Hubert's disapproval of the allotment scheme. May 3, 1924 Creator/Collector: Walter Woehlke-Sunset Magazine Physical Description: Letter Folder 6 To Nellie Coffman. The Indian Defense Association asks Nellie Coffman for confirmation that Lee Arenas has accepted and is promoting allotments (per Francisco Patencio's letter). August 3, 1927 Creator/Collector: Indian Defense Association Physical Description: Letter Folder 7 A. D. Wilson to Mission Indian Agency (John Dady). Reports on conditions at reservation camp grounds. Camping grounds of Marcus Pete, Juana Hatchitt, Willie Belardo, Miguel Saturnino (Courtemouche), and Lee Arenas are reviewed. November 28, 1934 Creator/Collector: A. D. Wilson Physical Description: Letter Folder 8 John Dady to L. T. Mott (Asst. State Housing Commissioner). Asks for inspection of reservation auto camps. December 4, 1934 Creator/Collector: John Dady-Mission Indian Agency Physical Description: Letter Earl Coffman Papers 2006.046 5 Box Inventory #001 1923-1937 Folder 9 John Dady to Willie Marcus (Policeman, United States Indian Bureau). Encloses report of A. D. Wilson on his inspection report of reservation camping grounds. Supplies a list of upgrades which must take place due to the reservation being subject to the rules of the State Health Department and State House Commissioner. December 4, 1934 Creator/Collector: John Dady-Mission Indian Agency Physical Description: Letter Folder 10 J. D. Dunshee to Stella Atwood. Thanks Atwood for information provided in her letter concerning Palm Springs auto camps; forwards letter to the Department of Immigration and Housing. December 4, 1934 Creator/Collector: J. D. Dunshee-Department of Public Health Physical Description: Letter Folder 11 Vincent Brown to Stella Atwood. Confirms receipt of Atwood's letter and reports that an inspection will begin the following week. December 7, 1934 Creator/Collector: Vincent Brown-Division of Immigration and Housing Physical Description: Letter Folder 12 John Dady to Tribal Committee. Responding to a complaint, Dady requests plumbing upgrades to the bathhouse. December 11, 1934 Creator/Collector: John Dady-Mission Indian Agency Physical Description: Letter Folder 13 Harold Ickes to Will Rogers (Chairman, Committee on Indian Affairs). Per request, Ickes provides a report on H. R. 8600 -- a bill to make a long term lease for the Agua Caliente Band. Supports premise of bill but objects to certain portions. July 13, 1935 Creator/Collector: