BLACK HISTORY NEWS & NOTES

AUGUST 1995 NUMBER 61

1984 proclamation from Indianapo­ Birdie Lee Whiteside Collection lis Mayor William Hudnut III and certificates of appreciation are in The Birdie Lee Whiteside Collec­ The volunteer organization grew box 1, folders 1, 2, and 8. There are tion (M 658) was donated to the In­ to also include institutions and shut- also certificates honoring Whiteside diana Historical Society during the ins in counties adjacent to Marion and/or the organization throughout Black Women in the Middle West County. As a result of the organi­ the nine scrapbooks in boxes 2-4. Project (BWMWP), a collecting ef­ zation’s work, it along with White- Program booklets are in box 1, fort to gather primary source mate­ side has received numerous com­ folder 9 and newsclippings about the rials of African-American women in mendations and awards. work of Guiding Light Christian Illinois and Indiana. Spearheaded by A longtime member of 25th Service, Inc. are in box 1, folder 10. Darlene Clark Hine of Purdue Uni­ Street Baptist Church, Birdie L. (Additional program booklets and versity, the project was conducted Whiteside joined Messiah Baptist newsclippings are located in the in three phases from 1977 to 1985. Church in 1970. Her church activi­ collection’s scrapbooks.) The BWMWP records are located ties have included choir, missionary Birdie Whiteside’s interest in par­ at five repositories within the two societies, the Baptist Training liamentary procedures can be deduced states including the Indiana Histori­ Union, and Sunday School. White- from her association with the Hoosier cal Society (also houses the project’s side has been affiliated with several Roundtable Unit of the National As­ administrative records), Calumet organizations including Church sociation of Parliamentarians and the Regional Archives, and the North­ Women United, Council ofWomen, Parliamentary Practice Club of India­ ern Indiana Historical Society in In­ Three Sisters Nursing Home, and napolis. Collection materials related diana and the Chicago Historical So­ the Juvenile Center Auxiliary. to these organizations are located in ciety and the Illinois State Histori­ Scope and Content box 1, folders 11-16. cal Society in Illinois. The collection consists of four A descriptive list of each scrap­ Historical Sketch manuscript boxes and spans from book in the collection follows: Birdie Mary Lee Whiteside the years 1944 to 1986. There are Scrapbook #1 (1944-1986) Corre­ (1911- ) was bom in Hopkinsville, nine scrapbooks and 16 folders that spondence, photographs, program Kentucky. After receiving a Bach­ contain correspondence, photo­ booklets, and newsclippings. Pho­ elor of Missions degree from graphs, program booklets, certifi­ tograph of Pastor J. B. Carter (25th Simmons University in Louisville in cates of appreciation, and Street Baptist Church in Indianapo­ 1949, she returned to Indianapolis, newsclippings, mostly pertaining to lis) and Birdie L. Whiteside; 25-year having lived in the city prior to go­ Birdie L. Whiteside and her work service program booklet of the ing to the university. with the Guiding Light Christian Guiding Light Christian Service, In 1953, Whiteside founded the Service, Inc. (GLCS). The organi­ Incorporated; and 1983 and 1984 Guiding Light Christian Service, a zation, founded by Whiteside to take Ivy Award Luncheon (sponsored by tape ministry designed to take re­ tape recorded religious programs to the Volunteer Action Center of the corded religious sermons to the sick the sick and shut-in, was incorpo­ United Way) program booklets. and shut-in. The organization was rated in 1958. Original incorpora­ Scrapbook #2 (1948-1982) Cor­ incorporated in Indianapolis in tion papers are in scrapbook #8 (box respondence, photographs, certifi­ 1958. During the 1950s, Whiteside 4, folder 2); a photostat copy is in cates of appreciation, and began preparing and delivering Eas­ box 1, folder 5. newsclippings. Photograph of ter baskets and Christmas socks/ Whiteside has received many Birdie L. Whiteside singing at the stockings, as part of the organi­ honors for her work with the Guid­ zation’s service. ing Light Christian Service, Inc. A (Continued on page 8)

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BHNN_1995-08_NO61 Diamond Foundation. This year, three of the fellows will be in resi­ Historical Happenings dence at the Schomburg Center for one full year and two fellows will Huggins-Quarles Committee on the Status of be funded for six months. Minority Historians and Recipients of the National En­ Award Minority History dowment for the Humanities Fel­ lowships and their project topics are: Named for Benjamin Quarles and Organization of American Histo­ Ralph LeRoy Crowder, Assistant rians the late Nathan Huggins, two out­ Professor, Department of History standing historians of the African 112 North Bryan Street and African American Studies and American past, the Huggins- Bloomington, IN 47408-4199 Research Center, Purdue Univer­ Quarles award is given annually to The Committee on the Status of sity— “Street Scholars: The Contri­ minority graduate students at the Minority Historians and Minority bution and Struggle of Self-trained dissertation research stage of their History will evaluate the applica­ Black Historians and Stepladder Ph.D. program. To apply, the stu­ Radicals, 1880-1945” and Irma tions and announce the results by the dent should submit a brief two-page Watkins-Owens, Assistant Profes­ abstract of the dissertation, along March meeting of the OAH, to be sor, African American Studies Insti­ with a one-page budget explaining held in Chicago, IL, 28-31 March tute and Social Sciences Division, the travel and research plans for the 1996. Fordham College at Lincoln Center, funds requested. The amount re­ “Migration and Community: Afri­ quested should not exceed $1,000. Schomburg can American Women in New York Each application must be accompa­ City, 1890-1940.” nied by a letter from the dissertation Fellowship Recipients of the Aaron Diamond adviser attesting to the student’s sta­ Five scholars have been awarded Foundation Fellowships and their tus and the ways in which the fellowships for 1995-96 through the project topics are: Carla Kaplan, As­ Huggins-Quarles Award will facili­ Scholars-In-Residence Program at sistant Professor, Department of tate the completion of the disserta­ the Schomburg Center for Research English, affiliate appointments in tion. All entries should be clearly in Black Culture, Howard Dodson, African-American and Women’s labeled “1996 Huggins-Quarles Chief of the Schomburg Center, has Studies, Yale University, “The Twenties in Black and White: Award.” Six copies of each appli­ announced. The fellowships are Modernism’s Undesirable Desire;” cation should be submitted by 8 funded by the National Endowment January, 1996 to: for the Humanities and the Aaron (Continued on page 7)

Black History News and Notes is a quarterly publication of the Indiana Historical Society Library. Intended in part to highlight the activities of the library’s Black History Program, it is issued during the months of February, May, August, and November. Essential to the Black History Program’s success is community involvement and commitment to the study of Indiana’s African-American heritage. Along with Black History News and Notes, membership also includes the quarterly Indiana Magazine of History, published at Indiana University; The Bridge, the Indiana Historical Society’s bi-monthly newsletter; and many of the special publications as they are issued —all for only $20.00 a year. To become a member or for further information, write the Indiana Historical Society, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 (317) 232-1882. Correspondence concerning Black History News and Notes should be addressed to Wilma L. Gibbs, Editor. ______INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (Please make membership in one name only) Name Address City State Zip_____ Occupation Membership Categories (Check One) d Annual $20 d Sustaining $30 d Contributing $50 d Life $500 I wish to join the following interest groups. Limit choice to two. d Family History d Medical History d Black History d Archaeology

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2 UPDATING THE AFRICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS IN THE ROBERTS GENEALOGY Coy D. Robbins [Adapted from a talk presented on Those families of color who came cans. Lord Roberts died at some 1 July 1995 at the Roberts Chapel westward traveled by way of Ken­ unknown time without any family Annual Homecoming in Jackson tucky and Ohio into Indiana and or heirs, and, according to your leg­ Township, Hamilton County, Indi­ other developing states in the North­ end his African valet quietly as­ ana. Speaker Coy Robbins was ad­ west Territory. By the time the early sumed the Roberts surname and dressing descendants of the Roberts Roberts families had reached Indi­ took possession of the real estate and Settlement.] ana, however, there were a number personal property. After he married of free African communities thriv­ an anonymous Cherokee woman, Introduction ing in the southern counties of Clark, they had several children who were Some in this audience may not re­ Dearborn, Floyd, Gibson, Franklin, among your pioneer African ances­ alize that other settlements of free Harrison, Jefferson, Knox, Washing­ tors in Hamilton and Rush counties. people of color existed in Indiana ton, and Wayne—plus, the Lick Once bitten by the “genealogy long before this one. Furthermore, Creek Settlement in Orange County bug,” family researchers find it hard many pioneer African settlements in and the Lost Creek Settlement in to stop digging into their history for Indiana were already flourishing Vigo County.3 Roberts family mi­ more ancestors. This is where the before any persons with the Roberts grations never occurred at the same family legends are extremely impor­ surname are known to have resided time. Instead, new families from tant to provide some direction for in this state. And, for the record, North Carolina and other states con­ these genealogical efforts. To use your ancestors in Rush and tinued to arrive in Indiana well into the legends effectively in family or Hamilton counties were not among the 1840s. historical research, however, it is the first Roberts migrants of color By 1830, five years before this necessary to