NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG2737.AM: Tibbles Family
Papers: 1908-1957
Lincoln, Lancaster County, and Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Size: 0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box
BACKGROUND NOTE
Thomas Henry Tibbles was born in 1840 near Athens, Ohio. He worked as an editor for the Omaha Daily Herald and was instrumental in bringing the case of Standing Bear and the Ponca Indian people before the United States District Court at Fort Omaha in 1879. He was later married to Susette (“Bright Eyes”) LaFlesche, a member of the Omaha tribe who had served as Standing Bear’s interpreter at the trial. Thomas then became the editor of the Populist Party’s newspaper, The Independent. He was the Populist Party’s nominee for Vice President in 1904.
Thomas was married three times. His first wife was Amelia Owens, with whom he had two daughters, Eda (who married Herbert Bates) and May (who married Allen Barris). Amelia died in 1879. Thomas’ second wife was Susette “Bright Eyes” LaFlesche, and his third wife was Ida Riddle. Thomas Henry Tibbles died on May 14, 1928. He is buried in Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue, Nebraska, next to his third wife.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection contains the papers of Thomas Henry Tibbles, noted author, editor, and pioneer, along with materials relating to his wife, Ida Tibbles, and daughter, May Tibbles Bates. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, mostly between Ida and May, with a few early letters regarding T.H. Tibbles’ political activities and his writings. Some of Tibbles’ manuscripts and a small amount of verse are also included in the collection.
The materials are arranged in five series: 1) Correspondence, 1908-1933 and undated; 2) Legal papers; 3) Manuscripts; 4) Verse; and 5) Miscellany.
Note: See the LaFlesche family papers [RG2026.AM] for materials relating to Susette LaFlesche (Thomas Tibbles’ second wife). See the library collection for various writings by Thomas Henry Tibbles.
INVENTORY
Series 1 – Correspondence, 1908-1933 and undated
Box 1
Folder
- 1908, 1909
- 1910, 1913
- 1920-1922
- 1926-1927
- 1928
- 1931-1933
- Undated
Series 2 – Legal papers
- Copy of deed by M.J. Riddle to Mary L. Riddle and Ida B. Tibbles
Copy of the will of Moses Jackson Riddle
Handwritten copy of deed by M.J. Riddle
Series 3 – Manuscripts
- About Tariffs and Protection
Anecdotes of Standing Bear (2 copies)
Economic Responsibility in Advertising
Economic Study 2
Ethics of Economics
The Ghost Dog
Government by Parties
Government by Party - How Mary Planted the Eggs
Legislation & Economics
Providence and Politics
Sentenced to Death
Total Depravity (2 copies)
Three Professors - Buckskin and Blanket Days
- Miscellaneous writings
Series 4 – Verse
- Verse by T.H. Tibbles
- Notebook with verse by T.H. Tibbles
Series 5 – Miscellany
- Biographical information about T.H. Tibbles
- Miscellaneous cards, clippings, etc.
Subject headings:
Bates, May (Tibbles)
Frontier and pioneer life
Indians of North America
Riddle, Moses Jackson, 1838-1913
Standing Bear, ca. 1834-1908
Tibbles family
Tibbles, Ida (Riddle), 1869-1958
Tibbles, Thomas Henry, 1840-1928
DAB/HEK/sw 07-09-1966
KFK 06-09-2000
