Penelope Allen Collection
This collection consists of documents collected by Penelope Johnson Allen, concerning the Cherokee Nation in southeastern Tennessee and northern Georgia during the 1800s. Included are receipts, claims, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials related to the Cherokee Agency, as well as Allen's notes and research material, collected largely between the 1930s-1970s. Collection includes materials on Return Jonathan Meigs, agent to the Cherokee Nation and military agent for the United States War Department, and Cherokee Chiefs James Vann, Path Killer, and John Ross.
Dates
- 1801-1984
- Majority of material found within 1801 - 1820
- Majority of material found within 1923 - 1977
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
2.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of documents collected by Penelope Johnson Allen concerning the Cherokee Nation in southeastern Tennessee and northern Georgia during the 1800s. Included are materials related to the Cherokee Agency, as well as Allen's notes and research material from the 1930s-1970s.
Biographical/Historical Note
Penelope Van Dyke Johnson was born on October 27, 1886, in Chattanooga, Tenn. On February 17, 1909, she married Samuel Boyd Allen of Knoxville, Tenn. She worked for the Chattanooga News from 1919-1923, and narrowly lost a bid to be elected to the Tennessee State Legislature in 1922. From 1933-1937, Allen wrote for Chattanooga Times Magazine feature "Leaves from the Family Tree," which eventually became a book. During the 1930s, she directed the gathering of local records for the Works Progress Administration. As an authority on the Cherokee Indians, Allen developed a large collection of Cherokee books, manuscripts, letters, and other documents. Allen has also written several books, including Tennessee Soldiers in the Revolution, Historic Chattanooga, and Tennessee Soldiers in the War of 1812. She died on January 9, 1985.
Arrangement
This collection consists of 17 series in three boxes:
- Series I: Accounts/R. J. Meigs,
- Series II: Agency,
- Series III: Agency-Cherokee Turnpike,
- Series IV: Cherokee Claims,
- Series V: Cherokee Claims - Path Killer,
- Series VI: Cherokee Project Photographs,
- Series VII: The Cherokee National Council,
- Series VIII: Deposition,
- Series IX: John C. Calhoun - Secretary of War,
- Series X: Militia Payroll,
- Series XI: Receipt, The United States to the Boot for express riding,
- Series XII: State of South Carolina - Pendleton District - Depositions,
- Series XIII: Unknown parts of documents,
- Series XIV: US Troops in Cherokee Territory,
- Series XV: Valuations under the Treaty of 1828,
- Series XVI: Warrant - C. Morgan vs William T. Senter and others,
- Series XVII: Penelope Allen Documents
Acquisition Note
Donated to Special Collections
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository