Thomas Wildcat Alford, born of parents of the Absentee Shawnee tribe of Indians in 1860, relates the story of his life and of his tribe during the period from which the influence of the white race first began to be felt, up to when the so-called civilization of the white man superceded almost to annihilation the old tribal mode of life. The book is a revealing human document, for the narrator knew only an Indian childhood, but through his education at a Quaker school and attendance at Hampton Institute became a white man in all, but blood. Although happy memories may have idealized somewhat the Indian society of his early years, his descriptions of procedures and customs are accurate - from his explanation of social and community institutions and living techniques to his mother's cooking recipes. At Hampton he became wholly committed to white society and the opportunity of bringing these advantages back to his people. But once back in Oklahoma he experienced heartbreaking rejection. Working with the local Indian Service, as a teacher and at the agency, not once did he question the official policy of merging the Indians into a composite American citizenship. He even approved the liquidation of tribes and tribal land holdings under the Dawes Act of 1887. Finally, when a criminal conspiracy to cheat the Indians out of their allotments was discovered, Alford did actively defend his people and regarded his contribution to the victory as "one of the proudest achievements" of his life. (NEC)