Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Trail Trail News of Special Map Insert Tears Association NPS Conducts Public Scoping Meetings for Extension of Trail by John Conoboy Between July 10 and July 19, National Trails Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Attendance at the System – Santa Fe Superintendent Aaron meetings was much higher than usual for Mahr and Chief of Interpretation and this type of event, which indicates the strong Resource Management John Conoboy con- interest in the trail. A number of staff from ducted public scoping meetings for the fea- Congressional offices attended, as did the sibility study to determine if the additional mayors of several towns. Many Trail of Tears routes of Cherokee Removal can be added Association members helped with meeting to the existing Trail of Tears National arrangements and attendance at the meet- Historic Trail. After many years of effort, ings by Association members was very good. We were very pleased to have Vice Chief Larry Blythe from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at the meeting in Murphy and Deputy Chief Joe Grayson and several tribal council members in Tahlequah. Photo by Marty King During the meetings, we explained that we NPS National Trails System Office Superintendent Aaron Mahr refers to a map detailing to proposed have been looking at these routes for many additions to the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. years and, along with the earlier study, we Or you can email [email protected] believe that they meet most of the criteria for orOr ca youll 505-988-6733. can email [email protected] designation in the National Trails System or call 505-988-6733. Act. What we cannot know without public We hope to have a draft of the study avail input is whether or not this is something We hope to have a draft of the study avail- ableable forfor publicpublic reviewreview byby October,October, and and if if that the public feels is desirable and suit- therethere areare nono majormajor issues issues able, and we need to evaluate the possible oror problems,problems, thethe studystudy affects of designation on the environment. willwill bebe finalizedfinalized inin earlyearly NovemberNovember andand Support for the addition of the new routes Photo by Marty King transmitttransmitteded to This NPS public hearing in Fort Payne, Alabama, was to the national historic trail was strong at all Congress.to Congress. the largest meeting of the 12 held across the states meetings. No one spoke in opposition. that would be affected by the additions to the Trail. Frequent issues were the need to tell the legislation authorizing the study was passed whole story of removal, the need to educate INSIDE THIS ISSUE children about the trail, the need to pre- by Congress last fall with support from the • TOTA President’s Message................2 Trail of Tears Association, Cherokee serve the places where events happen so NPS Superintendent’s Message....... 2 Nation, and Eastern Band of Cherokee. the history is not forgotten, and the need for the public to learn the true story of this TOTA Chapter News.................... 3-5 part of American history. Meetings were held in Murphy, North Report from Sequoyah Research Carolina; Chattanooga, Pulaski, and Center............................................ 7 Memphis, Tennessee; Calhoun, Georgia; Comments will be accepted until August 9th. You can comment online by going to Cherokee National Historical Society Fort Payne and Sheffield, Alabama; Membership................................... 7 Mayfield, Kentucky; Poplar Bluff, Missouri; www.nps.gov/trte or parkplanning.nps.gov Trail Calendar.................................. 7 Batesville and Little Rock, Arkansas; and and following links to the comment page. Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • August 2007 - Number 11 Trail of Tears Association President’s Message Trail of Tears Association State Chapter News The twelve public hearings on Public Law hearing in North Carolina, and I appreciate all of their work on the Trail of Tears Oklahoma Tennessee (continued) Illinois (continued) 109-378, which requires the National Park their taking time out to attend the hearing National Historic Trail. We owe much of The Oklahoma chapter recently completed were given to the participants, and every- close to a dozen being interviewed on-cam- Service (NPS) to study the feasibility and in Oklahoma. There were many positive our progress on the Trail to their efforts. a week of research at the National Archives one was anxious to see the locations and era to tell their family stories. Media cover- suitability of adding certain routes and seg- comments made in this hearing. in College Park, Maryland. Among the how chapter members participated in help- age included a major article in the Centralia ments to the Trail of Tears National Historic Also, congratulations to Aaron for being members on the project were Marybelle ing with this project. Hats off to all that Sentinel