Will West Long Collection, 1883-1946
Scope and Contents
There are ten little notebooks and over 100 pieces of paper of various sorts and sizes, all in Sequoyan syllabary. Some have dates (1888-1923-28-35-39), but the significance of the dates is not known.
According to an article by F. G. Speck and C. E. Schaeffer in teh Journal of the Washington Academy of Science for June 15, 1945, concerning West Lond, the notebooks may be the minutes of the "Poor Aid Company" or they may be journals. No translations are present.
In December, 1946, W. N. Fenton and Lester Hargrett interviewed West Long about the various masks and their meaning. There is a typescript report of their interview as well as some photographs of West long taken at the same time, three months before his death.
Dates
- Creation: 1883 - 1946
Creator
- West Long, Will, 1870-1947 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Access is by appointment only.
Biographical / Historical
Wil West Long (1870 January 25-19474 March 14) was an Eastern Cherokee and lived until his death in Big Cove, Swain County, North Carolina on the CHerokee Reseravation where he made the masks for their ceremonial dances.
Extent
114 items
Language of Materials
Cherokee
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum Repository
1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd.
Tulsa Ok 74127
918-631-6441