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The following monograph on the history of the Cherokees, with its
accompanying maps, is given as an illustration of the character of
the work in its treatment of each of the Indian tribes.
The maps are intended to show not only the ancestral but the present
home of the Cherokees, and also to indicate the boundaries of the
various tracts of territory purchased from them by the Colonial or
Federal authorities from time to time since their first contact with
the European settlements. A number of purchases made prior to the
Federal period by individuals were unauthorized and unrecognized by
the Colonial authorities, and their boundaries, though given in the
text, are not laid down upon the map, because the same areas of
territory were after-wards included within the limits of Colonial
purchases.
In the preparation of this article, more particularly in the tracing
out of the various boundary lines, much careful attention and
research have been given to all available authorities or sources of
information. The old manuscript records of the Government, the
shelves of the Congressional Library, including its very large
collection of American maps, local records, and the knowledge of "
old settlers," as well as the accretions of various State historical
societies, have been made to pay tribute to the subject.
In the course of these researches the writer has been met in his
inquiries with a degree of courtesy and kindly assistance that
merits public recognition.
Among others who have shown an earnest desire to promote the object
of these investigations are Hon. John M. Lea, vice-president State
Historical Society of Tennessee; General Robert N. Hood, Spencer
Munson, and R. H. Armstrong, of Knoxville, Tenn. The writer is also
deeply indebted to the Hon. Hiram Price, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, and E. L. Stevens, chief clerk, for the readiness with
which they afforded him access to the records and files of the
Indian Bureau. This permission was earnestly supplemented by the
intelligent assistance and encouragement of Mr. C. A. Maxwell, chief
of the Land Division, as well as that of R. F. Thompson and Paul
Brodie, of the same Bureau, both of whom have taken special and
constant pains to aid these researches.
To Captain Adams, of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, the
hearty thanks of the writer are due for many courtesies extended in
the examination of the voluminous and valuable collection-of maps
belonging to that branch of the public service, and equal credit
must be given to Mr. G. P. Strum, principal draughtsman of the
General Land Office, and his assistants, for their uniform courtesy
in affording access to the official plats and records of that
Bureau.
The officers of the Congressional Library have also shown a marked
degree of courtesy and interest.
The various cessions of land by the Cherokees alluded to in the text
are numerically designated upon the accompanying maps, and are as
follows:
This site includes some historical
materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language
of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the
historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in
any way endorse the stereotypes implied.
Bureau of Ethnology, Volume 5, Cherokee Nation of Indians,
1883-84
Cherokee
Nation of Indians
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