Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. IV

I NT RO DUCT ION

H. BAILEY CARROLL

THE PUBLICATION of historical documents has long been considered a meritorious enterprise in making broadly available to research scholars and other interested persons original ma- terials otherwise attainable only at their source. When the pub- lication of such documents is undertaken and accomplished by an archives staff itself, in the manner in which the present vol- ume has been produced, the material carries with it the added stamp of authenticity. The validity of the documents is un- questionable; they may be received by the world of scholarship with all of the confidence that the world of finance places in a government. bond. Herein is the assurance of the state and of its devoted servants that the printing of these documents is not counterfeit. This volume goes forth into the realm of literate people with no question concerning either its legitimacy or its place of birth. An added benefit which comes from official publication is that. it enables the original documents themselves to be retired from active service as aged horses are put with love and affection in an honored pasture close to headquarters, leaving the active work to be done by their progeny. So have the originals of the documents contained in this volume, after long and honorable service in the hands of many of the outstanding scholars of Texas history, been retirerl from active circulation, leaving the young reproductions to serve the cause of Texas history. In deal- ing with reproduced documents, however, one does not need to rely on pedigree alone-the originals themsleves are still proudly held in the archives of the State of Texas. The writing of this introduction to the fourth and final vol- ume of the Indian Papers is a personal pleasure. The State Ar- chives publication program was revitalized in 1953 when the edi~ ing of the Texas Treasury Papers was begun by Seymour V. Con- nor, who, in conjunction with Virginia Taylor, completed the four volume series in 1956. Dorman Winfrey began editing the Texas Indian Papers in 1958, and completed three volumes cover- ing the years 1825-1859. With the present volume, covering the period from 1860 through 1916, the publication of the Indian Papers is brought to a close by James M. Day. Each of the above named general editors has served as state archivist, but--so far