RWG Vail Western New York land speculation papers

The materials in this collection were collected and produced by Glen Vail in his research on settler land speculation and acquisition in Western New York, in preparation for his unpublished book entitled Land Speculation in New York State, 1791-1847. The materials consist largely of handwritten notes, as well as original source materials in the form of correspondence, maps, land survey diagrams, anthropological studies, scrapbooks, and bound volumes. Vail approached his research as a bibliographer- indeed, he subtitled the introduction to his manuscript “A Bibliographical Study of Certain New York Real Estate Rarities”- and many of the materials and his notes concern the purchase and citations of old books, through which he was conducting his research. The date range of this finding aid describes the date range of the original materials in the collection, some of which are notes on or photocopies of earlier primary sources; the date ranges on the folders reflect the dates of the sources, and so in some instances the enclosed material may be Vail's (usually undated) notes on a much earlier document. Although Vail continued to return to his research on land tenure and speculation throughout the course of his several decades in the library profession, his focus shifted over time to care more about the people of the Seneca Nation who had originally held tenure of the land before the arrival of the white settlers- a focus which may have been inspired by the depth of the notes in George S. Conover’s papers, which contain descriptions of many historical Seneca individuals, rites, rituals, and traditions.

The first series contains an outline of Vail’s book and his introduction to his manuscript.

The second series encompasses a collection of materials and original research conducted by George S. Conover, which Vail bought from Conover’s widow. Conover pasted his own published pamphlets into bound books with additional articles, and thereafter added in his own handwritten notes. Conover's research focuses on the leadership, history, and traditions of the Seneca Nation, and the history around the acquisition of the land from the Seneca by white settlers. His materials include his published writing on the Seneca chief Sa-kay-en-qua-ra-doh (which he anglicized as Sayenqueraghta) and on initiation ceremonies for being adopted into the tribe; research notes made from the papers of Phelps & Gorham Company land survey agent William Walker; a series of scrapbooks collecting his writings, correspondence, newspaper articles, and notes; and correspondence with various historians, librarians, and members of the Seneca Nation about his work. Among these are correspondence with William C. Bryant, who describes Sa-kay-en-qua-ra-doh's funeral, and Ely S. Parker (Do-ne-ho-gâ-wâ). Of particular note are the letters included in the "Rites of Adoption" scrapbook, many of which are from members of the Seneca Nation living on the Cattaraugus Reservation. There are numerous notes tipped into the volume with correspondence lists of English and Haudenosaunee* names for various figures, with translated meanings. Vail also made some additional notes in some of Conover's scrapbooks detailing how he obtained the materials and other details of interest to his research.

The third series is comprised of materials Vail himself researched, and his notes. It should be noted that his research was primarily bibliographic in nature, and while there are some original documents throughout the series, often the item represented is only represented by photocopies, citations, or an entry in a book seller’s catalogue. Materials include bibliographic citations with notes, notes and correspondence on maps and resources, advertisements for land sale, documents for land sales and transfers, photocopies and translations of early articles about land in western New York, letters discussing payment and use of land, early land surveys and maps, descriptions of settler interaction with the Haudenosaunee and of the land itself, drawings of artifacts, photographs of landmarks, a transcription of a speech given at a joint meeting between the settler and Seneca leadership, an autograph sentiment from Seneca chief Hou-nou-deh (also called Henry G. Strong), and notes made from other pertinent collections of papers. While some of the original materials are in French, German, or Dutch, Vail’s notes are in English. Notable early maps include several undated maps of the Genesee River, and the villages Oswego (with illustrations) and Charlotte (hand-colored) on Lake Ontario. A Photostat negative of a full issue of The Victor Monitor, dated 1874, is also a rarity.

The fourth series are materials gathered by Vail which focus more on the Seneca people, traditions, and culture, rather than the land and its tenure. The highlight of this series is the folder containing newspaper articles featuring members of the Seneca Nation through the 1900s, contemporary with Vail’s own time. Other materials in the series include an autograph sentiment from Hon-non-de-uh, or Nathaniel Thayer Strong, a Seneca chief, illustrations of several notable historical figures and events, and a sketch of an array of Haudenosaunee artifacts from Honeoye Falls, dated 1899.

The fifth series is a single folder containing material related to the production or purchase of old books in Rochester, NY, and elsewhere.

*It is somewhat unclear whether the names are in the Mohawk or Seneca language, especially given the confusion over Sayenqueraghta/Sa-kay-en-qua-ra-doh/Kaieñãkwaahtoñ perpetuated through Conover's writings.