Cherokee National Research Center

Due to the holiday, the Cherokee National Research Center will be closed tomorrow — Thursday, July 4. Wado.

You can view film memorabilia, fan art and more from our Wilson Rawls Collection this weekend during the Red Fern Festival at the Cherokee National History Museum in downtown Tahlequah, Oklahoma!

Cherokee Nation citizen Wilson Rawls is best known for his book “Where the Red Fern Grows.” The book was first printed in 1961 as a three-part series in the “Saturday Evening Post” under Rawl’s original title “The Hounds of Youth.” The name was changed when it was published in book form later that year. The classic story of a boy growing up in Depression-era Cherokee Nation with his loyal hounds continues to inspire young readers to this day.

Don’t miss a special display of pieces from the Cherokee National Collection’s Wilson Rawls Collection during this weekend’s Red Fern Festival. Film memorabilia, fan art and more will be on display at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, through the remainder of the festival.

Image courtesy of the Cherokee National Collection.

Our archive staff had a great time at the “ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᏁᎬ ᏓᏂᏃᏣᎵᏍᎬ: Cherokee Journalism and Printing” event showing visitors examples of materials printed in the Cherokee language from our collection, including an original issue of the Cherokee Advocate newspaper from 1844.

We’re always here to help! 🙂

Bring your family and friends by the Cherokee National Research Center to show our veterans some love! 💕

Now through Tuesday, February 6, materials will be available for visitors to create handmade valentines for Cherokee Nation’s Valentines for Vets program. Locals can also drop off any Valentines they wish to be delivered to veterans throughout the Cherokee Nation Reservation!

The Cherokee Nation Veterans Center is seeking handmade valentines for their annual Valentines for Veterans event! 💌 Once gathered, Veterans Center staff will distribute the valentines to our nation's heroes. ❤️

If you or your organization would like to participate, all valentines must be received to the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center by Friday, Feb. 9, either in person or by mail:

Cherokee Nation
Attn: Veterans Center
PO Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465

➡️ Please do not include last names or other personal information on valentines.
➡️ For questions, please call 918-772-4166.

Two years ago, the Cherokee National Research Center officially opened!

Since then, we have been able to help thousands of people with genealogical and historical research in-person and online. We are so happy to help our citizens connect with their family story and help researchers learn about Cherokee history and culture.

Looking for more info on your Cherokee family or needing a place to start? The Cherokee National Research Center is here to help you on your journey. Our research library is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment with our genealogy staff, go to: bit.ly/CherokeeResearch

Cherokee National Research Center The Cherokee National Research Center is a state-of-the-art facility that is home to a collection of thousands of Cherokee artifacts and archives formerly housed at the Cherokee Heritage Center. We are committed to honoring the legacy of the Cherokee Heritage Center, who have been incredible steward...

The research center will be closing early today, November 22 at 2 p.m. and will be closed all-day tomorrow, November 23 for Thanksgiving. We will return to our normal operating hours on Friday, November 24.

This — take the time to learn about your family history.

The Cherokee National Research Center makes exploring your Cherokee genealogy easy. Fill out our free genealogy research request application with the information you have about your Cherokee ancestors and our genealogy staff will help you find your family tree.

Located in Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, we are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and to download our genealogy form, go to: bit.ly/CherokeeResearch

It’s an honor to house photographs like this one in our collection.

Native Americans honorably serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other demographic in the country. On this Veterans Day, we remember our Cherokee warriors who have defended their families, communities and country.

This photo from the 1910s shows World War I veterans from the Ross family and is one of the many great photographs that is part of the Cherokee National Collection. It is an honor to house photographs like this in our archive at the Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Wado ᏩᏙ, thank you, to all who have served.

Image courtesy of the Cherokee National Collection.

Great article by the Cherokee Phoenix about some visitors who were helped by our genealogy staff!

Remember, we here at the Cherokee National Research Center are ready to help you with all your family research questions.

Genealogy enthusiasts hunt history at Cherokee research center Connie Spencer has traced her family tree back 10 generations, but still yearns to know more about her Cherokee history.

October is . Learn about effective ways to research your family history and organize genealogical records in two FREE upcoming talks here at the Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

For good advice about how to research Cherokee heritage via the Internet, attend "Using the Web to Research Cherokee Ancestry” from 10 – 11 a.m. Thursday, October 12.

Once you understand your Cherokee heritage, the next step is keeping track of all the connections you find from here! Learn “How to Organize Your Cherokee Genealogy Records” from 10 – 11 a.m. Thursday, October 26.

This Cherokee National Holiday weekend — be sure to stop by the Cherokee National Research Center. Our team is here today and tomorrow to answer any of your questions about our collections and help you with your genealogy needs.

It’s the perfect time to fill out a family research form and see some items from the Cherokee National Collection, including promotional materials from past Cherokee National Holiday dating back to the 1950’s.

