National Historic Trail

Conference Trail News Registration Inside

President Signs Bill Expanding Trail of Tears INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Those study segments, as well as associated • NPS Superintendent’s Message...... 2 gained 2,845 miles, more than doubling in round-up forts and campgrounds, were size, when President Barack Obama signed added to the existing national historic trail • TOTA President’s Message...... 2 the Omnibus Public Lands Management under the Trail of Tears Documentation Act on March 30. Act, part of the newly-passed Public • Parks Budget Cut...... 3 Lands Bill. Included are many short trail Only the best-documented routes followed segments from collection forts in Georgia, • Trail on Register...... 3 by groups were included when , , and the national historic trail was established to the main trailhead departure points near • TOTA Chapter News...... 4-5, 8 by Congress in 1987. Other potential trail Chattanooga, Tennessee; and the Benge segments were omitted because little was and Bell routes, two primary long-distance • Joint Council Meeting...... 6 known at that time about their historic trails that cross six states. Other additions location and use. A 2007 National Park include numerous water and overland • Trail Calendar...... 8 Service feasibility study re-examined trail segments used by groups traveling by those routes in light of new information boat along major rivers, along with short • Librarian Presentation in Illinois..... 9 and determined that most are, in fact, “dispersal” routes from the ends of the original, well-documented and important land and river trails to the fi nal settlement • Conference Information...... 10-11 components of the Trail of Tears. destinations.

Twenty-two years after being designated a national historic trail, the Trail of Tears now extends into Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama. This map shows the new routes and segments, along with the original Northern Route and Water Route (in black).

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Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • June 2009 - Number 14 National Trails System Offce Superintendent’s Message

A big congratulations (!) goes out to all the will continue for at least three years. It’s there. We’re glad to also welcome Carol constituents of the Trail of Tears National likely that the precedent established with Ortega to our staff . Carol is our new agree- Historic Trail, especially to those who the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail ments specialist, and if you’re involved in worked so hard for so many years to get the will continue to have a signifi cant impact any cost share or cooperative activities with comprehensive story of the Trail of Tears on the future evolution of the National our offi ce, you’ll have a chance to work and the forced recog- Trails System. with Carol. She comes to us from the NPS nized by Congress as part of the National Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Trails In the last superintendent’s message I program, where she did similar work for System. noted some signifi cant changes in the staff - over a decade. With the ing of our offi ce, including the addition of passage of a new historian, Frank Norris, and a tribal Many things are happening along the trail, the Public liaison, Otis Halfmoon. Since then, we have and I know each of the chapters will be Lands Act made additional staffi ng changes. Most highlighting them in the chapter reports. of 2009, importantly, Michael Taylor has moved But, there are two upcoming actions that Congress from manager of the Route 66 Corridor you should be aware of, and I’ll provide expanded Preservation Program, to the trails office more information at the fall conference and the Trail cultural resource specialist. Many of you in the next newsletter. The fi rst is the ex- of Tears have had the opportunity to meet Mike, pected release of the Trail of Tears National Aaron Mahr, Superintendent of the National Trails System - Intermoun- National and he has made an eff ort in recent months Historic Trail interpretive fi lm. Anticipated tain Historic to spend more time on the trail. Among his since the inception of the national historic Trail to over 4,900 miles of trail routes in more notable recent activities was partner- trail, and in the works for the last four nine states (ten if you include , ing with the Heritage Council years, the fi lm is in post production and will which may hold sections of the Water on the archeological survey of the Mantle be ready for public release sometime this Route on the Mississippi River!). This fi rst- Rock site in preparation for the trail devel- fall or early winter. I expect that the fi lm of-its-kind action—adding routes to an al- opment there. We have also added a new will be made available at no cost to all part- ready existing National Historic Trail—has GIS specialist to our staff . John Cannella ner sites along the trail. The Trails Office already led to similar initiatives on other comes to us from the NPS Flagstaff Group and the Association are also in discussions trails. For example, the Public Lands Act Office. John brings with him an extensive on developing a protocol to facilitate trail also called for an evaluation of over 64 ad- background in GIS and database manage- signing by Association members. The NPS ditional routes on the Oregon, California, ment, and he will be taking a lead role in has set aside a fund with the Association to Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express developing a functional and accessible pay for signing and currently is developing National Historic Trails to determine the resource database that will be available to sign standards for the fund. I expect that feasibility and suitability of making addi- all trail constituents. John is planning to signing using this fund can begin this sum- tions to those trails. This is a job that the attend the Trail of Tears Association confer- mer or fall. More on both of those soon! National Trails Intermountain Region in ence in Alabama this fall, and I hope many Salt Lake City will undertake in the fall, and of you have the opportunity to meet him Aaron Mahr

National Trails System Offce Superintendent’s Message

Todd Enlow with the and months. It is from the Cherokee Nation. It will take myself have just completed a four day trip all due to your place from late June through much of July. in which we traveled almost a thousand hard work and Regrettably, the bikes will not be able to miles retracing the original Northern Route dedication to travel on gravel roads so much of the origi- of the Trail from in Georgia to the Trail! nal route will not be accessible for their Tahlequah. This was my fi rst time to travel trip. The Trail should, however, receive a the entire route in one trip. I was amazed The purpose great deal of publicity from this bike ride. at all of the work that our members have of the trip Todd and I will be working with you to done in the last few years in locating much was to plan a plan events for all along the bike ride. I am of the original route. It was very gratifying looking forward to attending as many of route for the Jack Baker, President of the Trail to see the signs and interpretation that have Trail of Tears of Tears Association the events as possible. I am sure that the already been placed on the Trail and, even Cherokee youths on the trip will certainly more so, to see the plans for future projects Commemorative Bike Ride by Cherokee appreciate your support. that should be completed in the next few youths (and possibly Chief ) Jack D. Baker

2 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • June 2009 State of Georgia Cuts Hours, Staff at Three Trail of Tears Historic Sites by Jeff Bishop The Etowah Indian Mounds, New Trail is being expanded into Georgia,” said us with this situation and, most impor- Echota Historic Site and the Chief Vann Jeff Bishop, Georgia chapter president. tantly, to make sure that these priceless House have been hit hard by budget cuts, “Tourism is one of the top industries in sites and the history they represent are here and the Georgia chapter of the Trail of Georgia, and this certainly doesn’t help forever!” Tears Association is urging everyone to foster growth in that industry. The way the speak up on this issue. state government is choosing to go about Some 180 years ago, the government of this is very short-sighted, in my opinion.” Georgia barred Cherokee Indians from “To say they’ve been hit hard is putting meeting in Georgia. it mildly,” said Linda Baker, secretary of “I’m sure you can understand the risk to the Georgia chapter of the Trail of Tears these sites if there is not constant vigilance “That isn’t unlike what they are doing now, Association. “They will be open only three and human protection,” said Baker. closing the site from us,” said Jack Baker, days a week, will not be able to give school a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal tours and the staff at these sites has been The Georgia chapter is urging everyone Council and president of the National Trail gutted.” to contact the Georgia governor’s office of Tears Association. and the Georgia Department of Natural As everyone with TOTA is aware, there are Resources to express their opinions on DNR public aff airs coordinator Kim very few sites left in Georgia that commem- this issue. There will be a 60-day comment Hatcher said the Chief Vann House in orate and honor the culture and history of period. Spring Place and the New Echota his- the Native Americans. The Trail of Tears toric site will be open Thursday through Association has worked very hard to make “Georgia’s school children have seen his- Saturday after the changes are made. sure this history is not forgotten. tory come alive at these sites - it is sad to Both are currently open Tuesday through think the day has come when their his- Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday “It’s ironic that these cuts are being made tory lesson comes only from a book,” said from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Hatcher said she does just as the Trail of Tears National Historic Baker. “Please do whatever you can to help not anticipate changes in the daily hours.

“Part of our goal was to make sure that all Trail of Tears Road Segment Listed as on Arkansas Register state historic sites remain open, even if it is by Mark Christ just one day a week, and that they remain open to school groups,” she said. The State Review Board of the Arkansas feeling and association make the highway Historic Preservation Program listed the segment richly deserving of recognition on The management of all historic sites will Clarksville to Van Buren Road, Highway the Arkansas Register of Historic Places.” be transferred to nearby state parks. In the 352 Segment in Franklin and Johnson case of the Chief Vann House, manage- counties on the Arkansas Register of The Arkansas Register recognizes histori- ment will be transferred to Fort Mountain Historic Places when it met April 1. This cally signifi cant properties that do not meet State Park. Hatcher said she did not know road was used during Removal. the requirements of National Register what would happen to the employees at the listing. historic sites. The Clarksville to Van Buren Road, Highway 352 Segment follows Highway 352 DNR announced plans to close or cut and Old Wire Road through Franklin and the hours at the state’s historic sites in Johnson Counties for about 24 miles. September because of state budget cuts. The $18.6 billion fi scal year 2010 budget “Though it is now covered by a two-lane, signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue is $3 billion black-top highway, the Clarksville to Van less than the 2009 budget approved last Buren Road, Highway 352 Segment is year. eligible for listing on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places by virtue of its status The Georgia governor can be contacted at as a modern highway overlaying the road Offi ce of the Governor, State of Georgia, traversed by the Harris, Whiteley and 203 State Capitol, , Ga. 30334. Bell Detachments during the Cherokee Phone: 404-656-1776, Fax: 404-657-7332 Removal,” the nomination says. “While the or e-mail: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/ paving compromises several elements of in- Photo courtesy of AHPP contact_us/0,2657,78006749_ 94820188,00. tegrity, the remarkable integrity of location, Clarksville to Van Buren Road, Hwy. 352 Segment html.

June 2009 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 3 Trail of Tears State Chapter News

Kentucky Kentucky (continued) Illinois (continued) Since the fall conference in Little Rock, the meeting is tentatively set for Smithland at On April 26th, the spring general member- Kentucky chapter has been very busy on the old courthouse in late October. Visits ship meeting was held at the Morris Library research and certifi cation eff orts for the to Mantle Rock and Berry’s Ferry will be at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Kentucky portion of the Trail. After several a part of this meeting. TOTA member and Faculty librarians Herman A. Peterson, attempts to attend the Livingston County Nature Conservancy representative Shelly a chapter representative on the national Fiscal Court to address the certifi cation Morris is hard at work on the Mantle Rock TOTA board, and Melissa Hubbard gave a issue of Berry’s Ferry and the John Berry project. presentation on Trail-related materials in homesite, the weather cooperated enough the library’s Special Collections Research for this to take place and the chapter is An issue with Radford Farmhouse and the Center. pleased to announce that, as of this pub- trail segment near there has still not been lication, the necessary papers have been resolved concerning the rock quarry permit On June 13th, the Illinois chapter spon- signed to accomplish this site certifi cation. for the adjoining property. The permit re- sored a bus tour of the Trail of Tears across quest has been “technically withdrawn” by southern Illinois with several stops at spe- the State of Kentucky for the third time. We cific sites and tour guides sharing the Trail are not out of the woods yet on this one. story along the way. A box lunch was served at the Vienna Park. Illinois The Illinois chapter’s recent activities have included events coordinated with Several members of the Oklahoma chapter the “Mapping the Trail of Tears through recently attended the Joint Council meeting Southern Illinois” exhibit and the “We Shall of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Remain” PBS series, a program focusing Band of Cherokee Indians held at Red on Trail of Tears materials in the Southern Clay, Tennessee. While there, Ed Henshaw, Illinois University library, and a bus tour Marybelle Chase, and Curtis Rohr spent Photo by Alice Murphree across approximately 60 miles of southern an afternoon at the Chattanooga Public Attending the certifcation signing for Berry’s Ferry Illinois on the Trail. Library doing research in the Cherokee were: (front row) Brent Ferrell, Franklin Walker, rations list records and on a Penelope Allen County Judge Chris Lasher, (back row) chapter The traveling exhibit “Mapping the Trail of manuscript of the John Ross papers. The member Ann Day, Terry Stringer, Harry Van Smith, and Chapter President Beverly Baker. Ferrell, Tears through Southern Illinois,” originally library is in the process of digitizing these Walker, Stringer, and Van Smith are magistrates for developed by Karen Frailey and board records for future access. Livingston County. member Harvey Henson, Jr. for display at the Southern Illinois University Museum, The Oklahoma chapter’s research team In January, Beverly Baker and Alice has been on display in several southern is planning a fourth trip to the National Murphree traveled to Little Rock to the Illinois museums during the past year with Archives in Washington, D.C., sometime Research Center to meet with coordination by WSIU Television Outreach this summer. The team will be researching Director Dan Littlefi eld and work on Coordinator Vickie Devenport. As part of in the Records of the Commissary General information that can be used for additional Native American Heritage Month activities, of Subsistence, Records of the Quarter Kentucky sites. Currently in process is the it was displayed last November 17th at the Master General, and Records of the eff ort to certify Big Spring in downtown SIU Student Center in conjunction with a Secretary of War. Researchers hope to fi nd Princeton. The chapter has been working visit by storyteller Robert Lewis from the more exciting information concerning the for several months with TOTA members Cherokee Heritage Cultural Center. WSIU Cherokee removal and the Trail of Tears. Barbara Gillihan and Judy Boaz, along with was awarded a grant to raise awareness The information the group fi nds of value Linda Ward of George Coon Library, on of Native American history in southern will be copied and then will be organized research. Princeton City Council voted to Illinois, in conjunction with the PBS and transferred to the Sequoyah Research request certifi cation on May 18th. documentary, “We Shall Remain.” WSIU Center at Little Rock, Arkansas. The SRC has been partnering with NASO, Southern is the offi cial archive for the Trail of Tears The spring chapter meeting was held Illinois Association of Museums (SIAM), Association. After being processed by SRC at Princeton Library with TOTA Vice SIUC Multicultural Services and Programs, Director Dan Littlefie ld and his staff , the President and Cherokee Nation Supreme SIUC University Museum, and the Illinois records will be available to all chapters for Court Justice Troy Wayne Poteete as guest chapter of TOTA to bring the exhibit to research. speaker. The board meeting was held prior audiences throughout southern Illinois. to the public chapter meeting. The fall

4 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • June 2009 Trail of Tears State Chapter News

Arkansas Arkansas (continued) Alabama (continued) This year promises to be exciting for the through Arkansas. Digital map fi les are The next chapter meeting will be on August Trail of Tears Association and the Arkansas being developed that can also be used for 1st at 10:00 a.m. (board meeting), 10:30 chapter. As most already know, federal interactive web-based applications at a a.m. (membership meeting) and after lunch legislation was passed and signed into law future date. at 1:30 p.m. (conference committee meet- that added the Benge and the Bell routes ing) at the Birmingham Museum of Art in and other signifi cant segments to the Alabama downtown Birmingham. Please make plans Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The to attend. The Alabama chapter met on April 4th at additional routes will extend the trail in Guntersville State Park. A board meeting Arkansas by hundreds of miles and provide was followed by a membership meeting in Georgia many interpretation possibilities. which Jeff Bishop, president of the Georgia At last, things seem to be moving into high chapter, introduced the TOTAbase to the gear for the Georgia chapter. Georgia is The annual Arkansas chapter member- Alabama chapter. The two chapters are now offi cially part of the Trail of Tears ship meeting and summer program will collaborating in adding GPS waypoints and National Historic Trail! The bill was signed be Saturday, July 25th, from 1 to 4 p.m., at digitized images of original documents, into law just a few weeks ago. This is the the new Arkansas Studies Institute in Little pertaining to Alabama Cherokee Removal culmination of years of eff ort on the part Rock. This is shaping up to be a great pro- sites and routes, to the database. of many diff erent groups, and it will add gram including: (1) a report from Carolyn 2,845 miles of new trail, including about Kent regarding the 10 new interpretive Excitement is continuing to mount as hundreds of miles in Georgia. The primary panels planned for Arkansas; (2) an update the chapter prepares for the 2009 TOTA focus in the fi rst phase of these additions in from Marilyn Heifner of the Heritage Trail conference at the Guntersville Lodge and Georgia will be interpreting the 15 Removal Partners about the new Statewide Heritage Hotel in Guntersville State Park. Getting fort and camp sites and the routes taken Trail legislation in Arkansas; (3) a presen- ready for the conference is paramount on between them. Wayside exhibits will be tation by Daniel F. Littlefi eld, Jr., direc- chapter members’ minds. This is the fi rst placed at sites where the chapter can ar- tor of the Sequoyah National Research TOTA conference ever held in Alabama, range to obtain landowner permission. Center, about removal of the Chickasaws, and the chapter plans to make it an unfor- Muscogees (Creeks), Choctaws, and gettable experience for all participants. One of these fort/camp sites, Cedartown, Seminoles through Arkansas; and (4) a The chapter has received an unbelievable is well on its way to being interpreted. presentation from Jerra Quinton, executive $10,000 in funding from the Marshall Dr. Sarah Hill has agreed to take the lead director of the Trail of Tears Association, County Convention and Visitors Bureau. on this project, and with the help of new regarding national activities. Words cannot express the appreciation felt National Park Service Historian Frank when hearing the decision. The opening Norris, things seem to be moving ahead Prior to the July 25th meeting, on Friday, reception on Monday night will be hosted briskly. Approximately fi ve wayside exhibits July 24th, Dan Littlefie ld, Jr., and staff have by the Guntersville Museum. Larry Smith, will be placed at the Cedartown park, graciously off ered to host a research day at a chapter representative on the national the Sequoyah National Research Center. TOTA board, is working on some special Space will be limited. To pre-register call exhibits for this reception. The Muscogee Carolyn Kent at 501-650-3384, or email at (Creek) Nation is hosting the Tuesday [email protected]. night reception. A big “Thank you” goes to Joyce Bear for providing funding for The Arkansas chapter continues to work this event. During this reception Doug on 10 Trail of Tears wayside panels that will Mabry will present some very insight- be placed at signifi cant locations around ful research on the relationship between the state. A full report will be presented at Creek and Cherokee Removal. Plans are the annual membership meeting in July. being made to do a research session on the This project is made possible by a generous firs t day, Monday, of the conference. It will grant from the Department of Arkansas be a great opportunity to share ideas and Heritage. Watch for news about those research information. We need volunteers installations and dedications. to assist during the conference. If you can Photo by Jeff Bishop help, please e-mail the chapter at AL- Work is also progressing on a new map Archaeologist Jim Pomfret from Georgia DOT [email protected]. You will be greatly ap- investigates the Ft. Buffngton site with Ground showing the removal routes of the fi ve preciated. You can fi nd more information Penetrating Radar. southeastern tribal nations that travelled about the conference on pages 10 and 11. Chapter News continued on page 8

June 2009 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 5 Cherokee Joint Council Celebrates 25th Anniversary at Red Clay State Park

The Joint Cherokee Council, which Red Clay in 1837, the last Council meeting consists of the Cherokee Nation headquar- before the Removal. tered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians head- The three-day event included a scholarly quartered in Cherokee, North Carolina, symposium, cultural demonstrations and met at Red Clay State Park in Tennessee on performances, storytelling, arts and crafts Friday, April 17, 2009. Each year, the Joint booths, and traditional food. There were Council meets to pass resolutions agreed several TOTA members present, and upon by both tribes’ councils that sym- TOTA’s executive director, Jerra Quinton, bolize the reunifi cation of the Cherokee gave a report to the Joint Council about people. This year’s meeting was especially projects along the Trail, which is partially commemorative because it marked the 25th One of the highlights of the Joint Council meeting funding by the Cherokee Nation and the anniversary of the fi rst Joint Council, which was the performance by the students of the im- Easter Band on an annual basis. Each tribe mersion class that the Eastern Band of Cherokee was also at Red Clay, held between the two Indians sponsor. The children sang songs and per- has made it a priority to set aside $10,000 tribes since the National Council met at formed a traditional dance for the audience. each year to give to the TOT.

Vision Becoming Reality - Using Partnerships to Develop the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

In 1987, Congress acknowledged the signif- James Brown Cherokee Plantation, TN TOTA State Chapter Contacts icance of this tragic event in our Nation’s John Ross House, GA history by establishing the Trail of Tears Memorial and Museum, NC Alabama National Historic Trail. The National Park Lake Dardanelle State Park, AR Gail King 205-672-2074 Service administers the Trail in cooperation Mantle Rock, KY E-mail: [email protected] with federal, state, and local agencies; the Maramec Spring Park—Massey Iron Works, MO Mount Nebo State Park, AR Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Arkansas Murrell Home, OK Cherokee Indians; interested groups; and John McLarty Museum of the Cherokee Indian, NC private landowners. Phone: 479-751-7125 New Echota State Historic Site, GA E-mail: [email protected] Petit Jean State Park, AR The Trail of Tears Association and the Pinnacle Mountain State Park, AR Georgia National Park Service National Trails Port Royal State Park, TN Jeff Bishop Phone: 706-766-1309 System Offi ce -Santa Fe have been working Radford Farm, KY E-mail: [email protected] with Trail partners to increase visibility for Red Clay State Historic Area, TN the Trail and to develop it for visitor use. Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, TN Illinois Old traces, historic buildings, and other Snelson-Brinker Cabin, MO Sandy Boaz resources are being preserved. Many sites Star City Ranch Trail Segment, MO Phone: 618-833-8216 have been certifi ed and numerous on-the- Tennessee River Museum, TN E-mail: [email protected] ground projects have been completed, such Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, KY Kentucky as route signing, visitor-use development, Trail of Tears State Forest, IL Beverly Baker interpretive wayside exhibits, and interior Tuscumbia Landing, AL Phone: 270-924-5484 museum exhibits at existing facilities. Vann House Historic Site, GA E-mail: [email protected] VC/Moccasin Springs Road/Nancy Hildebrand’s Certif ed Sites Gravesite-Trail of Tears State Park, MO North Carolina Audubon Acres, TN Waynesville Cherokee Encampment, Anne Rogers Phone: 828-227-2443 Cemetery, TN Roubidoux Spring, Waynesville, MO E-mail: [email protected] Browns Ferry Tavern, TN Campground Cemetery, IL Federal Protection Components and Tennessee Chattanooga Regional History Museum,TN Interpretive Sites Bill Jones Cherokee County Historical Museum, NC Arkansas Post National Memorial, AR Phone: 931-946-7486 , OK Cadron Settlement Park, AR E-mail: [email protected] /Major Ridge Home, GA Cherokee Memorial Park -, TN Missouri City of North Little Rock Riverfront Park, AR Fort Smith National Historic Site, AR Deloris Gray Wood Crabb-Abbot Farm, IL Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN Phone: 573-729-2545 Delta Cultural Center, AR Mark Twain National Forest, MO E-mail: [email protected] Fitzgerald Station and Farmstead, AR Mocassin Bend, TN Fort Gibson, OK Pea Ridge National Military Park, AR Oklahoma Gray’s Inn, KY Shawnee National Forest, MO Curtis Rohr Phone: 918-341-4689 The Hermitage, TN Stones River National Battlef eld, TN E-mail: [email protected] Historic Road from Ross to Ridge’s, GA

6 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • June 2009

Trail of Tears Association MEMBERSHIP FORM All levels of membership include one (1) state chapter affi liation. 1100 N. University, Suite 143 January - December 2009 Please send $10 for each additional Little Rock, AR 72207-6344 state chapter you would like to join.

Name Mr. Mrs. Ms. Address

City State Zip Email

Phone I want to join the following state chapter(s): AL AR GA IL KY MO NC OK TN

Membership Levels Basic Individual: $25 to $99 Patron: $500 to $999 Student: $10 (enclose ID) Sponsor: $100 to $499 Benefactor: $1000+

Note: Sponsors, Patrons, & Benefactors are listed prominently in two issues of the newsletter, Trail News.

PLEASE FILL OUT MEMBERSHIP: $25 + $ = $ (this amount determines your membership level) (optional donation)*

# of additional chapters x $10 = $

TOTAL ENCLOSED = $

*Of this optional donation, please give $ to TOTA, and $ to the state chapter.

Trail of Tears Trail of Tears National Park Service National Historic Trail Association National Trails System Offce - Santa Fe

Trail News is produced by the part- The Trail of Tears Association has The National Trails System Off ce - nership of the Trail of Tears Association entered into a cooperative agreement Santa Fe administers the Trail of Tears and the National Park Service National with the National Park Service to pro- NHT, the Santa Fe NHT, and the Route Trails System Off ce - Santa Fe. mote and engage in the protection and 66 Corridor Preservation Program. El preservation of the Trail of Tears NHT Camino Real de Tierra Adentro NHT Managing Editor/Designer resources; to promote awareness of the is administered jointly by the National Jerra Quinton Trail’s legacy, including the effects of Trails System Off ce-Santa Fe and the the U.S. Government’s Indian Removal New Mexico State Off ce of the Bureau Contributors Policy on the Cherokee and other of Land Management. These trail and Jack Baker, Jeff Bishop, Mark Christ, tribes; and to perpetuate the manage- corridor programs are administered in Melissa Hubbard, Aaron Mahr, Herman ment and development techniques that partnership with American Indian tribes; Peterson, Jerra Quinton, and TOTA state are consistent with the NPS’s Trail plan. federal, state, and local agencies; non- chapters. government organizations; and private Trail of Tears Association landowners. Comments/Address Changes? 1100 North University, Suite 143 Contact: Jerra Quinton Little Rock, Arkansas 72207 National Trails System Off ce - Santa Fe Trail of Tears Association PO Box 728 1100 N. University, Suite 143 Phone Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 Little Rock, AR 72207-6344 800-441-4513 [email protected] 501-666-9032 Phone Website E-Mail 505-988-6888 www.nps.gov/trte [email protected] E-Mail Website [email protected] www.NationalTOTA.org

June 2009 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 7 Trail of Tears State Chapter News

Georgia (continued) Georgia (continued) North Carolina (continued) where the Removal camp was located. Dr. very excited about this project, which will three days of that session. Members who Hill completed wording for the text of the make a large number of rare 19th century assisted in distributing literature about the exhibits this week, and the chapter hopes newspapers available to researchers for the chapter included Ginger Abernathy, Tom for it to be placed at the park this year, after fi rst time. Belt, William Cook, Hartwell Francis, Mary suff ering a number of delays and setbacks Ann Thompson, and Anne Rogers. in previous years. This should be a great On June 20th, due to massive interest, “showpiece” for the Georgia chapter, and the Georgia chapter will be sponsoring a a model for how the chapter may interpret workshop on Cherokee genealogy at New other fort/camp sites. Echota. Thanks to Chapter Vice-president, Calendar of Events Leslie Thomas and to Linda Woodward Offi cials in LaFayette have also expressed Geiger for taking this on. June 20 interest in working with the chapter to Trail of Tears Walk, 9 am interpret Fort Cumming. Georgia Chapter Junaluska Memorial Museum North Carolina Robbinsville, North Carolina Preservation Offi cer Cailey Fowler met See NC chapter report for more information. with LaFayette offi cials recently — the good The North Carolina chapter will meet on June 20, 2009, at the Graham County news is that the probable fort site is on North Carolina Chapter Meeting, 1 pm Library in Robbinsville at 1:00 p.m. The Graham County Library featured speaker will be Dr. Lance Green, Robbinsville, North Carolina who will talk about Cherokee homestead See NC chapter report for more information. sites in western North Carolina at the time Cherokee Genealogy Workshop of Removal. Georgia chapter New Echota State Historic Site The annual Trail of Tears Walk will also Calhoun, Georgia take place on that date. Those who wish to Visit gatrailoftears.org for more information. participate on the walk on the actual Trail in this area should meet at the Junaluska July 12 - 15 Photo by Jeff Bishop 12th Conference on National Scenice Memorial Museum at 9:00 a.m. to be Jack Richardson, Dr. Sarah Hill, and Secretary and Historic Trails — “Gearing up for Linda Baker investigate the probable site of Ft. transported up the mountain for the Walk. the Decade for the National Trails: Out- Buff ngton. The registration fee is $20.00, and includes reach, Protection, and Capacity” a T-shirt designed by Luke Swimmer and Missoula, Montanta public property, just like Cedartown. This lunch at the Museum. To pre-register, Visit nationaltrailspartnership.org for more information. may be a good candidate for the next round send a check for $20.00, made out to “Ed of interpretation and wayside exhibits. Jackson Scholarship Fund” to T.J. Holland, July 24 Junaluska Memorial Museum, P. O. Box Sequoyah Research Center Research Day Archaeologist Erin Andrews has agreed to 1209, Robbinsville, NC 28771. University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas work with the Georgia chapter to develop See AR chapter report for more information. a plan of action on the recently approved Work is continuing on the placement of fort/camp site archaeology project. Having signs to indicate various locations as- July 25 limited funds, the idea is to get the most sociated with the Removal. Signs on the Arkansas Chapter Meeting, 1 pm possible “bang for the buck” by working Nantahala National Forest along the Arkansas Studies Institute Little Rock, Arkansas with public colleges and universities, non- actual Trail are now in place. These were See AR chapter report for more information. profi t groups, and with professional archae- installed by T.J. Holland, assisted by Joe ologists who are willing to donate some Wolf and Scott Chekelelee. All are citi- August 1 time and expertise. Archeology will help to zens of the Eastern Band and live in the Alabama Chapter Meetings confi rm fort and camp locations that have Snowbird community. Placement of these Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham, Alabama been otherwise diffi cult to nail down. The signs was facilitated by Rodney Snedeker, See AL chapter report for more information. chapter looks forward to working with Erin Forest Archaeologist for North Carolina and her colleagues on these projects. National Forests, and supervised by the October 5 - 8 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cultural 14th Annual TOTA Conference Linda Woodward Geiger is taking the lead Resources office. Guntersville State Park on working with the Atlanta History Center Guntersville, Alabama See conference information on pp. 10-11 to preserve a highly important newspaper The chapter was represented with a table at collection on microfi lm. The chapter is the Red Clay Joint Council meeting on all

