Parker M. Nielson Papers (Accn 1642)
J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Manuscripts Division
The Parker M. Nielson Papers (1928-1996) consists of records concerning the "termination" of the mixed-blood Utes
pursuant to the Ute Termination Act of August 27, 1954. The collection documents the events leading up to termination and the
representations made to the Indians by tribal attorneys and officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It holds
correspondence to and from various attorneys, government officials, and tribal representatives; and reports and other
documents prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, other federal agencies, and their state and local counterparts.
Included are miscellaneous personal papers of the mixed-blood Utes themselves, many of which were written by the Indians
during the time when the termination program was in progress, documenting their experiences and understanding, which were
given Nielson in connection with various lawsuits concerning rights arising out of termination, notably litigation before the
U. S. Supreme Court, entitled, Affiliated Ute Citizens v. United States, and related litigation before the U. S. Court of
Claims and the U. S. District Court for the District of Utah. Present are depositions and transcripts of trial testimony of
the Indians, their attorneys, and advisers, (including officials of First Security Bank who acted as their trustee) which
describe the events of termination and the subsequent loss of the Indians' property. Documentary evidence from the trial of
the cases and certified documents from the National Archives are included, as are a variety of other documents: court
documents and trial records, news clippings, tribal records, reservation records, maps, meeting records, and additional
documents. An inventory is available.