ascertain what basic to enter the Hoosier state. Roberts Settlement was founded in facts interwoven into these legends In North Carolina before pioneer Hamilton County, there were 14 free can be confirmed by other data in families started coming to Indiana, African-American Roberts families contemporary records and docu­ there were 639 free people of color living in five scattered Hoosier ments. Careful research during this enumerated in the first United States counties: (1) Monroe (Blooming­ process frequently uncovers genea­ population census.1 Of this number ton), (2) Orange (Paoli), (3) Owen logical details not previously known we know that the Roberts surname (Spencer), (4) Rush (Rushville), and to the family, and perhaps enables headed seven families having a to­ (5) Union (Liberty).4 Ten years later the researcher to unveil the identity tal of 39 individuals. All of these in 1840, the number of Roberts of unknown parents in a prior gen­ Roberts in 1790 lived in families were concentrated in Or­ eration. Northampton County, except ange, Rush, Vigo, and Hamilton When confronted with a new Ishmael Roberts, the Revolutionary counties.5 family legend, genealogists usually War veteran. His family of 10 per­ question its origin: when and where The African Legend sons was farther south in Chatham did it get started, under what circum­ County, which adjoins Wake County Genealogical studies completed stances, and to what extent has it where the state capital, Raleigh, is by your Roberts family traced their been accepted and repeated by fam­ located. ancestry to a James Roberts in North ily historians. In the mid-1820s, the great exo­ Carolina. He was a Northampton From all indications, the African dus of free people of color out of County planter and free landholder legend in your family first appeared Maryland, Virginia, and North Caro­ who died there in 1809. His par­ in print when Edgar A. Conkling lina included some members of the ents were an Indian woman and an completed a 1957 master’s thesis Roberts family. They left because African servant who was never en­ based on a history of this Roberts the white government and society slaved. This legend declares further Settlement.6 The author was a white directed more oppressive acts to­ that James Roberts’s unnamed father graduate student in sociology at the ward them out of fear that the pres­ was born in Africa and came to University of Chicago and a native ence of free African families would North Carolina as the personal va­ of Hamilton County, Indiana. He re­ contribute to increased unrest let of a Lord Roberts, who owned a ported finding this story in an un­ among the enslaved Africans.2 large plantation with enslaved Afri­ published manuscript by Dr. Carl

3 Glennis Roberts, the Chicago sur­ tions than they answer. Some new in Norfolk County, Virginia, on 7 geon who was born and reared in data pertaining to your legend came January 1796. They were probably Roberts Settlement and who died in to light in recent years when a re- the parents of Joseph Jenkins Rob­ 1950. searcher/writer by the name of Paul erts, the free man of color from Pe­ It seems that your “African valet Heinegg published his book, Free tersburg, Virginia, who migrated to legend” became very popular after African Americans of North Caro­ Liberia, Africa, and became the 1957. It has been repeated many lina and Virginia.9 This book is an country’s first president in 1847.12 times in newspaper and magazine incredible research accomplishment Of course, nothing printed in articles about your family reunions, and has already received genealogi­ Heinegg’s book confirms any blood history of this settlement, or the ac­ cal acclaim for its publishing excel­ connection between the first Rob­ complishments of its former resi­ lence. Heinegg summarizes the erts person of color he found in co­ dents. Few writers of these articles, family histories he collected for lonial Virginia and the James Rob­ however, mentioned the source of more than 80% of those counted as erts of Northampton County, North their information concerning your “all other free persons”—official Carolina, the forefather of your fam­ African legend. terminology created for free Afri­ ily. Nevertheless, he added some In 1981, Stephen Vincent, a white cans—in the 1790 and 1800 U.S. new genealogical information about Noblesville native, produced a se­ population censuses for the states of your James Roberts by estimating nior honor’s thesis in the History North Carolina and Virginia. from data in the located records that Department at Indiana University on The Hoosier Roberts family is James was born in North Carolina this Roberts family and settlement. among the 252 different familes in around 1732.13 This tentative Here he repeated the African valet this study. The earliest public record birthdate now places your James legend pretty much as Conkling which Heinegg found in your fam­ Roberts in a time frame where he wrote it. In a footnote, though, ily involved an Elizabeth Roberts, a could have been a blood relative or Vincent wrote that he was never able free Negro woman living in descendant of the two sons who to locate a copy of the Carl Roberts’s Northampton County, Virginia—not