8 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • June 2009 SIU Carbondale Faculty Librarians Give Presentation to Illinois Chapter by Herman Peterson, D.Min., and Melissa Hubbard On Sunday April 26th a general meeting dence for the stories he had heard in his interest. One of the fruits of this travel is a of the Illinois chapter of the Trail of Tears youth about the passage of the small collection of photographs of sites on Association was held in the newly reno- through the area. Smith was a member of the Trail of Tears. vated Morris Library on the campus of the history faculty at SIUC, and the author Southern Illinois University Carbondale. of A History of Southern Illinois. He was The balance of the presentation was spent Two faculty librarians gave a presenta- also intrigued by this chapter in regional examining these photographs and explain- tion entitled, “Cumulative Collaboration: history. ing their historical context. The photo- Historical Research into the Trail of Tears graph collection includes: (1) the historical at the Time of its Centennial.” Melissa Mulcaster and Smith collaborated on marker at the site of Fort Butler in Murphy, a research project to uncover as much North Carolina, one of the concentration information about the passage of the Trail camps where the Cherokees were gathered through southern Illinois as they could. in preparation to move them west; (2) the They believed that the region had played home of John Berry, who operated the a vital role in the history of the Cherokee ferry that took the Cherokees across the tribe, and they hoped to organize a three- Ohio River from Kentucky into Golconda, day festival marking the centennial of Illinois; (3) the McCorkle home, a camp- the Trail, reminiscent of the centennial ing place for the Cherokees; (4) Bridges pageants that were held in North Carolina Tavern, where supplies were bought; and and Oklahoma. (5) the historical marker at Dutch Creek, one of the sites where the Cherokees Smith began his research by writing to waited for the ice to stop fl owing down the librarians, archivists, and fellow historians Mississippi River. throughout the country asking for any information they could provide about the This last photograph captures one of two Trail. This correspondence is preserved in historical markers in Southern Illinois com- the Special Collections Research Center memorating the Trail of Tears which were as part of the George Washington Smith the fruits of the work of Mulcaster, Smith Papers collection. Smith found that there and others in the 1930’s. Sadly, neither sign was little documentary evidence of the is extant today. However, the erection of Photo courtesy of Morris Library, SIUC Trail preserved in archives and libraries, signs is another parallel between the work An old photo of a no longer existing historical but he did have some success with contact- of Mulcaster and Smith and the eff orts of marker at Dutch Creek in Illinois. During Removal, ing other historians who had uncovered the Trail of Tears Association today. It is the Cherokees camped here because of ice in the Mississippi River. valuable information. His correspondence cumulative eff ect of research and collabo- with these individuals created a network ration over time that serves to build up the Hubbard is rare books librarian at the of disparate historians, all of whom were store of our knowledge of history. Special Collections Research Center at working on the same project: illuminating Morris Library, and Herman A. Peterson the history of the Trail of Tears. During this is head of reference and instruction. Dr. time Smith was also corresponding with Peterson is also one of the Illinois chap- Mulcaster, who was traveling throughout ter’s representatives to the national TOTA the country, visiting Cherokee communi- board. ties and sites along the Trail. He wrote to Smith about the information he was able to Hubbard began the presentation by looking gather, and these letters are also preserved at the research conducted by two men in in the Smith Papers collection. the 1930’s in preparation for the centen- nial of the Trail of Tears. John G. Mulcaster Peterson began his portion of the pre- and George Washington Smith became sentation by remarking on the similari- interested in the passage of the Trail of ties between the work of Mulcaster and Tears through southern Illinois for diff erent Smith and the work of the Trail of Tears reasons. Mulcaster was a native southern Association today. Theirs was a collabora- Photo courtesy of Morris Library, SIUC Illinoisan and amateur local historian who tion between an academic historian and a local historian. They also traveled along The McCorkle home in Illinois was a camping site wanted to investigate the historical evi- for the Cherokees during Removal. the Trail, meeting others who shared their

June 2009 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 9 14th Annual Trail of Tears Association Conference & Symposium October 5 - 8, 2009 Guntersville State Park • Guntersville, Alabama

Presentations (not a complete list) Trail of Tears in Fort Payne, by Sharon The Methodists and the Cherokee, by The Role of Gunter’s Landing in Chero- Freeman, Alabama chapter secretary; Michael Wren, Alabama chapter board kee Removal, by Larry Smith, Alabama master’s student-Earth science/archaeology member; independent researcher chapter treasurer and national board representative; bachelor of science degree Formation of the EBCI and the Aftermath NPS Challenge Cost-share and Certif cation in history of Removal, by Russ Townsend, Eastern Workshop, by National Park Service Staff Band of Cherokees preservation off cer TOTAbase: A Google Earth Trail of Tears Research Methods for Mapping the Project, by Jeff Bishop, Georgia chapter McIntosh’s 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs: Cherokee Trail System, by Lamar Marshall, president the Beginning of the End for the South- Alabama chapter board member; cultural eastern Tribes, by Doug Mabry, Georgia heritage director for Wildsouth, a non-prof t Tuscumbia, Courtland, and Decatur chapter research chair; master’s degree in education corporation Railroad, by Gail King, Alabama chapter anthropology president; master’s degree in anthropology

Tentative Schedule

Monday, Oct 5 Tuesday, Oct 6 Wednesday, Oct 7 Thursday, Oct 8

Morning Morning Morning Morning

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 9:00 – 10:00 AM Registration & Alabama Chapter Registration Registration Concurrent Sessions 13, 14, 15 Activities (local tours, research areas, etc.) 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM 9:00 – 10:00 AM 10:30 – 11:30 AM Welcomes Concurrent Sessions 7, 8, 9 Concurrent Session 16, 17, 18 TOTA President AL Chapter President 10:30 – 11:30 AM Local Dignitaries Concurrent Sessions 10, 11, 12 NTS-NPS Superintendent

9:30 – 10:30 AM Keynote

11:00 AM - Noon Concurrent Sessions 1, 2, 3 ______

Luncheon Luncheon Luncheon Noon – 1:15 PM Boxed Lunches Noon – 1:15 PM NPS Update/Trail of Tears Video Speaker ______

Afternoon/Evening Afternoon/Evening Afternoon/Evening

1:00 – 4:00 PM 1:30 – 3:00 PM 12:30 – 5:30 PM TOTA Board Meeting General Assembly Field Trip General Membership Meeting/ (Lunch on Bus) 5:00 – 6:30 PM Chapter Reports Reception 2:00 – 5:30 PM 3:30 – 4:30 PM Activities for those not Concurrent Sessions 4, 5, 6 participating in the fi eld trip

5:30 – 7:00 PM 6:00 – 7:30 PM Reception Reception

10 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News • June 2009 Guntersville State Park Lodging 1155 Lodge Drive • Guntersville, Alabama Special Rates for TOTA Conference

