# Edward P. Smith *Commissioner named in the 1871 report on Chippewa half-breed scrip* Edward P. Smith was one of four commissioners named in the report of a [[Commission]] appointed on April 21, 1871, concerning the [[Chippewa half-breed scrip]] issued to the Chippewas of Lake Superior. The other three were [[Henry S. Neal]], [[Selden N. Clark]] and [[R. F. Crowell]].[^1] The report appears in the U.S. Department of the Interior compilation *Half-breed Scrip, Chippewas of Lake Superior*. The same compilation also holds the report of a second commission, appointed July 15, 1872.[^1] Between the two appointments, Congress passed the [[Corrective act of June 8, 1872]], which allowed good-faith ("innocent") holders of scrip to perfect title.[^1] The record establishes Smith's place on the 1871 commission. It does not establish his other offices, his biography, or any part he had in the 1872 commission or its report.[^1] Figures on tracts, prices and a chairman's interest connected with the scrip appear in Folwell's history (vol. 1, App. 9). They remain flagged until the exact lines in the Interior report are checked, so they are not stated here.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Edward P. Smith served as a commissioner alongside Henry S. Neal, Selden N. Clark and R. F. Crowell on the commission appointed April 21, 1871.[^1] ### What - The commission reported on half-breed scrip for the Chippewas of Lake Superior. Its report is in the Department of the Interior compilation *Half-breed Scrip, Chippewas of Lake Superior*.[^1] ### When - April 21, 1871: the commission that included Smith was appointed.[^1] - June 8, 1872: the corrective Act allowed good-faith holders to perfect title.[^1] - July 15, 1872: a further commission was appointed, and its report is in the same compilation.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: U.S. Department of the Interior, *Half-breed Scrip, Chippewas of Lake Superior* (1871–1872). This compilation contains the report of the commission appointed April 21, 1871 (Henry S. Neal, Selden N. Clark, Edward P. Smith, R. F. Crowell), the report of the commission appointed July 15, 1872, and the Act of June 8, 1872. The project's validated register *The Instrument No One Will Name* (2026-06-18), entry [7], confirms the report, the commissioners and the Act against this primary source and flags the tract, price and interest figures from Folwell vol. 1, App. 9. The pack's allowed URLs include no locator for this source.