Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Tribe is one of what is often called the "Five Civilized Tribes" and resided in northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and southern Tennessee. A large portion of the tribe was removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s. Some remained in North Carolina.

Culture Area: Southern Appalachian Mountains

Linguistic Group: Iroquoian

Federal Status: recognized

Brief Timeline
1689-1763: French and Indian War, the Cherokee supported the English

1738-1750: Smallpox epidemics

1775-83: During Revolutionary War supported the British

1800: "Moravians," Protestant missionaries of German origin, established the first mission at Spring Place.

1801-1823: Return J. Meigs, an Indian agent, lived among the Cherokee.

1819-1821: Sequoyah (George Gist) created the Cherokee alphabet.

1827: Tribal leaders recorded their constitution

1828: Cherokee Phoenix, a bilingual newspaper, contained columns in both English and Cherokee. Editor -- Elias Boudinot

December 1835: Treaty of New Echota

1838: First Group; Start of Trail of Tears, 800-mile journey; 1838-39 - Second group; 4,000 Cherokees died

Brief History
Eastern Band of Cherokee

Removal

Tribal Headquarters
Cherokee Nation Tribal www.cherokee.org/Government/Default.aspx Government P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 Phone: 918.453.5000

Records
Agency Records

Correspondence and Census

Census Rolls (M595) 1898-1914 FHL Film 573868; 1915-1922 FHL Film 573869; 1923-1929 FHL Film 573870; 1930-1932 FHL Film: 573871, 1933-1939 FHL Film: 573872

Enrollment Records


 * Dawes Commision Enrollement for Five Civilized Tribes
 * Eastern Cherokee - Guion Miller

Vital Records


 * Cherokee (M 595) births and deaths 1924-1932 FHL Film: 573871; 1926-1939 FHL Film: 573872

Important Web Sites

 * Constitution of the Cherokee Nation
 * Official Web Site of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
 * Cherokee Tribe Wikipedia