- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host April 7 Presentation on History of Trail of Tears in Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:20:35 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock historian will give a presentation on the history of the Trail of Tears and the Federal Indian Removal Act in Arkansas on April 7. The presentation, “Little Rock: A Pivotal Point on the Trail of Tears,” will begin at noon April 7 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Dr. Daniel Littlefield, director of the Sequoyah National Research Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will discuss Indian removal as federal policy, its implications for Indian affairs for the next century, the origin of the term Trail of Tears, and some of the popular misconceptions about the event. In recognition of Little Rock’s La Petite Roche Tricentennial, participants will learn more about the role that Little Rock played during the removal of the five large tribes from the Southeast United States to new lands west of Arkansas and why Little Rock’s role was so significant. “Geography was a primary reason because Little Rock was the nexus of travel routes through the Arkansas Territory at the time,” Littlefield said. “Little Rock was also a major administrative and economic center for Indian removal west of the Mississippi.” Littlefield said that the Trail of Tears had several surprising results for Arkansas, including early statehood, economic development in the state’s early years, the development of the slave trade in Arkansas, and the founding of some of the “first families” of Arkansas. Participants may register to attend the event in person at or virtually at .

Forgotten History: How ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center helped preserve historic Cherokee courthouse

John Hill — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 20:54:54 +0000

Dr. Daniel Littlefield, director of the Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, recently saw a piece of his local history restored to life. The former in Rose, Oklahoma, is the only one of nine district courthouses built in the 1800s by the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory still in existence. In August, it was reopened to the public as a cultural museum after years of ongoing work to restore, preserve, and modernize the historic building. The Cherokee Nation designated the courthouse and the 14-acre grounds as the Saline National Park, the first Cherokee national park. What few people may know is that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center, then known as the American Native Press Archives, played an important role in the building’s preservation. “The Cherokee Nation made a contract with the American Native Press Archives to produce a restoration/preservation report,” Littlefield said. “Chief Smith knew that I had intimate knowledge of the structure and its site. I was born less than five miles from there, had attended a two-room rural elementary school about 2 1/2 miles away, and had a large number of close relatives who lived only a short distance from the site.” In 2004, Littlefield hired Fuller Bumpers, then a first-year law student at William H. Bowen School of Law and now a successful attorney, as an intern. The pair had the summer to complete a report and make a recommendation on whether the courthouse should be restored to the original structure built in 1884 or preserved as it was, having undergone many changes during a century as a private residence. Littlefield and Bumper turned in their report on Sept. 15 and presented their findings to the Cherokee Nation on Oct. 9, 2004. Much of the research was completed at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since Sequoyah holds much of the Cherokee Nation’s records from the Civil War through World War I. “On the basis of our report, the Cherokee Nation decided to preserve the building,” Littlefield said. “A volunteer group organized to work toward that goal. To raise funds in those days before the flush time of casinos, the group published our report, ‘Saline District Courthouse: Historical Contexts Study,’ and sold copies. The grounds and the building were open to the public, but then closed in preparation for the latest stage in its history.” Littlefield said that the recommendation to preserve the building came after taking into account the building’s long history. When the building stopped serving as a courthouse in 1898, it became a private residence, underwent significant changes, and has become an iconic fixture in the local community. “The building became a cultural icon through the 20th century,” Littlefield said. “There was no one living who would have remembered the original structure. I’m very pleased that the building is now more accessible and appealing to the public. The Cherokee Nation has a rich history that they want to preserve.” The Saline Courthouse Museum holds two galleries featuring historical and cultural exhibits and the work of Cherokee artists, a gift shop, a public space, and a video presentation room. The first historic exhibit, “Saline Courthouse: Home to a Community,” highlights the history of the courthouse.

New website commemorates American Indians, Alaska Natives in WWI

Janea Snyder — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 16:57:23 +0000

In commemoration of the centennial of the World War I, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center has published the website “American Indians in World War I” in partnership with the United States World War I Centennial Commission. The website – – commemorates the service of 12,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives who served in the war, mostly as volunteers. The website content was written by Sequoyah National Research Center Director Daniel Littlefield and Archivist Erin Fehr, while a special essay on Code Talkers was contributed by Missouri State University Professor William C. Meadows, who is in the process of publishing a book on WWI code talkers. “Creating the website for the World War I Centennial Commission has been one of my favorite projects to work on,” Fehr said. “The service of American Indian soldiers is often unknown or overlooked, so this website will be an invaluable resource in remembering their legacy of bravery and sacrifice.” The website features articles on all aspects of a soldier’s service and includes a timeline of American Indian history. American Indian women who served as nurses are highlighted in a separate section that includes biographies of each woman. A map of Native American war memorials is also included. The website will be a great genealogical tool for people wanting to learn more about their ancestors war records. “There are very few resources available on this topic, so I think it will get lots of interest,” Fehr said. “Modern Warriors of World War I” was created in 2017 to identify all 12,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives who served in the war. The searchable database is included on the website with nearly 3,500 men to date. Frequent updates are expected. Many contributors have added to this database, including Véronique Lozano of the Facebook page World War I Native American Warriors, who contributed in honor of Muscogee (Creek) Sam Proctor in memory of his uncle, Pvt. Sam Beaver. Information is still being sought on any and all Native soldiers of World War I. The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was created by Congress in 2013 to commemorate the centennial of World War I through the development of educational programs, organization of activities, establishment of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., and as a clearinghouse for WWI information. The Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is the largest archival collection of American Indian and Alaska Native expression in the world. The Center fosters research for the study of Native Americans by providing access to unique resources by and about Native peoples. For more information about ths website, contact Erin Fehr at ehfehr@ualr.edu or 501-569-8336. Captain Ben Davis Locke (Choctaw), in front, with American Indian soldiers at Camp Stanley, 1918. Photo courtesy of Francine Locke Bray.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Black Indians and Native American heritage fair

