Native Americans and the Military

The focus of this resource is on specific groups serving in the military but may also include their relationship to the military (for example, efforts to be allowed to serve, etc.).

This is only a few examples of our resources, based on previous History Day research. At this point, it does not address US military actions against Native Americans.

Books, Documents, etc.

The American Indian in the World War by U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Call Number: Online and Federal Documents I 20.3:15/927 Item does not circulate.
Publication Date: 1927/1929
Online Access through our catalog.
Connecticut Soldiers in the Pequot War of 1637 by James Shepard
Call Number: Online and History Reference E83.63 .S54
Publication Date: 1913
Online Access through our library catalog.
Full title: Connecticut soldiers in the Pequot war of 1637 : with proof of service, a brief record for identification, and references to various publications in which further data may be found

Other Institutions

Willing to Serve: American Indians (VHP)
Veterans History Project (VHP) description: "American Indians have eagerly served a government which did not always keep its word to their ancestors. All of the Native Americans featured here volunteered to serve in conflicts from World War II to Iraq. Few encountered any overt prejudice while in uniform, though Navajo Code Talkers were sometimes mistaken by their own men for Japanese soldiers. But as one code talker recalled, Navajos had a chance to prove wrong the bigots back home; the military prized them for speaking their own language. For all American Indian veterans, the honor of defending their country overrode all other considerations."
American Indians in the U.S. Army
An Army.mil News & Media Profile that includes links to information in other agencies as well.
Native Americans in the U.S. Army
From U.S. Army Center of Military History
New London’s Indian Mariners
From ConnecticutHistory.org

Pequot Wars

Much of the information will be in our secured collections. Contacting the History & Genealogy Unit is recommended.

Check our guide:

Native American Research
CT State Library (CSL) guide on Native American research

Books, Documents, etc.

History of the Indians of Connecticut From the Earliest Known Period to 1850 by John W. DeForest
Call Number: Stacks E78.C7 D4 1964 Item does not ciculate
Publication Date: 1964
Earlier editions available online.
Connecticut Soldiers in the Pequot War of 1637 by James Shepard
Call Number: Online and History Reference E83.63 .S54
Publication Date: 1913
Online Access through our library catalog.
Full title: Connecticut soldiers in the Pequot war of 1637 : with proof of service, a brief record for identification, and references to various publications in which further data may be found
Relation of the Pequot Warres
Call Number: online and Special Collections E83.63 .G24
Publication Date: [1901]
Online access through our library catalog.
written in 1660 by Lieutenant Lion Gardener and now first printed from the original manuscript, with an historical introduction
Memorial History Of Hartford County
Call Number: online and Stacks F102.H3 T8 1886 item does not circulate
Publication Date: 1886
Online access through CT General Assembly web site.

Other Institutions

Native Northeast Research Collaborative
The aim of this massive project is to bring together materials from a number of participating archives about New England Native Americans. Included in this ongoing effort are many papers from the Indian Series of the Connecticut Archives, New London County Court Records, Land records and more. In many cases digitized images of the documents are available as well as a transcription.
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Site: "The Native Northeast Research Collaborative (formerly The Yale Indian Papers Project) is an inclusive digital humanities endeavor that engages tribes, scholars, educators, students, and the general public in the study of the Native presence in the Atlantic Northeast."
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Battlefields of the Pequot War
Site: "The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, funded by the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program, is identifying and preserving battlefields and historical sites associated with the Pequot War. The primary goal of this project is the identification of battlefield sites and obtaining physical evidence of these through non-invasive archaeological investigations. Partnering with the Office of the Connecticut State Archaeologist, the Connecticut State Historian and many local historical societies, research centers and museums from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center has undertaken a comprehensive study to research all aspects of the Pequot War."

History Day - Military & Events

Native Americans and the Military

Books, Documents, etc.

Other Institutions

Pequot Wars

Pequot Wars

Archives

Books, Documents, etc.

Other Institutions