Collection: the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, NC, Cherokee Territory, is an immensely valuable resource. Their mission, “To preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee People,” is actualized through cultural experiences, such as The Warriors of AniKituhwa, publications, genealogical research, documenting endangered languages, free information and lesson plans, exhibits, and a robust collection and Archives.
In addition to an object collection containing hundreds of artworks, historical objects, and other museum holdings, the Archives has a diverse range of materials, many of which are available to be accessed online using the online catalog (the random images button is a fantastic and fun introduction to the collection!).
from their website:
The Archives contain material pertaining to the Cherokee:
four thousand books (some old and rare)
thousands of photographs from the 1880s to the present
manuscript materials c. 1830present
William H. Thomas Collection–papers and diaries from 1834–1899
nine hundred reels of microfilm of documents from foreign archives
some original material in the Cherokee syllabary
digital libraries online
King Research Collection–30,000 pages of mostly primary source documents relating to the route of the Trail of Tears, used by NPS to determine route of long distance trail
Kinsland Collection–6,000 pages of photos, clippings, and information about the Cherokee Boys Club and contemporary Cherokee life 1960–2007
Documenting Endangered Languages–2,500 pages of Cherokee language materials collected on the Qualla Boundary 1887-1920, some in Cherokee syllabary. Click here for a chart to decipher cursive syllabary.
Cherokee photographs–more than 6,000 photographs
The new Education and Research Wing is open by appointment. Museum members, qualified scholars may conduct research free of charge. Please make an appointment at least a week in advance with
Nelda Reid - nelda.reid@cherokeemuseum.org (828) 497-3481 x1009.
(Images in this post are from a recent visit to their collection: an opossum face vessel and a wedding vessel. Both photographs by lydia see and should not be used without express permission from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.)
