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ix Acknowledgments When I began this project, I had no idea that it would take so long to complete.IbeganthisendeavorsoonafterIfinishedmyfirstbookabout the Osage people. Thinking, since I was so familiar with the people and the topic,that with a bit more research,I could soon write a book about Osage interaction with the United Foreign Missionary Society and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions missionaries. Thus inspired, I traveled to the Houghton Library at Harvard where the UFMS and ABCFM materials are stored and searched through the missionary board’s records and correspondence. I copied all of the relevant material from theAmerican Missionary Register and the America Missionary Herald in the Harvard-Andover Seminary Library and returned to LasVegas where the university kindly awarded me a year’s leave to complete the research and write the book. The book was not written that year, for we discovered that the frequent dizzy spells that had plagued me that spring were caused by an oligodendroglioma—a brain tumor—that was deemed inoperable.A year of experimental chemotherapy directed by two life-saving neuro-oncologists stopped the growth of the glioma,but I spent most of my energies that year fighting fatigue and nausea, instead of writing the book. As I recovered and returned to the project, I turned to friends who provided me with the much needed encouragement and direction. I dashed off an e-mail to my friend, Richard White, whose counsel has always been helpful. Richard thought the topic was sound, but he posed thel question: “Where are the Jesuits? Willard, you have to include the Jesuits and examine their role in the process.” Richard has this remarkableabilitytopointouttheobvious ,thatisneverobviousuntilhepoints it out. To deal with the Jesuit’s role I turned to another friend, Jackie Peterson, an expert on the western Jesuits, who provided information, greatinsights,andakindintroductiontotheJesuitarchivistsinSt.Louis. With Jackie and Richard’s direction, I launched a new round of research at the Midwest Jesuit Archives and began reshaping my examination of the Christian missionary efforts among the Osage in a new and broader context. I incorporated the new material in several papers that I gave at academic conferences where my friends: Terry Austrin, Colin Calloway, Denys Delâge, David Edmunds, John Finger, Mike Green, Rayna Green, Markku Henriksson, Fred Hoxie, Ritva LevoHenriksson , Theda Perdue, Helen Tanner, and others too numerous to recount,provideddirectionandadvice.PhilDeloriaandNealSalisbury, who were editing an article of mine about Indians and Christianity,also provided invaluable help in shaping the book. Other friends and colleagues provided help with the project.I want to thank Gussie Tanenhaus for translating Father Ponzigliones’ two hundred and thirty-eight page Latin journal into English, Tina Stergios for drawing the maps, and Margaret Connell-Szasz for sending me to UNM Press. I would also like to thank my dear friend and forever mentor,JohnWunder,who provided help and encouragement. I wish to express my gratitude to Father William B. Faherty, S.J. and Nancy Merz at the Midwest Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, who opened up their archives to a stranger and provided valuable advice and information about the Jesuit Fathers. Thanks also to my two good friends, Julie and Kenny Sturma, who welcomed me into their home while I conducted research that summer. My thanks to Cindy Stewart at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the State Historical Society of Missouri and Mary Jane Warde at the Oklahoma Historical Society for their help. Chris Wiatrowski and Maria White at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library were especially helpful, and I am grateful for their support. My thanks to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for supporting my research trips to Cambridge and St. Louis and granting me a sabbatical to complete the book. My thanks also go to the staff of the Newberry Library where I began this project so many years ago, and to those who helped me at the Houghton Library. I would also like to thank everyone at the University of New Mexico Press,with special thanks to David Holtby,Jill Root,Kathy Sparkes,and Maya Allen-Gallegos. Members of my family were especially supportive. Although my mother, Luella Rollings, and my sister, Davetta Chavez Fry, did not survive to see the completion of the book, they both provided the inspiration necessary to finish it. Aunt Clara and Uncle Bill Cunningham were also helpful, and I am grateful for their love and support. Friends and colleagues provided help and friendship through this endless project , and I want...

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