Trail of Tears Association
The American Native Press Press Archives is research headquarters for the
Arkansas Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association
The Arkansas chapter is one of nine state affiliates of the Trail of Tears Association, a support network for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Other chapters are in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
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2008 ARTOTA Program Schedule
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How to join TOTA? What are the benefits?
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What is the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail?
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Chapter Bylaws
2008 ARTOTA Program Schedule
Chapter programs are free and open to the public
Summer
- Saturday, July 19 Van Buren
Crawford County Adult Education Building, 605 Alma Boulevard Circle
Change of location because of storm damage at original venue
10 a.m. Annual membership meeting and biennial election of officers
1 p.m. Summer Program
Presenters will include:
Tom Wing, curator of Drennen/Scott House and director of
historical interpretation program at UAFS
Carolyn Kent speaking on Van Buren and Indian Removal
Curtis Rohr talking about survivors of the Trail of Tears and
OKTOTA's grave marking project
John McLarty on Heritage Trails Project
There will also be a report on the Arkansas Historic Preservation
Program's latest Benge Route research
- Monday, September 22 UALR
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sequoyah Research Center, Suite 500, University Plaza
Pre-conference Research Day
Afternoon will include formal presentations and informal research
exchange, particularly concerning Benge and Bell detachments of
Cherokees as well as information found in newly-transcribed
journals of Muscogee(Creek) military escorts.
SRC will also be open for researchers 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday
during the TOTA conference.
- Monday, September 22, to Thursday, September 25 Little Rock
13th annual Trail of Tears Association Conference & Symposium
Headquarters: DoubleTree Hotel, 424 W. Markham
Registration fee required. Details posted at www.nationalTOTA.org
Ongoing Projects
- Several chapter members are involved in ANPA's Indian Removal Through Arkansas Project, which is documenting the land and water removal routes of Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Muscogee Creeks and Seminoles.
To visit the portion of the ANPA website dealing specifically with this project, please click here.
- The chapter now has a Northwest Arkansas Research Team providing additional documentation for the overland Cherokee detachments that crossed Benton and Washington counties. Please visit the Heritage Trails Partners of NW Arkansas for more information.
- We also aim to compile texts, locations and photos of existing Trail of Tears-related markers in Arkansas.
- Individual members will continue with their own research.
Other Chapter Priorities
- Improve communication and coordination among trail partners within Arkansas, through chapter newsletters and meetings.
- Work to expand membership, through publicity and personal contacts.
- Identify and compile previously published Trail of Tears research, especially reports published in local historical journals. Please send in information from your area!
- Encourage the Research Through Writing Award.
Chapter Officers
July 2006 - June 2008
President
Pat Proctor
Historic Arkansas Museum
Little Rock
Vice-President
John McLarty
Fayetteville
Secretary
Susan Young
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Springdale
Treasurer
Mary Russell Evans
Little Rock
TOTA Board
Glenn Jones
Lowell
TOTA Board
Kitty Sloan
Paragould
Past President
Kitty Sloan
Paragould
Program Coordinator
Carol Kent
Jacksonville
Research Coordinator
Dr. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr.
American Native Press Archives
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
How to join TOTA? What are the benefits?
The Trail of Tears Association is a membership organization, incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 1993 to serve as a support group for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
The membership year is January through December. Annual dues are $25 and include affiliation with one state chapter. Additional chapters may be joined for $10 per state.
Members receive national and state newsletters plus special mailings and discounted registration at the association's annual symposium. The annual conference features presentations by noted Trail of Tears researchers as well as reports from along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The symposium in 2007 will be in Rome, Georgia, and in 2008 will be in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Click here to visit the Trail of Tears Association website.
Click here for a membership form.
For further information, contact:
Jerra Quinton, Executive Director
Trail of Tears Association
1100 N. University Ave.
Suite 143
Little Rock, AR 72207-6344
What is the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail?
The phrase Trail of Tears is often used as a metaphor for all Indian Removal from the southeast states to the Indian Territory that is now eastern Oklahoma. But the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, as created by Congress in 1987 [Public law 100-192], has a much more narrow definition. TOTNHT is "a trail consisting of water routes and overland routes traveled by the Cherokee Nation during its removal from ancestral lands in the East to Oklahoma during 1838 and 1839," as described in a June 1986 final report by the National Park Service.
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is part of the National Trails System, which includes legislatively-designated recreation, scenic and historic trails.
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is administered by the National Park Service but depends on partnerships with federal, state and local agencies, private landowners, and interested individuals such as the volunteers with the Trail of Tears Association.
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail includes an overland Northern Route, traveled by most Cherokees. It stretches 826 miles through Tennessee, kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas into Oklahoma.
An Auto Tour Route has been designated along all-weather roads that are thought to closely parallel the historic Northern Route. These highways have been marked with the official Trail of Tears National Historic Trail logo. Unauthorized use of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail logo is prohibited.
At least four detachments of Cherokees traveled the water route, 1,226 miles along the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers.
Listed as "other major routes" in the National Park Services studies are the Benge and the Bell routes. The detachment led by John Benge traveled 734 miles through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The Treaty Party group led by John A. Bell traveled 765 miles through Tennessee and Arkansas. A National Park Services study commissioned by Congress may help add these routes to the TOTNHT.
Details of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail are included in these publications:
- Final National Trail Study, June 1986
- Comprehensive Management and Use Plan, September 1992
For more information, click here to go to the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail website, or contact:
National Trails System Office - Santa Fe
National Park Service
P.O. Box 728
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0728
505-988-6888
Where are the TOTNHT routes in Arkansas?
Northern Route & Auto Tour Route
Of the 826 miles of the Northern Route, 59 are in Arkansas, cutting across Benton and Washington counties.
A segment of the historic route can be visited at Pea Ridge National Military Park.
Extensive research is being done to document the historic routes from Pea Ridge to Fayetteville as part of the Heritage Trails project of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. Further documentation is needed of the route(s) west of Fayetteville and the possibility of other separate routes.
The Auto Tour Route follows Highway 62, entering Arkansas at Gateway, traveling south to Fayetteville and then west to Westville, Oklahoma. It is marked with the official TOTNHT logo.
Water Route
The water route follows Arkansas' eastern boundary along the Mississippi River and then uses the White River cut-off to enter the Arkansas River.
The 337 miles of the water route along the Arkansas River were traveled by removal groups from all major southeastern tribes - Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. The North Little Rock Site Report, prepared by the American Native Press Archives and available on the ANPA website, details much of the removal activity along the Arkansas River Valley. As the report makes clear, removal detachments along the water route were often required to travel overland because of low-water and other conditions preventing steamboat travel.
Significant Arkansas sites along the water route
On the Mississippi River
Helena, Delta Cultural Center (3)
On the Arkansas River
Arkansas Post National Memorial (1)
North Little Rock Riverside Park (2)
Cadron Settlement Park (1)
Lake Dardanelle State Park (3)
Fort Smith National Historic Site (1)
River Route Overlooks
Pinnacle Mountain State Park (3)
Petit Jean State Park (3)
Mount Nebo State Park (3)
(1) Federally-protected component, automatically part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
(2) Trail of Tears National Historic Trail certified historic site
(3) Trail of Tears National Historic Trail certified interpretive site
What about other Trail of Tears routes in the state?
According to TOTNHT Comprehensive Management and Use Plan, more than one-third of the combined mileage of the Benge and the Bell routes are in Arkansas, 584 miles of the 1,499-mile total.
Significant sites on the Bell Route include Village Creek State Park and its Military Road Trail, a remnant of the Memphis-to-Little Rock Road traveled by the Cherokees as well as Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek removal groups.
Individual researchers and the American Native Press Archives Indian Removal Through Arkansas Project will also continue to document the routes traveled by other tribes. Those will include Choctaw land routes south from Little Rock along the old Southwest Trail and to Indian Territory along the old Fort Towson Road, water routes along the White River to Rock Roe and then overland west; Ouachita River route to present-day Camden; and land route from Point Chicot to Camden, Washington and Fort Towson.
Bylaws of the Arkansas chapter, Trail of Tears Association
Adopted by the membership on July 24, 2004
ARTICLE I
CHARTER
Section 1. Charter. The Arkansas chapter, Trail of Tears Association (ARTOTA) is a chartered chapter of the Trail of Tears Association.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership. Members of the Arkansas chapter shall be Association members who have chosen to affiliate with the Arkansas chapter.
ARTICLE III
MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual assembly. An annual membership assembly shall be held at the time and the place designated by the chapter president or the chapter board. Notice of the meeting and of any business to be transacted shall be mailed to each member at least 30 days prior to the meeting date. Election of officers and other significant chapter business shall take place at the annual assembly, except when these bylaws require or the board recommends that ballots be mailed to each member.
Section 2. Other scheduled meetings. The president or the board may schedule other meetings. Members should be notified of time and place at least 30 days in advance.
Section 3. Special meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called for any purpose by a majority of the board. Notice of any special meetings must be given at least 10 days prior to such meeting.
Section 4. Voting. Any dues-paying member in good standing shall be entitled to vote at all elections and assemblies of the membership. A current list of members, as provided by the Association office, shall be available at any meeting at which a vote is scheduled to be taken. Unless otherwise provided, any proposition passed by a majority vote of members present and voting shall be enacted.