were bound out by their Negro manuscript which Conkling cited as North Carolina. On 20 December mother, Elizabeth Roberts, in 1715. the source of his story 24 years ear­ 1715, less than 100 years after the As mentioned earlier, genealo­ lier.7 English colony was established at gists and family researchers are fa­ Again in 1991, Vincent tackled Jamestown, she executed documents mous for producing more questions the same theme at Brown Univer­ in the Colonial Court to bind out her than answers. For example, some sity when he did his doctoral disser­ two sons, John and William Roberts, of you are probably wondering what tation on the history of African to a man named Thomas Preson, all of this has to do with your fam­ Americans in the Beech (Rush presumably a white man. Let us re­ ily history. And what about your Af­ County) and Roberts (Hamilton member that in Colonial America rican legend? Should you hold on County) settlements.8 After pro­ only free Africans—and never the to it, or simply dismiss it as “a fairy longed research efforts in libraries enslaved—had legal access to the tale” somebody created years ago? and archival collections located in local judicial system.10 For one thing, I urge that you hold Indiana, North Carolina, and Wash­ Information which he found in on to your African legend a while ington, DC, Vincent could not find subsequent public documents longer. Please remember that the any documentation that would vali­ showed that one of her sons, John problem with your legend today is date or disprove the African legend. Roberts, probably lived in that it still lacks any historical con­ In his summary of these research Northampton County, North Caro­ firmation. The solution may come attempts, he mentioned that Rev. lina where his estate papers con­ if someone in your family ever finds Cyrus W. Roberts never referred to firmed his death between 1762 and out what happened to the unpub­ any African ancestors in his history 1764, more than a decade before the lished manuscript by Carl G. Rob­ of the Roberts family which was Revolutionary War. Other public erts that Conkling referred to as the published in the Noblesville Daily records showed that the second son, source of his legend. This manu­ Ledger in July 1925. Additionally, William Roberts, and his mother script may yet turn up in the memo­ Vincent noted that when Dr. Carl G. were identified as tithable “Ne­ rabilia of some descendant of Carl Roberts wrote his own Roberts groes” in the 1739 tax records of Roberts, perhaps a relative who is family’s history in the 1930s, which Northampton County, Virginia.11 presently unaware of how important is now preserved as a part of his col­ Additional 18th-century public this document might be for your lection in the Library of Congress, records summarized in Heinegg’s family history. he did not allude to any African heri­ book involve several free Roberts Moving away from the uncon­ tage in his ancestry. families who lived near the eastern firmed “African valet” legend, As so often happens when re­ shore of Virginia. For example, an Heinegg’s book contains some gen­ searchers seek the truth, their dis­ Edwin Roberts, estimated birthdate eral information about the Robertses coveries serve to create more ques­ about 1770, married a Polly Jones in North Carolina which your fam­

4 ily researchers might keep in mind. “Indian Territory,” newly estab­ herself and children, including my His early documentation suggests lished west of the Mississippi River 13-year-old father. This personal that some genealogical efforts in Oklahoma.14 breakthrough caused me to search should now be focused on the colo­ Seventy years after this human in the collection for records of other nial records of Virginia as well as tragedy, our government finally relatives. To make a long story those in North Carolina to determine agreed to do “the right thing” by short, I spent almost a week photo­ if there are any blood ties between contributing one million dollars to copying the Cherokee records of 68 your lineage and that of Elizabeth be divided among the living Chero­ residents or former residents of Roberts and her sons in Virginia. kees or their descendants.15 Hamilton County. Only a few were The Heinegg findings are much too Shortly after the ruling, the in my family history. credulous for researchers in geneal­ United States Court of Claims set up I copied applications of several ogy and early American history to a special legal unit in Washington, persons with the Roberts surname, dismiss them lightly. Certainly they DC, to determine those eligible for including one filed by Carl Glennis offer your Roberts family a wonder­ this award money. Most applicants Roberts of Chicago in June 1907. ful opportunity to move beyond the were descendants who had to prove This 20-year-old native Hoosier “African valet legend” and to dis­ their descent for three generations claimed his Cherokee ancestry cover some hard facts about the Af­ from the original Cherokees. Over through a maternal grandmother on rican forefather who contributed his 46,000 Americans representing a his mother’s side, a Patience heritage to your mixed-blood family. total of 90,000 individuals filed