John Evans Study Committee
Committee Purpose
This committee will review and report on the history of John Evans, one of the founders of Northwestern University. More specifically, it will examine the nature of Evans’ involvement in the Sand Creek Massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, which occurred in 1864 while he was governor of what was then the Colorado Territory, and his relationship then and later with Northwestern. This examination includes the question of whether any of his financial support for Northwestern is attributable to his policies and practices as territorial governor toward Native Americans.
The committee will provide a report to the provost by June 2014 that will be made public at that time. Another committee will then be asked to make recommendations on what actions the University should take as a result of the report.
Committee Members
- Carl Smith, Chair – English, American Studies, and History, Northwestern University
- Ned Blackhawk - History and American Studies, Yale University
- Loretta Fowler - Anthropology (Emerita), University of Oklahoma
- Peter Hayes - History, Northwestern University
- Frederick Hoxie - History, University of Illinois
- Andrew Koppelman – Law and Political Science, Northwestern University
- Elliott West - History, University of Arkansas
- Laurie Zoloth - Medical Ethics, Humanities, and Religion, Northwestern University
Collaborative Members
- Alexander Gourse, Graduate Research Fellow, History, Northwestern University
- Kevin Leonard, Northwestern University Archivist
