Biographical Note

George P. Decker (1861-1936) was a Rochester attorney active in Native American land claim cases. During the three-decade span of his professional career, Decker represented the Onondaga, Tonawanda, Cattaraugus, and the Allegany Reservations. He was also involved in representing land claims by the Six Nations of the Iroquois, namely the Oneida, Seneca and Cayuga. Decker worked with Deskaheh Levi General, Speaker of the Six Nations Council, as he prepared to petition the League of Nations for recognition of the sovereign rights of indigenous peoples.

Scope and Content Note

The George P. Decker papers are a collection of professional papers from Decker’s career as a lawyer focusing on land claims and rights of Indigenous peoples. Materials include correspondence, legal documents, financial papers, historical reference, notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, publications, and more. Decker’s legal practice extended throughout New York State and into southern Ontario, Canada. Of particular note is the documentation of Decker’s working relationship with Levi General (often called “Deskaheh”) and the Six Nations of the Grand River as they sought to bring the plight of Indigenous people to the attention of the newly-formed League of Nations in the early 1920s.

Harmful Content Note

Certain parts of archival collections may contain historical language and content that may be considered offensive or harmful, such as language used to refer to racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. The content of materials in these collections reflect the period during which they were created and the views of their creators, and they retain their original descriptions to ensure that these attitudes and perspectives are not erased from the historical record.

Finding Aid

Please see the updated Finding Aid to the George P. Decker Papers [PDF] for more information.

Revision Note

This collection was re-arranged and re-described in early 2026 to facilitate easier access to materials. The 2014 version of the finding aid is retained by the University Archivist; please contact for assistance.

Related Collections

DOCIP (Indigenous Peoples' Centre for Document, Research and Information), provides the database The Six Nations of the Iroquois at the League of Nations : 1923-1933. Since December 1922, Deskaheh Levi General, Cayuga Chief, representing the Six Nations Council, was active in bringing the cause of his people (Haudenosaunee) before the League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations. His struggle continued after his death and remains an example. This database provides access to a selection of original documents relating to these events, and essentially covers the period from December 1922 through 1933.