Janea Snyder — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 21:48:16 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a Black Indians and Native American Heritage Month fair on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the University Plaza Shopping Center parking lot at the corner of Asher and University avenues. Events will feature “Patriot Nations,” a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indians, about American Indians’ service in the nation’s wars. Also featured will be short educational talks about the Trail of Tears through Arkansas, slavery and Choctaw and Chickasaw removal, and the Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes. Native American food, arts and crafts, food trucks, tours of the Trail of Tears Park adjacent to the fair site, and exhibits will be available.

Exhibitors include the Butler Center of Arkansas, Arkansas State Archives, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Black History Commission of Arkansas, Sequoyah National Research Center, Indian Center of Arkansas, Inc., Arkansas Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, Toltec Mounds, Little Rock Racial and Cultural & Diversity Commission, Boy Scouts of America, Youth Challenge, 4H & Extension Services, Women in Agriculture, the Secretary of State office, and others. The fair is sponsored by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center and University District Partnership, Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, Black History Commission of Arkansas, Arkansas National Guard Museum, and Jason Irby Innovation Foundation. Admission is free, and parking is close and free. The speaker schedule is as follows:

11–11:15 a.m. Black Indians at Sequoyah National Research Center, Dr. Daniel Littlefield
12–12:15 p.m. Slave, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Removal, Carolyn Kent
1–1:15 p.m. Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes at the Trail of Tears, Dr. Daniel Littlefield

For more information, email axgwinup@ualr.edu, or call 501-683-7356.

Sequoyah National Research Center to create website on American Indians in World War I

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 17:39:02 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sequoyah National Research Center is partnering with the to commemorate the approximately 12,000 American Indians who served in the country’s military during World War I.�� Dr. Daniel Littlefield, director of Sequoyah National Research Center, and Erin Fehr, archivist, are working to create a website that will capture all aspects of American Indians’ involvement in the World War I effort. “In the past, we have done so much work with American Indians in the military, with the World War I project, and we feel like it is so important because no one else has done this, and we feel like it is needed,” Fehr said. “We have reached out and met individuals who have told us stories about their families, and it is very important for us and their family members to be able to tell those stories and have them remembered.” When the U.S. entered World War I on April 6, 1917, American Indians from across the country volunteered in large numbers to protect and defend their homeland. The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission (WWICC) was created by Congress in 2013 to commemorate the centennial of World War I over the next five years. The commission was created to develop educational programs, organize activities, establish a National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., and serve as a clearinghouse for information related to the commemoration. To that end, WWICC has partnered with local, state, and regional entities to create a website dedicated to World War I. Commission members approached Sequoyah National Research Center about creating a website about Native Americans who served in World War I after seeing the center’s fall 2017 exhibit, “Untold Stories: American Indian Code Talkers of World War I.” During World War I, Americans Indians transmitted military messages between the U.S. and its allies in their native languages. The Germans, who were adept at code breaking, could not decode the messages, as they were unfamiliar with American Indians languages. Known as code talkers, Americans Indians served an important role in protecting military messages, and the effort was expanded significantly during World War II and included additional tribes. In fact, Elijah Horner, an Arkansas native from Mena, recruited members from the Choctaw Nation to serve as code talkers during World War I. As part of the exhibit, Sequoyah started a database, “Modern Warriors of World War I,” to identify the 12,000 American Indians who served in World War I. They collected more than 3,000 names and have been actively searching to identify the additional American Indians who served in the military during World War I and their tribal affiliations. Courtney Peyketewa, a Seminole tribal member and graduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma who was a summer intern at Sequoyah, continued this work by contacting tribes regarding their World War I service members. She made great progress and received several information-filled emails with names from various tribes. Additionally, she kept track of tribes that have created veterans’ memorials. Sequoyah’s new graduate assistant, Will Lusk, a graduate student in interdisciplinary studies, is continuing this work. In addition to the database of American Indian World War I veterans, the website will also cover other examples of how American Indians were involved in the war effort. “In addition to those who actively served in the military, you had American Indian women who served in the Army Nurse Corps. We’ve only identified eight so far. Even though there were so few, we still feel like that is a significant involvement,” Fehr said. “There were also many who served on the homefront volunteering with American Red Cross, growing victory gardens, investing in bonds. We want to give a well-rounded view of the war effort for Native Americans. We have also found some of the letters that were written by the men, so people can read in their own words how the men felt. It’s a huge project, but we feel like it was well worth doing.” The website will go live on the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission’s website, wwwicc.org, this fall. In the upper right photo, this panoramic photo depicts the 36th Division of the 142nd Infantry Company E, who served in France during World War I. The company was made almost entirely of American Indian soldiers.

