Atkins and Montezuma’s relationship was solely on a professional level. They did not endure a friendship like some other correspondents of Montezuma’s. Atkins, a career politician who spent several years in the nineteenth century as a House of Representatives as well as the U.S. Senate, took over the position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the year 1885. This was a time period when the Native American Indian had already for some years began the process of assimilation into western society. Atkins carried out the mindset of many politicians of the time, voicing his approval for the reservation and allotment processes. Atkins major contributions and attention was given to agricultural pursuits. Much of the correspondence between Atkins and Montezuma dealt with minor issues that involved things like Montezuma obtaining certain information, or processing certain requests that Montezuma had that applied to his personal and professional life. I would like to find out more information on any specific policy that Atkins passed relating directly towards Native Americans in the United States. What were his main intentions, were they more economically or socially driven.
