Correspondence, telegrams, transcripts, and other documentation created and/or collected between the years 1923-1949, pertaining to relations between the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians. The Indian Affairs Committee, a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce, was made up of non-Indian business owners who organized their interests through pooled resources. Phil Swing, the subcommittee's lawyer, pursued the group's interests at the national level in Washington D.C. Earl Coffman, son of Nellie Coffman, acted as president. Notable events recorded include the attempts of the Chamber of Commerce to seize control of the Indian Canyons and Agua Caliente Hot Spring on Section 14, the Indian Affairs Committee's demand for retraction of Indian Canyons entrance and horse riding fees, the arrest of the Agua Caliente Band's traditional leaders, the 1937 federal takeover of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, and other topics pertaining to tribal land rights and sovereignty.

Earl Coffman acted as president of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce's Indian Affairs Committee. The Indian Affairs Committee was made up of non-Indian business owners who organized their economic and political interests through pooled resources.

2.1 linear feet 500 items

Ownership of the physical collection belongs to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum does not hold the copyright. For research purposes only. All copies and reproductions by permission of copyright holder[s].