Our facility is located in Cherokee Springs Plaza, next to Cherokee Nation Gift Shop and we are open both Saturday and Sunday during Holiday weekend, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recently, summer interns from Cherokee Nation Businesses toured the archives at the Cherokee National Research Center. They were given a behind-the-scenes look at the many historically important documents and works of art we house, including the 1838 Cherokee Nation land patent and a lithograph of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief John Ross. The interns left with a deeper understanding of Cherokee history, which informs their work's greater mission.

You can visit the Cherokee National Research Center at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Our hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information about our services, go to bit.ly/CherokeeResearch.

This is one of the many amazing photographs shared with us as part of the Cherokee Freedmen Art and History Project. Over 500 items were submitted to us, ranging from family photographs to historical documents.

These important pieces of history have been cataloged and stored both digitally and physically here in the archives at the Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Some of these pieces are included in the exhibit “We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship” on display at the Cherokee National History Museum. There, you can learn about the history of the Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants brought to life by powerful artwork and family stories like you see here.

Sisters Leora Vann Allison and Barbara Waters Davidson were teens when they took this photo together in the 1950s. Their Cherokee Freedmen family has long been established in the Bartlesville, Oklahoma, community.

See their story and those of other Cherokee Nation citizens of Freedmen descent in “We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship” at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Learn more at VisitCherokeeNation.com.

Image courtesy of Johnnilyn Kutten.

Last week, our senior genealogist Gene Norris gave a wonderful presentation about Cherokee genealogy resources. Wado to everyone who visited us for this educational event!

Remember, if you need any help with your Cherokee genealogy research, we are here to help you! For more information about the Cherokee National Research Center and to request assistance, go to: bit.ly/CherokeeResearch

The “Collective Wisdom” travelling exhibit is happening next door to us here at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma!

It’s great to see so many amazing works of art created by Native artists in collaboration with each other. We hope you make a day trip to visit all the Cherokee attractions here at Cherokee Springs Plaza: the Cherokee National Research Center, the new Cherokee Nation Gift Shop and this unique exhibit on display now through February 25!

So excited for our new neighbor: Cherokee Nation Gift Shop!

We hope you come and visit us both at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma — the capital of the Cherokee Nation.

One year ago, the Cherokee National Research Center officially opened!

Since then, we have been able to help nearly 3,000 people from across 38 states with genealogical and historical research in-person and online. We are so happy to help our citizens connect with their family story and help researchers learn about Cherokee history and culture.

Looking for more info on your Cherokee family or needing a place to start? The Cherokee National Research Center is here to help you on your journey. Our research library is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment with our genealogy staff, go to: bit.ly/CherokeeResearch

Native Americans honorably serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other demographic in the country. On this , we remember our Cherokee warriors who have defended their families, communities and country.

This photo from the 1910s shows World War I veterans from the Ross family and is one of the many great photographs that is part of the Cherokee National Collection. It is an honor to house photographs like this in our archive here at the Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Wado to all who have served.

Image courtesy of the Cherokee National Collection.

In November 2021, Cherokee Nation put out a call for submissions seeking stories, photographs and other materials to help share the history of Cherokee Freedmen, their families and their communities as part of the Cherokee Freedmen Art and History Project. During the past year over 500 items were submitted, ranging from family photographs to historical documents.

These important pieces of history have been cataloged and stored both digitally and physically here in the archives at the Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Some of this material was included in the new exhibit “We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship” on display at the Cherokee National History Museum. There, you can learn about the history of the Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants brought to life by powerful artwork and family stories like you see here. We are proud to retain such important pieces of the Cherokee story.

Gene Norris, the Senior Genealogist here at the Cherokee National Research Center, will be heading up to the new Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita for a free genealogy presentation on Wednesday, October 26!

Hope to see you there!

Don’t know where to start with your Cherokee genealogy research? Join Gene Norris, Senior Genealogist at the Cherokee National Research Center, for a genealogy presentation on Wednesday, October 26, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the new Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita, Oklahoma!

Gene Norris will explain how he performs his genealogy research and will be available to provide you with information and assistance with your own family research. The presentation is free and no registration is required.

Add the event to your calendar here: https://fb.me/e/1P7z2D83b

Recently, a few Cherokee Nation Businesses summer interns received a tour of our archives at the Cherokee National Research Center. They got a behind the scenes look at many of the historically important artworks and documents we house here, including the 1838 Cherokee Nation land patent and chapters of the Book of Genesis printed in the Cherokee language by the Park Hill Press in 1856.

If there are specific items you would like to view for your personal or scholarly research, the Cherokee National Research Center is here to help. We are located in Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and our hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info on our services, go to bit.ly/CherokeeResearch.

One of the many amazing photos housed in our archives. We are honored to help preserve important pieces of Cherokee history like this.

Annie Fields Ballard was a child when she came to Indian Territory on the Trail of Tears. Born in 1834, she later married Archibald Ballard, and they had five children together. This survivor of Indian Removal (shown here in a photo from the 1880s) died on Dec. 11, 1893, and was buried at Ballard Cemetery in Delaware County. Her story is shared at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Image courtesy of the Cherokee National Collection at the Cherokee National Research Center.