Section 5. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of the number of members equaling 10 percent of the membership or five members, whichever is greater.
Section 6. Proxies. No proxy voting shall be allowed; an individual designated to cast the vote of an institutional member is not considered to be casting a proxy vote.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the chapter shall be managed and controlled by the chapter board. The officers and directors, as outlined herein, shall in all cases act as a board and may adopt such rules and regulations for conduct of their meetings and the management of the chapter as they deem proper, consistent with these bylaws.
Section 2. Number, Term of Office, Qualifications. The board shall consist of at least five members, including the four officers elected by the membership and the immediate past president. The officers shall include a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer. Each term of office will be for two years, or until a successor is elected. Any candidate for office must be a member in good standing of the Association. Failure of any officer to continue as a member in good standing will be cause for removal from office. In the event that the immediate past president is unable to serve on the board, the president may appoint a special director, subject to confirmation by the board. If not already on the chapter board by virtue of other office, the chapter delegates to the national Association board will serve as ex-officio directors on the chapter board. Persons appointed by the president or the board to head special projects may also serve as ex-officio directors on the chapter board.
Section 3. President. The president shall be the principal executive officer of the chapter and shall preside at all meetings of the board and the membership. The president shall perform all duties incident to the office of the president and such other duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws, by the chapter board, or by the Association.
Section 4. Vice President. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall preside at meetings of the board and the membership. In the event that the president is not able to complete his/her term, the vice president shall succeed to the presidency. The vice president will perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws, the president, or the chapter board.
Section 5. Secretary. The secretary shall attend all meetings for the purpose of recording attendance, keeping a record of any votes, and reporting on the proceedings or, in the event of unavoidable absence, arrange for someone else to perform those duties. Whether s/he was able to attend the meeting or not, the secretary shall forward copies of all minutes and reports to the Association office. The secretary shall be the custodian of chapter records and oversee the safe storage and access of all archival files of the chapter. From time to time, the president or the board may assign the secretary additional duties.
Section 6. Treasurer. The treasurer shall keep accurate records of the chapter’s finances, paying bills as instructed by the board and maintaining an inventory of assets. A financial report shall be submitted to the chapter membership at its annual assembly and to the Association as required. From time to time, the president or the board may assign the treasurer additional duties.
Section 7. Nominations and Election of Officers and Directors. The board shall serve as a nominating committee. As soon as possible before the expiration of terms, a notice will be sent to the membership soliciting nominations and indicating which incumbents are willing to continue to serve. The nominating committee will be responsible for confirming the willingness to serve of any member nominated by others and of recruiting nominees in the absence of nominations from the membership. Contested elections, with more than one announced nominee for a given position, will be settled by mail ballots. When there is only one nominee per position, the election will take place at the annual assembly. Nominees must be announced to the membership in writing at least 30 days before the annual meeting, through the chapter newsletter or other written communication. Nothing, however, will prohibit additional nominations to be made from the floor, with such contests decided by the members in attendance. Proxy voting will not be allowed.
Section 8. Vacancies. Vacancies in any position will be filled by presidential appointment. A written notice of the appointment should be filed with the Association office and with the custodian of chapter records. If the presidency becomes vacant, the vice president will succeed until the next election. In the event that the vice president is not able to succeed, the board may designate an acting president to serve until the next election.
Section 9. National Directors. The chapter will elect two individuals to serve on the board of directors of the Trail of Tears Association. These national directors may also hold other positions in the chapter.
Section 10. Quorum. In any decision of the board, a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
Section 11. Compensation. No officer or director is to be compensated for their services except by resolution of the board.
Section 12. Removal of Officers and Directors. Any officer or director, or any agent elected by the membership or appointed by the board, may be removed by the board when in the judgment of the board the best interests of the chapter would be served thereby.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees. The president may create and appoint committees, subject to review by the board. Each committee’s assignment, list of appointees, and projected timetable will be recorded in the chapter files. Written committee reports are expected and will become part of the chapter files.
ARTICLE VI
ARCHIVES
Section 1. Archives. Officers shall maintain written records of chapter activity. Inactive records shall be placed in chapter archives, the depository for which shall be established by the board and reviewed annually.
ARTICLE VII
CHAPTER FUNDS
Section 1. Reports to Association. The chapter will provide an annual financial report to the Association, as required by its bylaws.
Section 2. Dissolution. If the chapter fails to meet established standards or its charter to the Association is revoked or the membership votes to dissolve the chapter, all financial obligations will be completed and the remaining funds will be returned to the Association.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to Bylaws. These bylaws may be amended, or repealed and new bylaws adopted, after submission to and approval of draft by the Association, by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any assembly, when the wording of the proposed amendment has been sent out in the notice of such meeting. [The official copy of the bylaws should note the date such amendment was approved.]
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