and a news feature on WSIU-TV Trail, have been concluded. I appreciate I also want to named as Superintendent. We look forward Chase, Ed and Gwen Henshaw, Jack Baker, took part. Carbondale. Other individuals wishing to be everyone who attended these hearings and express my appre- to continuing our work with you. We cer- and Curtis Rohr. They were joined at the interviewed have contacted board members their positive comments on expanding the ciation to the tainly appreciate all of the hard work that archives by Patsy and John Edgar, Paul The chapter would like to thank Cleta since the event. Additional oral history Trail. The NPS stated that there were no Superintendent of his predecessor, Jere Krakow, put into the Austin, Jerra Quinton, and Anna Smith. Townsend for hosting the meeting at meetings are being scheduled. Board mem- negative comments in any of the hearings. the National Trails development of the Trail. As a side-note, Patsy is on the national board of the Trail of Audubon Acres in Chattanooga. The chap- ber Gary Hacker was interviewed about the System – Jere seems to be enjoying his retirement. It Tears Association, and Anna is president of ter held a general membership meeting on Trail by a reporter from WGN-TV Chicago I attended the final hearing which was held Intermountain was my pleasure in early July to meet Jere the Moravian Cherokee Historical Society July 28th, in McMinnville, Tennessee, at the and the feature aired on their evening news. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on July 19th. Region, Aaron and his wife, Jan, in Tahlequah for dinner in Salem, North Carolina. This research Chamber of Commerce. Chapter member, There were roughly forty-plus attendees Mahr, and the and for the evening performance of Under project began last year under the leadership James Dillon, a Warren County historian, On June 9th, the Illinois chapter presented a including the Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Deputy the Cherokee Moon at the Cherokee of Dr. Dan Littlefield of the Sequoyah spoke at the meeting. symposium at the Genealogy Society of Nation, Joe Grayson, and the Cherokee Superintendent, Jack Baker, President of the Heritage Center. Trail of Tears Association Research Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Southern Illinois’ annual convention at John Nation’s First Lady, Bobbie Smith. (The John Conoboy, for The project consisted of researching the The chapter thanks all who attended the A. Logan College in Marion, Illinois. Principal Chief was out of town.) Also all of their hard work on these meetings. It I look forward to seeing all of you at our treasury and payroll records housed in the public scoping meetings for the National President Sandra Boaz and board members attending were several individuals from was a rough schedule for them – twelve annual conference on November 5 – 8 in National Archives at College Park to gain Historic Trail Feasibility Study, as well as Joe Crabb, Sue Glasco, and Gary Hacker North Carolina who were in Tahlequah for meetings in eight states in ten days! Thanks, Rome, Georgia! information pertaining to the forced NPS staff Aaron Mahr and John Conoboy spoke on the formation of the Trail of Tears meetings with the Cherokee Nation. These guys! Too often we forget to recognize the removal of the Indians from the eastern for their job well done through the state of Association and the Illinois chapter and on persons had not been able to attend the employees of the National Trails System for Jack D. Baker United States to Oklahoma/Indian Territory. Tennessee. Participation was very good. the Trail across Illinois. Board member Many documents and records copied will Harvey Henson gave a presentation on the be organized, scanned, and forwarded to Indian Summer Days will take place on remote sensing project he is directing at National Trails System Office Superintendent’s Message the Sequoyah Research Center so that oth- October 4 - 7, 2007, at the Chattanooga Camp Ground Cemetery. The summer gen- ers may access this information. Audubon Society, 900 N. Sanctuary Road, eral membership meeting was held June Hello to all of you on the Trail of Tears predecessor, Jere Krakow, who retired from adding additional routes to the Trail of from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The chapter will 23rd at the Newberry Library in Chicago, National Historic Trail! It’s an honor and the NPS in January. I think most of you will Tears National Historic Trail. You can read The Oklahoma chapter held the spring meet- have a tent and need help manning it. If you with Raymond Fogelson, anthropology pro- privilege to be greeting you as the agree that Jere’s common sense approach, more about that process on page 1. Also, we ing on March 31, 2007, at Dwight Mission would like to volunteer, contact Bill or fessor at University of Chicago, presenting Superintendent of combined with his extensive knowledge are currently in the process of evaluating near Sallisaw, Oklahoma.