Manual of Surveying Instructions

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?ÿ1871

1881

1890

1894

1902

1908

1919

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1924

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1928

1930

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1947, 1973, and 2009

Beautiful.?ÿ What a collection.

The GLO survey of the Indian & Oklahoma Territories began around 1871 after the Initial Point was established by Ehud Darling & Theodore Barrett in 1870 on the crest of a hill about a mile south of what was then Fort Wichita.

A few years ago the family of Theo. Barrett donated a miscellaneous collection of his notes and such to the Oklahoma Historical Society.?ÿ There was actually nothing in the collection that was "museum quality" so the papers were cataloged and stored away in boxes.?ÿ Mr. Bruce Pitts and myself were two of only a few folks that were allowed to put on the white gloves and rummage through the stuff.

In a very worn and tattered manila envelope we discovered a leather bound pristine mint copy of the 1871 Instructions. The binding creaked a bit as I opened it.?ÿ This possibly may have been the first time it had ever been opened.

It's hard to say but I imagined that Barrett had several copies he probably circulated to the dozens of surveyors under his direction.?ÿ This was possibly an extra that never made it to the "general population".?ÿ I spent at least two hours leafing through that copy.?ÿ

It was fascinating.?ÿ

@paden-cash Thatƒ??s an amazing story. Certainly a once in a lifetime experience!

That's a great collection!!!!

Very nice grouping. Anything 1902 and older is getting hard to find...

Very nice, I'm jealous!!!

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J.H. Winwood (on the 1928 Manual)

Job Henry Winwood (1875-1953) was one of the best U.S. Mineral Surveyors in this neck of the woods. He graduated from the Michigan College of Mines with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1903.

I know it is what is inside that counts, but the 1919, 1924, & 1928 covers are really sharp looking.

Man, you've been doing this a long time!

Have two 1947 manuals in good condition. Be open to horse trading one them for one I don't have.?ÿ