ap­ Watkins of Rush County, Indiana, plications. Only one-third of them, The Native American Legend who, incidentally, died when she however, were found eligible to was 101 years old.19 Now for a short time, let us shift share in the fund. And 90% of the Other surnames besides Roberts our attention to the “Indian legend” claimants who actually received the in my collection are: Dempsey, in your family. Undoubtedly, the money lived west of the Mississippi Gilliam, Hammonds, Kelly, Keen, Robertses like many other migrat­ River at the time of their applica­ Lindley, Newsom, Porter, Revels, ing families of color, carried with tions—mostly in the state of Okla­ Rice, Robbins, Sweat, Walden, them mental images of Native homa.16 Waldron, Weaver, andWinbum. All American ancestors. The presence I do not know how many persons these claims were rejected when the of Indian-like features among the living in Hamilton County— final settlement was completed in migrants—light skins, straight black irregardless of race—filed claims for 1910. hair, and high cheek bones—prob­ the Cherokee money.17 In 1980, the For several years after finding the ably caused some strangers to think original records involved in the Cherokee records I tried to under­ they looked more like Indians and Eastern Cherokee Claims were stand why the claims filed by my an­ white folks than Africans. opened to the public for the first cestors were not accepted. From Around 1904, people living in time. The National Archives in reading books and recent articles this Roberts Settlement and other Washington, DC, reproduced these about Native American genealogy, African American communities be­ old applications on 348 rolls of mi­ I’ve come to think it had to do with came intensely interested in their crofilm, and today anyone can see how various Indian nations defined Indian ancestry. That was the year the entire collection in their facili­ their membership, very much as our the United States Court of Claims ties.18 Duplicate copies of the mi­ country defines its American citi­ finally awarded the Eastern Chero- crofilm collection are known to ex­ zens. I’ve discovered that some In­ kees a million dollar judgment ist in only two places outside the dian nations recognized as members against the United States for violat­ nation’s capital: in the library of the the children of all persons who were ing old treaties. After spending Oklahoma Historical Society in currently on their rolls. When de­ years in litigation against the United Oklahoma City and the Mormon ciding about the children with a non- States for breaking honest treaties Genealogical Library, Salt Lake tribal parent, the practices varied. made between the Nations in 1835 City, Utah. and 1845, the Cherokees got this Some Indians accepted all children Several years ago during my re­ money in payment for past damages as members, just as long as they had search trips to Salt Lake City, I be­ incurred when the United States at least one parent who was, or had came interested in these Cherokee Army drove them out of their moun­ been, a member of the tribal soci­ tain homelands in Kentucky, North claim records and discovered that ety. Others, like the Cherokees of and South Carolina, Tennessee, and they contained an impressive North Carolina, only enrolled the Georgia. On what is known today amount of genealogical information. children born outside their nation as the “Trail of Tears,” Cherokee Most important to me at that time, who had been fathered by their women, children, the helpless, and however, was the discovery that my members. The same ruling did not the elderly were forced in the win­ grandmother, Eliza Dempsey apply to the children of female ter to walk the great distance to the Robbins, filed an application for members.20

5 Implications of this definition are the Cherokees never lived in this siers: African Heritage in Orange County, that many of our reputed Cherokee part of the state. Instead, they were Indiana (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, always much farther west in the Inc., 1994), 17-24 for details about the ancestors were probably females Lick Creek Settlement. whose names were not on the offi­ Appalachian Mountains. For a short 4. Tabulation of Roberts surnames in Indiana time in the early 19th century, the cial Nation rolls in the 1830s-1840s. counties found in Carter G. Woodson, Free Meherrin Indians lived in the Negro Heads of Families in the United For example, applications made out Northampton County area. A few States in 1830 (Washington, DC: The As­ by my relatives, and those of most of our ancestors may have mixed sociation for the Study of Negro Life and applicants in my personal collection, History, 1925). There was a total of 541 with the members of this very small families consisting of 2,842 free persons never knew the Indian name of their Nation. And the Haliwa and of color living in 41 counties, but the larg­ Cherokee ancestor. Many of them Sapponi nations were once in est totals were in Knox, Wayne, Floyd, described their Native American Halifax and Guilford counties, so I Washington, Jefferson, and Clark counties. am studying their histories to de­ 5. Tally of persons by county