Boyd's Indian agency papers consist of reports and correspondence with his superiors and colleagues such as Lewis Cass, Henry Dodge, James D. Doty, Thomas L. McKenney, George B. Porter, Henry R. Schoolcraft, Robert Stuart, and others concerning troubles with British traders; the use of whiskey in the fur trade; the Black Hawk War; Indian treaties, agreements, petitions, and accounts; payments of annuities, food, and gifts to Wisconsin Indians; charges of malfeasance in office made against Boyd in 1840 by Morgan L. Martin; and statements of persons employed, estimated budgets, and abstracts of provisions and presents and of general disbursements at the Green Bay Agency.
Considerable correspondence with fur traders such as Samuel Abbott, Ramsay Crooks, John Lawe, members of the Grignon family, and others concerns business, governmental restrictions, and Indian relations. There are a few letters from Boyd's brother-in-law, John Quincy Adams, and the latter's son, Charles Francis, in regard to a legacy to Mrs. Boyd. Information on the Indian mission schools at Green Bay and Duck Creek and Indian education and religion in general may be found in correspondence with the Rev. Richard F. Cadle and his associates. Much of the remainder of the collection consists of unsuccessful claims made against the War Department by Boyd and his heirs.
Selections from the Boyd papers are published in the Wisconsin Historical Collections, 12:270-98; 14:464-515, passim; 15:18-24; 19:441-42, 476-77; 20:116-202, passim. The collection also is available on microfilm and a copy of the microfilm is housed at the Green Bay Area Research Center.
