Cherokee Nation Seeking Pictures, Documents from Freedmen Descendants for New Exhibit

The Cherokee Nation is collecting old documents, pictures, and artifacts from Cherokee Citizens of Freedmen descent.  

Freedmen were African American men and women who were formerly slaves of the tribe. Some of the items submitted will end up in an exhibit at the Cherokee National History Museum in downtown Tahlequah. Cherokee Citizens of Freedmen descent have turned in about 25 submissions so far.

The Cherokee Nation is encouraging people to go through their attics and basements and look for any pieces of history they would like to consider donating. At the Cherokee National Research Center, Deborah Fritts showed Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. what families are sharing about their ancestors.

The submissions include pictures, Dawes Rolls interviews, and other documents that share the story of Cherokee Citizens of Freedmen descent.

"This is a Civil War Memorial and Museum honoring Rufus Vann,” Fritts said as she showed Chief Hoskin Jr. a document.

Fritts is talking directly with families as the Cherokee Nation works to put together an exhibit at its history museum.

"They're so happy to have their story told,” she said.

One thing the tribe said will be in the exhibit, is a painting depicting Stick Ross. He was a Freedman who served on the Cherokee Nation Council, before the turn of the 20th Century. 

"I think Stick Ross's picture reminds us that Freedmen were part of the civic life of the Cherokee Nation,” Chief Hoskin Jr. said. 

Chief Hoskin Jr. said growing up, he did not learn about the Cherokee Nation's history of slavery. 

"That's what this Freedmen history project aims to do is to change that. Because we really do have to embrace and understand all of our history, even those really difficult chapters, the enslavement of other human beings, their emancipation, and this path to reconciliation we're on,” he said. 

The tribe plans to open the exhibit this summer and has extended its submission deadline to March 4th, hoping more will come in. 

"We need to understand that it takes a while sometimes for families to come forward with these very precious records,” Hoskin Jr. said. 

The Cherokee Nation said those donated records, whether used in the exhibit or not, will be preserved for future generations. 

Anyone interested in submitting historical pictures or documents can send an email to info@visitcherokeenation.com or call (918) 456-6007.