published in the ancestry in very uncertain terms, and series by Coy D. Robbins, “Indiana Blacks often the earliest relative was listed termine if either nation was the in 1840 Census,” in Ebony Lines, Spring as a woman “with some Indian source of my reported Indian ances­ 1991,6-7; Summer 1991, 14-15; Fall 1991, try. Other small nations in North 24-25; Winter 1991, 34-35; Spring 1992, blood.” We can only surmise that Carolina were the Lumbee, 6-7; Summer 1992, 16-17; and Fall-Win­ these women either married outside ter 1992,27. Gingskin, Nansemond, Wainoke, the Cherokee Nation or had children 6. Edgar C. Conkling, “Roberts Settlement: Nottoway, Pamunkey, Tuscarora, A Mixed-Blood Agricultural Community sired by an African or European fa­ and Chowan.22 in Indiana” (M.A. thesis, University of Chi­ ther who was a non-member. Any reader unacquainted with cago, 1957), 17-18. Footnote on page 17 Something which is gaining at­ the fact that Africans today are provides the author’s source of “legendary tention in genealogical circles today members of Native American na­ beginnings.” 7. Stephen Vincent, “The Robertses and Rob­ involves the colonial history of Na­ tions may want to see the article, erts Settlement: Emergence of a Black tive Americans, especially those in “Black Indians Hit Jackpot in Ca­ Community” (B.A. honor’s thesis, Indiana Virginia and North Carolina. We are sino Bonanza,” in the June 1995 is­ University, 1981), 7 and endnote #1 on p. sue of Ebony magazine. This story 24. learning that before the Europeans is about the Piquot Indians of Con­ 8. Stephen A. Vincent, “African Americans in arrived, there were many small in­ the Rural Midwest: The Origins and Evo­ necticut whose operations gross dependent Native American nations lution of Beech and Roberts Settlements, around 2.5 million dollars every day. ca. 1760-1900” (Ph.D. dissertation, Brown along the Atlantic seaboard instead Also there is an excellent book University, 1991), 14-15. Endnote #5 on of the single Cherokee Nation. called, Black Indians: A Hidden 49-50 gives a lengthy account of his re­ Again I will not tarry on lengthy Heritage, by William Loren Katz search efforts to learn about the African and Indian legends. details, but the legends about Indian which has rapidly become a classic 9. Paul Heinegg, Free African Americans of blood passed down in our families in African-Native American litera­ North Carolina and Virginia, 2d ed. (Bal­ may not have actually involved the ture. timore, MD: Clearfield Co., Inc., 1994). 10. Ibid., “Roberts Family,” 508-15. Heinegg Cherokees—although this is what NOTES gave his source for the Elizabeth Roberts we were told. Instead, our Indian Northampton County, Virginia, colonial 1. Debra L. Newman, compiler. List of Free ancestors were probably members of court document dated 20 December 1715 Black Heads of Families in the First Cen­ as: “Orders 1710-16, p. 235.” a smaller, lesser known Nation in sus of the United States 1790, Special List 11. Ibid., 509. Heinegg wrote: “William, bom North Carolina, one which did not No. 34 (Washington, DC: National Ar­ perhaps 1710, a tithable “Negro” with (his survive the European onslaught of chives and Records Service, 1973), 26-32. mother?) Betty Roberts in the 1739 Variations in spelling of Roberts surname Northampton County, Virginia, list of Pe­ repeated wars, infection from in 1790 census were: Robard, Robards, ter Bowdoin.” strange diseases, and theft of lands, Robarts, Robbard, Robbards, Robbert, 12. Ibid. Liberia on the coast of West Africa women, and babies. Some small Robberts, Roberds, and Robert. was established as a colony of the Ameri­ 2. John Hope Franklin, The Free Negro in North can Colonization Society (ACS) in 1822 societies endured for awhile, and Carolina 1790-1860 (Chapel Hill, N.C: as a haven for repatriated African Ameri­ then the remaining members sub­ University of North Carolina Press, 1943; cans. In 1847, the ACS gave up direct con­ merged with the powerful Chero­ Norton Library Edition, 1971), 58-120. trol of the colony’s affairs. The 5,000 set­ Also, Jeffrey J. Crow, The Black Experi­ tlers proclaimed their political indepen­ kees for protection, or they subsisted ence in Revolutionary North Carolina (Ra­ dence and elected Joseph Jenkins Roberts, on the fringes of the free African leigh, NC: Department of Cultural Re­ a free man of color and merchant from Pe­ communities.21 sources, 1977), 82-95. The appendix lists tersburg, Va., as their first president. See 54 North Carolina black men known to article by Luther P. Jackson, “Free Negroes Many of our pioneer ancestors have served in the Revolutionary War. of Petersburg, Virginia,” Journal of Negro who came to Indiana were from the 3. Statistics from a listing in author’s personal History, XII (July 1927), 365-88. The “Jo­ Northampton-Halifax-Guilford collection of all free colored heads of seph J. Roberts (1809-1876)” story is on housholds in Indiana counties as enumer­ page 378. county region of northern North ated in the 1820 U.S. Population census. 13. Ibid., 510. Heinegg notes that the will of Carolina. It is well known now that See also Coy D. Robbins, Forgotten Hoo- James Roberts, Northampton County, NC,