Hotel Rooms Rates Cabins & Chalets Rates *Rooms face Guntersville Reservoir Parking Lot View 1 adult - $86.40 Cabins $112.50 - up to 6 adults queen bed & sofa sleeper 2 adults - $88.20 2 bedrooms/2 baths $5 per additional adult $5 per additional adult (2 full beds/1 king bed) 8 person maximum Bluffside Rooms* 1 adult - $88.20 Chalets $112.50 - up to 6 adults 2 queen beds 2 adults - $90.00 2 bedrooms/1 bath $5 per additional adult $5 per additional adult (2 full beds/1 king bed) 8 person maximum King Suites* $112.50 - up to 4 adults king bed & sofa sleeper $5 per additional adult Queen Suites* $157.50 - up to 6 adults 2 queen beds & sofa sleeper $5 per additional adult Riverview Suite* $157.50 - up to 4 adults 2 sofa sleepers (no bedroom) $5 per additional adult

Additional Taxes & Fees Deadline to receive group rates 12% lodging tax + $1 city surcharge per night September 3, 2009

Group Codes (needed for group rates) Room Reservations & Area Information Arriving Sunday, Oct. 4th: Code CGTOTA 1-800-548-4553 or 256-571-5440 Arriving Monday, Oct. 5th, or after: Code CGTOT2 www.VisitLakeGuntersville.com

Airports Extra Room Amenities Huntsville, AL - 58 miles Refrigerator Birmingham, AL - 88 miles Microwave Chattanooga, TN - 101 miles DVD Player Wireless Internet

WednesdayWednesday Field Trip FREE FREE TwoTwo charteredchartered buses willwill take take participants participants to to Fort Fort Payne, Payne, where where they’ll they’ll visit visit the the sitessites of TurtleTurtle Field Mission & John Huss’Huss’ Cabin. Then on toto WillstownWillstown Mission Mission ConferenceConference Carpooling Cemetery, Ross’ Home Place, Valley Head, & the Bellefonte site. Limited seating! Cemetery, Ross’ Home Place, Valley Head, & the Bellefonte site. Limited seating! PleasePlease make make note note in in the the desig- GroundGround Transportation Transportation from AirportsAirports to to Guntersville Guntersville natednated area area of of your your conference conference registrationregistration form form if youif you are are willing to give someone a ride Huntsville International Airport ChattanoogaChattanooga Metropolitan Metropolitan Airport Airport willing to give someone a ride Huntsville International Airport or if you need a ride to and Executive Connection: (256) 772-0186772-0186 ApproximateApproximate rates: $200$200 for for one one person; person; $5 or if you need a ride to and $96 for 1 person; $10 ea. for additional $5for for each each additional additional passenger. passenger. from the conference. TOTA will $96 for 1 person; $10 ea. for additional • Blue Ridge Limo: (423) 902-6181 or from the conference. TOTA will passengers up to 5 total • Blue Ridge Limo: (423) 902-6181 or help facilitate putting people in passengers up to 5 total (423) 304-5878 help facilitate putting people in Birmingham International Airport (423) 304-5878 touch to work out the details. Birmingham International Airport • Checker Cab: (423) 704-4304 touch to work out the details. Approximate rate rate for for one one person: person: $170 $170 • Checker• Mercury: Cab: (423)(423) 704-4304624-1084 •• AwardAward Cab: Cab: (205) (205) 243-5552 243-5552 • Mercury:• All American (423) Taxi: (423) 645-6387 •• B’hamB’ham Cab: Cab: (205) (205) 567-7890 567-7890 • All• AmericanMillenium Taxi: Taxi: (423) (423) 645-6387 267-2008 •• B’hamB’ham Door-to-Door: Door-to-Door: (205) (205) 591-5550 591-5550 • Millenium• Jackson Taxi: Cab: (423) (423) 267-2008 304-8917 $120 (1-4 people) $120 (1-4 people) • Jackson Cab: (423) 304-8917 624-1084 •• HillHill Cab: Cab: (205) (205) 222-7812 222-7812 •• YellowYellow Cab: Cab: (205) (205) 328-4444 328-4444 ForFor specifispecifc c cab cab fare fare and and service, service, call call the the cab cab numbers numbers above. above. Many Many will willwork work with with you toyou tonegotiate negotiate a groupa group rate rate that that is moreis more economical economical than than a single-person a single-person rate. rate.

June 2009 • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail News 11 Traill PRSRT STD of U.S. POSTAGE Tears PAID LITTLE ROCK, AR Associationn PERMIT 2 1100 N. University, Suite 143 Little Rock, AR 72207-6344

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

The Trail of Tears Association would like to thank the following for their generous upgraded membership support:

Benefactors $1000 + Cherokee Nation - $10,000 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - $10,000

Patrons $500 - $999 Principal Chief Chad Smith, Cherokee Nation - $500

Sponsors $100 - $499 Robert Conley, Cherokee Studies, Western Carolina University, NC - $225 Patsy Hanvey, AL - $100 D. Robert Akerhielm, IN - $125 (2008) + $100 (2009) Elmer Hogue, Jr., GA - $100 Jean Wall Davis, GA - $125 Mark Twain National Forest, MO - $100 Bobbie Heffngton, AR - $125 Mary Ellen Meredith, OK - $100 Rowena McClinton, IL - $125 La Myra Morton, MO - $100 Billie Napolitano, OK - $125 Guy Parmenter, GA - $100 Jana Younger, AL - $125 Herman Peterson, IL - $100 Lori Vann, WI - $120 Ansley Saville, GA - $100 Jack Baker, OK - $100 Robbin Skinner, NC - $100 Ken Blankenship, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, NC - $100 Greg Trammell, GA - $100 H. Riley Bock, MO - $100 Ernest Klatt, Jr., NC - $100 Andrew Denson, NC - $100 Gary Wood, IL - $100 Patsy Edgar, GA - $100