Buffalo Bill's Wild West and the Progressive Image of American Indians

Jason A. Heppler and Douglas Seefeldt

Contract Comparisons

Use this feature to compare the language of select contracts and see how the Wild West Exhibition changed the nature of Indian employment. All the contracts are compared to a base contract set in 1895. Red indicates lines that were removed, green lines that were added, and purple lines that are minor changes.

1895

This Agreement, Entered into this ___ day of _____, 1895, by William F. Cody, President, and Nate Salsbury, Vice-president, of "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Company," parties of the first part, and an indian __________ of Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, party of the second part;

WITNESSETH, That the parties of the first part, have and by these presents do engage the party of the second part to accompany the Exhibition ("Wild West") of the parties of the first part, for exhibition purposes in the United States of America, the object being to give public exhibitions of American frontier life; and the party of the second part agrees to do whatever in reason and justice may be required of h___ while in the service of the parties of the first part, and which may be necessary and incident to such exhibitions, not inconsistent with the laws of morality and the ordinary rules of propriety; and the parties of the first part agree to pay to the party of the second part, in lawful money of the United States, a monthly salary of ________ Dollars, from the date of the departure of the party of the second part from the said Agency, and during h___ absence therefrom, and until h___ return thereto; and it is further agreed that the pay for the service for the final month, under this agreement, shall be paid after the return of the said party of the second part to the Pine Ridge Indian Agency, and in presence of the Indian Agent.

The parties of the first part further agree to supply the said party of the second part with proper food and raiment, and to discharge all h___ traveling and needful incidental expenses from the date of leaving said Agency until h___ return thereto, and to protect the said party from all immoral influences [unintelligible] and do all such other acts and things as may be requisite and proper for the health, comfort and welfare of the said party of the second part, and to return h___ to the said Agency within the time specified by the Interior Department from the date hereof, without charge or cost to the said party of the second part, or to the United States. The party of the second part agrees to keep sober and obey the rules and regulations of the "Wild West Co.," failing to do so he will be returned to Agency, forfeiting salary due him.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The above parties have executed these presents at Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, the day and year first above written.

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1906

This Agreement, Entered into this ___ day of _____, 1906, by WILLIAM F. CODY & JAMES A. BAILEY, Proprietors of BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST, Parties of the first part, and an INDIAN ________ of Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, party of the second part.

WITNESSETH, That the parties of the first part, have and by these presents do engage the party of the second part to accompany the Exhibition (WILD WEST) of the parties of the first part, for exhibition purposes in Europe, the object being to give public exhibitions of American Frontier Life; and the party of the second part agrees to do whatever in reason and justice may be required of him while in the service of the parties of the first part, and which may be necessary and incident to such exhibitions, not inconsistent with the laws of morality and the ordinary rules of propriety; and the parties of the first part agree to pay to the party of the second part, in lawful money of the United States, a monthly salary of ________ dollars, from the date of the first regular performance and until the last regular performance of the season. And it is further agreed that the pay for the services for the final month, under this agreement, shall be paid after the return of the said party of the second part to Pine Ridge Agency and in the presence of the Indian Agent. It is further agreed to that forty per centum of said monthly salary shall be retained by the parties of the first part until the close of the season and the return of the party of the second part to said Agency, when all of such retained pay together with any final payment then due and unpaid, shall be given and paid by the parties of the first part. And it is further agreed that IF FROM ILL HEALTH OR BEING INCAPACITATED the party of the second part shall fail to continue in service under this agreement until the end of the season, then any sum due him as retained pay and salary shall be paid up to that date, and this agreement cancelled.

The parties of the first part further agree to supply the said party of the second part with proper food and raiment, except one set of Indian Clothes, Head Dress, Moccasins, etc. to start with, and to pay all his needful incidental expenses from the date of leaving Pine Ridge Agency until his return thereto and to protect the said party from all immoral influences and surroundings, and provide all needful medical attendance and medicine and do all such other acts and things as may be requisite and proper for the health, comfort and welfare of the said party of the second part and to return him to the said Agency at the expiration of this agreement, without cost to the party of the second part or to the Government of U.S.

The party of the second part agrees to keep sober and obey the rules and regulations governing the establishment of the party of the first part, failing to do so he will be returned to the Agency FORFEITING ALL SALARY DUE HIM.

It is understood that the term "SEASON" as used herein, shall meant the time fixed by the parties of the first part for the commencement and ending of the services of the party of the second part.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The above parties have executed these presents at Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, the day and year first above written.

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