6 was dated 3 March 1803, and mentioned Roots, Vol. 1: Eastern Cherokee Rolls, and Schomburg Center and The New his wife, Ann, and the following children: Vol. 2, Western Cherokee Rolls, 1992 (Au­ York Public Library. The Fellow­ Jonathan; William; Mary Scott, mother of thor: P.O. Box 525, Cherokee, NC 28719). ship Program is open to scholars in Willis Scott; Elias; and Claxton. 20. Kaye M. Teall, ed., Black History in Okla­ 14. Charles C. Royce, The Cherokee Nation of homa: A Resource Book (Oklahoma, OK: the humanities studying black his­ Indians (Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co., Oklahoma City Public Schools, 1971), In­ tory and culture and to profession­ 1975); Wilson Lumpkin, The Removal of troduction to Sec. II, “The Land of Red and als in fields related to the the Cherokee Indians from Georgia (New Black,” 17-20. Schomburg Center’s collections and York: Arno Press 1969); Grant Foreman, 21. Donald L. Rights, The American Indian in program activities — librarianship, The Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, North Carolina, 2nd ed., (Winston Salem, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole NC: John F. Blair, publisher, 1957); E. archives and museum administra­ (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Lawrence Lee, Indian Wars in North Caro­ tion, special collections, photo­ Press, 1934), 281-426; Theda Perdue, Sla­ lina, 1663-1763 (Raleigh, NC: State Dept, graphs, audiovisual material, and very and the Evolution of Cherokee Soci­ of Archives and History, 1968). publications. Studies in the social ety, 1540-1866 (Knoxville, TN: Univer­ 22. Heinegg, “Native American Influence,” in sciences, the arts, science and tech­ sity ofTennessee Press, 1979); and Daniel Free African Americans, 16-22. Useful F. Littlefield, The Cherokee Freedman: genealogical references are: Thomas J. nology, psychology, education, and From Emancipation to American Citizen­ Blumer, “Practical Pointers in Tracing Your religion are eligible if they utilize a ship (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, Indian Ancestry in the Southeast,” Journal humanistic approach and contribute 1978). of the Afro-American Historical and Ge­ to humanistic knowledge. 15. Reported amounts for the Eastern Chero­ nealogical Society, XIII (Spring/Fall 1994), For information and application kee Claim settlement ranged considerably. 67-82; Angela Y. Walton-Radj, Black In­ A 1908 Noblesville, Indiana, newspaper dian Genealogy Research: African Ameri­ forms, write to: Scholars In Resi­ article stated: “The original claim undis­ can Ancestors Among the Five Civilized dence Program, Schomburg Center puted was $2,248,228 and the accrued in­ Tribes (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., for Research in Black Culture, The terest makes the amount now due 1993); The Frontier Freedman’s Journal, New York Public Library, 515 $5,000,000.” The Noblesville Enterprise, an African American Genealogical Jour­ Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, 21 August 1908. nal of the South, Indian Territory and the 16. "Introduction to Records Relating to En­ Southwest published twice annually (mail­ New York 10037-1801. Telephone: rollment of Eastern Cherokee” (ca. 1987), ing address: 6508 Woodbridge Circle, Bal­ (212) 491-2203 unpublished report in Reference Dept., timore, MD 21228); and Cecelia S. Car­ Genealogical Library of The Church of penter, How to Research American Indian Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake Blood Lines (Orting, WA: Heritage Quest, City, UT. 1987). IHS Exhibit 17. See article, “U.S. Court Held at The lives and careers of several Noblesville—Indiana Claims to be SCHOMBURG FELLOWSHIP Settled,” in The Noblesville Enterprise, 21 (Continued from page 2) noted Indiana African Americans August 1908. This front page story in­ will be examined in the Indiana His­ Barbara Smith, publisher, Kitchen cluded the following: “The Roberts, torical Society exhibition “Hoosier Winburns, Waldrons, and Hamptons of our Table: Women of Color Press, “Afri­ county, Indianapolis, Anderson, and can American Lesbian and Gay His­ History Makers: A Community of Muncie are making claims. They have tory;” and Helen Siemens Walker- African American Visionaries,” run­ proven that they are blood relatives of this Hill, Visiting Assistant Professor, Af­ ning Thursday, 31 August through tribe of Indians.” Another item in one of the back pages of the same issue reported rican American Studies Program, Monday, 6 November, 1995 at the under the heading: University of Wyoming, “African- IHS, 315 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis. A SETTLEMENT American Women Composers: The Drawn from several of the A large gathering of colored people as­ Intersection of Race, Gender, Class Society’s collections, the exhibition, sembled at the Houston Hotel Monday and Musical Creativity.” morning to meet J.E. Taylor, of Washing­ designed by Faith Revell, IHS ex­ The Scholars-In-Residence Pro­ ton, D.C., who came to make a financial hibitions director, features photo­ settlement with these people. The affair gram is designed to encourage re­ is connected with the settlement of some search and writing in black history