Samuel Austin Worcester papers, 1831-1868

Collection

Identifier: MC-1954-226

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In this collection there is only one original item: the agreement of the “Old Settlers” Council to follow him, with certain stipulations, to set up his press at the forks of the Illinois. Instead Worcester located the press at Union Mission where there was a building available. After little more than a year’s time, it was moved to Park Hill.

The remainder of the collection, dated from 1831 to 1868, consists of typescripts and Photostats of letters from his wife, Ann; his daughter Ann Eliza Robertson; and from D. D> Hitchcock, doctor in the Union Army who married his daughter Sarah and, after her death, her sister Hanna. There is also some correspondence about the location of the press, and a diary of Worcester’s kept in 1831 from January to July.

There is also a Photostat of the order to Worcester, dated February 15, 1834, to vacate his house in New Echota to Col. William Handen and to leave the state. The order is signed by William S. [Springer], agent of the Cherokees in Georgia.

Dates

Creation: 1831 - 1868

Conditions Governing Access

Access is by appointment only.

Biographical / Historical

Samuel Austin Worcester (1798-1859) was a missionary to the Cherokees in Georgia and Indian Territory. His great Contribution was his translation of various works into Cherokee, securing the type of the Sequoyah Syllabary, and the many publications from his press for the Cherokees, Choctaws and Creeks.

Extent

23 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Originals

The original order to Worcester is in the possession of a great grandson, H. W. Hicks of Tulsa.

Related Materials

In the Ross Papers (39-7), there is an original letter Worcester to James Orr, the missionary at Dwight Mission. McFarlin Library, Special Collections holds the Papers of the Worcester and Robertson families.