John R. Winchester Papers

Collection

Identifier: M2247

Staff Only

Content Description

Collection consists of military papers, photographs (copies), newspaper clippings (copies), memoirs of H. Robert Krear, and correspondence regarding Winchester.

Dates

1944-1974

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Copyright

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Biographical / Historical

John R. Winchester was born on June 22nd, 1921. He served with the 10th Mountain Division where he attained the rank of 1st Sargent. Winchester was stationed at Camp Hale, Camp Swift, Italy, and Camp Carson. He was assigned to the 86th Infantry Regiment, Company B during combat operations in Italy. Winchester was awarded two Silver Stars for his actions in Sassomolare and S. Benedetto.

After the war Winchester decided to pursue land claims and federal recognition for his tribe, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. He was an Indian rights activist who lectured at the state and federal levels fighting for higher education for Native Americans. Winchester joined Michigan State University and the Center for Urban Affairs to focus on recruiting Native Americans to the University. He had over fifty native students enrolled on campus at the time of his death in September of 1973. The annual Michigan State University Pow Wow is held in honor of Winchester and the proceeds fund the John R. Winchester Memorial Scholarship Program. Lastly, during his time at Michigan State University he worked with fellow educators to develop the framework for the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver that became Law in 1976.