graphs and biographical information land claims of the Cherokee Indian na­ and culture, to facilitate interaction on 13 black Hoosiers of note. Also, tion. among the participants, and to pro­ the exhibit features questions and 18. National Archives Microfilm Publication Ml 104, Eastern Cherokee Applications of vide for widespread dissemination answers about each person. the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1909 (Wash­ of findings through lectures, publi­ Among those highlighted in the ington, DC: National Archives and Records cations, and the Schomburg Center IHS exhibit are Robert Brokenburr, Service, 1980). General index to Eastern Seminars. the first African American to serve Cherokee applications are on roll M685, The Center’s Scholars-In-Resi- Records Relating to Enrollment of Eastern in the Indiana State Senate; Madam dence Program encompasses Cherokees by Guion Miller, 1908-10. C.J. Walker, owner and founder of proj ects in African, Afro-American, 19. Eastern Cherokee Claim Application the Madam C.J. Walker Manufac­ #27595 for Carl G. Roberts dated 27 June and Afro-Caribbean history and cul­ 1907. See: Jerry Wright Jordan, Chero­ ture. Fellowships funded by the pro­ turing Company in Indianapolis; kees by Blood: Records of Eastern Chero­ gram allow recipients to spend six M arshall W. “M ajor” Taylor, kee Ancestry in the U.S. Claims, 1906-1910 American and world champion bi­ (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 8 vols. months or a year in residence with 1987-92); Bob Blankenship, Cherokee access to resources at both the cycle racer; Mercer Mance, the first

7 African American to be elected as a clippings about Birdie Lee White­ Nursing Home in Indianapolis. judge in the Hoosier state; Charles side’s work with the Guiding Light Scrapbook #9 (n.d.) Photo­ B. “Buster” Hall, a member of the Christian Service, Inc. graphs. Mostly undated photo­ 99th Pursuit Squadron during World Scrapbook #5 (1959-1983) Cor­ graphs of GLCS volunteers prepar­ respondence, photographs, program ing Easter baskets for distribution. War II, later known as theTuskegee booklet, and newsclippings. Pho­ Airmen; and Lillian Thomas Fox, tographs of various GLCS volun­ the first African American reporter teers; obituary program for mission­ for the Indianapolis News. ary Willa Thomas; and GLCS let­ “Hoosier History Makers: A ters soliciting community support; Community of African American Vi­ and program booklet for 30-year sionaries” is open free to the public anniversary celebration of GLCS at Articles & Essays and can be viewed from 8 a.m. to Jones Tabernacle African Method­ The editor of Black History 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday ist Episcopal Zion Church. News & Notes is interested in re­ in the foyer of the Indiana State Li­ Scrapbook #6 (1965-1980) Cor­ respondence, photographs, certifi­ ceiving for consideration brief brary and Historical Building audi­ cates of appreciation, and manuscripts on the political, eco­ torium. The exhibit will also be newsclippings. Recommendation nomic, social, and cultural history open for viewing from 8:30 a.m. to letters for Birdie L. Whiteside to be of blacks in Indiana. Consideration 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The IHS exhi­ named the “Woman of the Year” by is also given to articles and essays bition area is wheelchair accessible. the Indianapolis Star and 1979 pro­ in the general fields of African- gram invitation acceptance letter to American history and blacks in the WHITESIDE Whiteside from Beth Bowen, first Old Northwest, if they have obvi­ (Continued from page 1) lady of Indiana. ous relevance to Indiana. Manu­ WIBC Mutual Radio Network; 1948 Scrapbook #7 (1969-1981) Cor­ scripts should be submitted in du­ program booklet from the St. respondence, photographs, certifi­ plicate, double spaced, and ap- Stephen Baptist Church in Louis­ cates of appreciation, and news-clip- proximately eight to ten pages. ville, Kentucky; and a 1949 Bach­ pings. Newsletter from Three Sis­ Manuscripts should be prepared in elor of Missions degree from ters Nursing Home and certificates accordance with the University of Simmons University. of appreciation from Central State Chicago, A Manual of Style, 13th Scrapbook #3 (1955-1973) Cor­ Hospital and the Marion County Ju­ edition, or Kate Turabian, A respondence, program booklet, and venile Center. Manual for Writers of Term Pa­ newsclippings. A preponderance of Scrapbook #8 (1969-1986) Cor­ pers, Theses, and Dissertations, letters, mostly from the Guiding respondence, photographs, certifi­ 4th edition. Accompanying photo­ Light Christian Service, Inc. and a cates of appreciation, and graphs and illustrations are also five-page history of the organiza­ newsclippings. GLCS articles of in­ welcomed. The Indiana Historical tion. corporation; photograph of Birdie L. Society disclaims responsibility for Scrapbook #4 (1957-1980) Cor­ Whiteside with Indiana Governor statements, whether of fact or opin­ respondence, photographs, receipts, Robert Orr, et. al.; and an undated ion, made by contributors. and newsclippings. Several news- history of the Greenview Manor

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