Native American students selected for internship program at Sequoyah National Research Center

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 13:16:24 +0000

Two Native American students are getting in touch with their heritage by serving as interns this summer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center.�� Kevin Briceland, a doctoral student studying American history at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and Courtney Peyketewa, a graduate student studying adult higher education at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, have been selected for the center’s Native American Student Internship Program. The goal of the program is to provide students an experiential learning environment in which to acquire an understanding of the value of archives and the research potential of the collections of the Center and to engage in academic research and practical archival activities related to tribal culture, society, and issues. The interns work 25 hours a week from June 4 to July 27 and receive on-campus housing and a $2,000 stipend. Interns are expected to demonstrate the value of their experience by either a summary report of work, finding aids for collections, or reports of research or other written work that may be shared with their home institutions. Peyketewa, a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, is working on the center’s World War I project with SNRC Director Dr. Daniel Littlefield and Archivist Erin Fehr. “We are working on modern warriors of World War I,” she said. “The has asked the center to help identify the 12,000 American Indian servicemen who served in World War I. We are collecting names, their enlistment records, and any medals or honors they have received. In honor of the centennial, we wanted to honor those who served and recognize them for their service.” The center will also create a website where the public will be able to access the records. “It is very interesting. I am learning stuff every day that I didn’t learn about before,” Peyketewa said. “Currently, I am contacting all the tribes to ask them if they have any information or memorials on their tribe members who are WWI veterans to be able to obtain that information.” After Peyketewa earns her Master of Education, the 27-year-old Oklahoma City native plans to work in student affairs at a university. She also hopes to learn more about her family history while working at the center. “It was awesome to be selected for this opportunity. I feel like I am filling in information for people, and that it is a way of giving back,” she said. “I plan to learn about my family heritage by talking to Dr. Littlefield. He tells me tidbits of information. I also hope to be able to trace my family tree and learn more about my family.” Briceland, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is processing the manuscript collection of SNRC Director Littlefield. He said working at the archives will help prepare him for his dissertation research. “As an historian in training, it will help me to have a working knowledge of an archive,” Briceland said. “I plan to do a lot of my dissertation research here, so this is a good introduction. I like that I am getting two months of complete access to the materials I know I am going to use down the road.” Briceland is planning to write his dissertation on race and policy in Indian Territory from the post-Civil War era through the 1920s. “I think it is a very interesting period of time that often gets overlooked,” he said. “In Indian Territory, you have a lot of different ethnic groups coming together in a complex way. Plus, I grew up there. The people have demonstrated a resiliency and adaptability to change that is important to understand. Being a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma gives you an outlet to connect with the history and culture.” For more information about the Sequoyah National Research Center, contact Erin Fehr at ehfehr@ualr.edu or 501-569-8336. In the upper right photo, the Sequoyah National Research Center has selected four students for its 2018 Native American Student Internship Program. The interns (L to R) include Kevin Briceland, from Southern Methodist University, Courtney Peyketewa, from Oklahoma Central University, Heidi Davis, and Stephanie Rabadeux, both from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Ben Krain/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.��

Exhibit explores history of American Indian code talkers during World War I

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 16:13:28 +0000

The Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host an exhibit on the history of Americans Indians who served as code talkers during World War I. An opening reception for the exhibit, “Untold Stories: American Indian Code Talkers of World War I,” will begin at 1:45 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Sequoyah National Research Center, which is located in Suite 500 of University Plaza. The reception will feature World War I songs performed by the Conway Women’s Chorus. The exhibit will run until Feb. 2. “The Choctaws in World War I were the first Code Talkers utilized by the American military and were invaluable in leading a victory against Germany,” Archivist Erin Fehr said. “We want to celebrate their service, honor their sacrifice, and give faces to the men behind the title ‘Code Talker.'” During World War I, Americans Indians transmitted military messages between the United States and its allies in their native languages. The Germans, who were adept at code breaking, could not decode the messages, as they were unfamiliar with Native American languages. Known as code talkers, Americans Indians served an important role in protecting military messages, and the effort was expanded significantly during World War II and included additional tribes. “In October 1918, Germany was defeating the Allied forces at every turn due to easily tapping into communications,” Fehr said. “When commanding officers overheard Choctaw men speaking to each other in their language, it was decided to try using these men to transmit messages over the telephone. This proved successful, and the messages were never broken. In addition to the Choctaw men, Comanche, Osage, Cherokee, Standing Rock Sioux, and Cheyenne served as Code Talkers.” For more information, contact Erin Fehr at ehfehr@ualr.edu or call 501-569-8336.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Host April 7 Presentation on History of Trail of Tears in Arkansas

Forgotten History: How ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Sequoyah National Research Center helped preserve historic Cherokee courthouse