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Diary of a Disbursing Agent

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3879

  • Staff Only

A handwritten diary, written between 1834 and 1838, by a Disbursing Agent for the removal of the Cherokee Indians from the southeastern United States. The author of this journal details their travels through Kentucky, west Tennessee, and northern Mississippi and reflects on their interactions with the Cherokee people. Also included is the author’s account of the Treaty of Echota, signed in 1835.

Although the diary has previously been attributed to writer Charles Fenton Mercer Noland of Arkansas, this claim has been disputed by historians, leaving the diary’s author unknown.

Dates

  • 1834-1838

Language

This material is written in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

A handwritten diary, written between 1834 and 1838, by a Disbursing Agent for the removal of the Cherokee Indians from the southeastern United States. The diary follows the author's travels through the southeast in the time leading up to the removal and documents their work and interactions with the Cherokee people.

Biographical/Historical Note

Working on behalf of the U.S. government, disbursing agents, or removal agents, acted as liaisons between the government and the targeted Native American tribes forced to relocate to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) during the 1830s.

Arrangement

This material is in one folder.

Related Archival Materials

Interested researchers may wish to consult Noland's Cherokee Diary: A U.S. Soldier's Story from inside the Cherokee Nation catalogued in our Rare Books (E99 .C5N666 1990).

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480