University of Arizona

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John Philip Clum Collection

John Philip Clum served as Apache agent on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona Territory. He adeptly handled the Apache outbreaks from the reservation by asking the military to withdraw to a distance of five miles from the reservation. To limit confrontations between the Apaches and the nearby settlers, Clum helped the Indians to implement agricultural pursuits which would make them self-supporting. He also encouraged them to set up their own law enforcement and judicial systems. It was his Apache police force which tracked and captured Geronimo in 1877. Clum soon became a victim of the political situation in Washington. Discouraged by the government's indifferent and unfair treatment of his Indian charges, Clum  resigned from the Service.

In 1886, after three years as editor of the Citizen, Clum founded and became the first editor of the Tombstone Epitaph. Clum was elected Mayor of Tombstone and was appointed Postmaster. Clum served as Postal Inspector in the western judicial district of Texas. Clum was appointed Post Office Inspector for the Territory of Alaska and charged with the organization and extension of the postal service there. He was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as a lecturer. Also, Clum began to write his memoirs, which, after his death, his son Woodworth completed. The resulting book, Apache Agent, was later made into the motion picture, Walk the Proud Land, starring Audie Murphy.

Collection, 1874-1917, relating to the financial records and letters kept by the Office of Indian Affairs, the Post Office Department, and the War Department regarding John Philip Clum, and used by Wallace E. Clayton, co-owner of the Tombstone Epitaph, in researching the life of Clum, the founder and first editor of the Epitaph. The Records include photocopies of San Carlos Indian Agency reports, abstracts of disbursements, vouchers, accounts current, and auditor's reports pertaining to Clum's work at the Agency from 1874 to 1878. The Career Documents contain information regarding Clum's employment in the War Department and the Post Office Department as well as with the Southern Pacific Railroad. Of interest are photocopies of information documenting Clum's desire to re-enter government service with the Office of Indian Affairs beginning in 1912. Included is a letter in his behalf from Arizona Senator Mark A. Smith.

This material was collected by Wallace E. Clayton, co-owner of the Tombstone Epitaph, in researching the life of Clum, founder and first editor of the paper.