Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association (MC 364)
Organizational Note
The Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association (CIHA) began as a committee of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, which operated in both Alabama and Georgia and was dedicated to the history of both sides of the river. The CIHA was incorporated in Georgia under the name Creek Indian Heritage Memorial Association, Inc. (CIHMA) on May 2, 1988. On December 18, 1990 the name was officially amended by the Georgia Secretary of State to the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association. The CIHA was dissolved on September 10, 2010, although it continued to meet until the mid-2010s. There is correspondence in 2014 regarding an application for reinstatement, which apparently did not occur.
The mission of the CIHMA was "to educate the public with regard to the significant role played by the Creek Indians in shaping the history and culture of the Chattahoochee River Valley area". This mission continued under its later names as well. Their primary activities over the years was to build a monument to the Indian Heritage of the Chattahoochee Valley at a site at Fort Mitchell, Alabama, then to build and maintain an adjacent Indian Heritage Center and later to build and maintain an interpretive trail, highlighting native plants known to and used by the original inhabitants of the area. These records document the initial organization of the CIHA, as well as subsequent fund raising, choices of designs and construction funds, grant applications, efforts to coordinate the needs of both Alabama and Georgia legal requirements and membership issues. Board of Directors meetings were held at least quarterly, with special called meetings throughout the year. The annual meeting was usually held in December.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of the records of the CIHA, along with the records of the predecessor organization, the Creek Indian Heritage Memorial Association (CIHMA). The CIHA was formed to continue the work of the Indian Heritage Memorial committee of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission. The records of the two organizations are filed together and arranged in three series: Series 1 - the Board of Directors (BoD) which includes the incorporation papers, by-laws, and meeting records, which could include agendas, minutes, and reports to the Board; Series 2 - Correspondence, and Series 3 -- Photographs.
1984-2015 & nd 4 boxes (3.25 l.f.)
Permission to Publish
Permission to publish material from the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association Records must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required:
Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association Records (MC 364) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia
Provenance
These collection was donated to the CSU Archives in 2014 by the Association.
Box and Folder List
Box 1
Series 1 - Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met, usually quarterly, and oversaw the annual meeting in December. The following folders should contain the meeting announcement, the agenda, the minutes, and any reports presented. They are not all complete, some containing only draft minutes, not all the reports, etc. The meeting records provide a good overview of what issues were occupying the Board at any given time.
Folder 1 - Incorporation Papers, 1988, 1990 (Amendment of Name), 2010
Folder 2 - Meeting, May 6, 1988 This was the first meeting of the organization's Board. The draft by-laws, which were adopted by the Board, are included as part of the minutes of this meeting.
Folder 3 - Meeting, June 3, 1988 This contains the letter of agreement between the Creek Indian Heritage Memorial Association and the Historic Chattahoochee Commission regarding the projected Creek Indian Heritage Memorial.
Folder 4 - Meeting, June 29, 1988
Folder 5 - Meeting, August 10, 1988
Folder 6 - Meeting, September 29, 1988
Folder 7 - Meeting-Design Selection Committee, October 25, 1988
Folder 8 - Meeting, November 9, 1988
Folder 9 - Meeting, December 6, 1988
Folder 10 - Meeting, February 1, 1989 The design concept proposals for the Indian Heritage Monument are included with the minutes of this meeting.
Folder 11 - Meeting, Executive Committee, February 6, 1989
Folder 12 - Meeting, March 6, 1989
Folder 13 - Meeting, May 5, 1989
Folder 14 - Meeting, June 13, 1989
Folder 15 - Meeting, August 25, 1989
Folder 16 - Meeting, Annual, December 11, 1989
Folder 17 - Meeting, August 24, 1990
Folder 18 - Meeting, December 11, 1990
Folder 19 - Meeting, May 6, 1991
Folder 20 - Meeting, February 19, 1992
Folder 21 - Meeting, December 8, 1992
Folder 22 - Meeting, April 16, 1993
Folder 23 - Meeting, May 21, 1993
Folder 24 - Meeting, June 30, 1993
Folder 25 - Meeting, August 25, 1993
Folder 26 - Meeting, December 7, 1993 This meeting was originally scheduled for December 8, 1993.
Folder 27 - Meeting, March 2, 1994
Folder 28 - Meeting, April 20, 1994
Folder 29 - Meeting, May 5, 1994
Folder 30 - Meeting, May 25, 1994
Folder 31 - Meeting, June 24, 1994
Folder 32 - Meeting, September 14, 1994
Folder 33 - Meeting, December 5, 1994
Folder 34 - Meeting, February 1, 1995
Folder 35 - Meeting, March 10, 1995
Folder 36 - Meeting, April 27, 1995 This folder includes a number of brochures of Indian sites around the country, gathered by Deborah Shaw
Folder 37 - Meeting, August 18, 1995
Folder 38 - Meeting, November 20, 1995
Folder 39 - Meeting, January 9, 1996
Folder 40 - Meeting, February 5, 1996
Folder 41 - Meeting, February 23, 1996
Folder 42 - Meeting, May 7, 1996
Folder 43 - Meeting, September 6, 1996
Folder 44 - Meeting, December 10, 1996
Folder 45 - Meeting, March 12, 1997
Folder 46 - Meeting, August 26, 1997
Folder 47 - Meeting, November 12, 1997 In addition to the usual Board Meeting material, this folder contains a VHS tape of an Alabama Public Television show about the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center that aired on September 3, 1997.
Folder 48 - Meeting, March 18, 1998
Folder 49 - Meeting, August 4, 1998
Folder 50 - Meeting, December 8, 1998
Folder 51 - Meeting, April 19, 1999
Folder 52 - Meeting, June 16, 1999
Folder 53 - Meeting, March 30, 2000
Folder 54 - Meeting, August 23, 2000
Folder 55 - Meeting, January 23, 2001
Folder 56 - Meeting, May 29, 2001
Folder 57 - Meeting, December 4, 2001
Folder 58 - Meeting, April 24, 2002
Folder 59 - Meeting, December 11, 2002
Folder 60 - Meeting, June 18, 2003
Folder 61 - Meeting, October 22-23, 2003
Folder 62 - Meeting, May 5, 2004
Folder 63 - Meeting, December 1, 2004
Folder 64 - Meeting, February 22, 2005
Folder 65 - Meeting, May 17, 2011
Series 2 - Correspondence
Folder 66 - Correspondence, 1984-1987 This folder contains pre-organizational materials and correspondence. There is also a Master Development Plan for the Historic Fort Mitchell Park by Goodwyn and Mills, Consulting Engineers of Montgomery, Alabama dated August, 1984. There is also a report from Vernon James Knight, Jr. titled Tukabatchee Archaeological Investigations at an Historic Creek Town, Elmore County, Alabama, July 31, 1984.
Folder 67 - Correspondence, January-June, 1988 The year 1988 was spent organizing the Association and beginning the planning process for the Creek Indian Heritage Memorial. Committees for Design, Promotion and Fund Raising were appointed. Fort Mitchell, Alabama was chosen as the site of the proposed memorial. Later in the year, three firms were chosen as finalists for the design phase of the project.
Folder 68 - Correspondence, July-December, 1988 The year 1989 focused on the Memorial. J.J. Jaxon company of Eufala, Alabama was chosen in February for design and construction of the Memorial and related Plaza. Much of the year was spent in design, construction, and fund-raising, as well as public outreach and usual administrative activities of the CIHA.
Folder 69 - Correspondence, January-June, 1989
Folder 70 - Correspondence, July-December, 1989
Folder 71 - Correspondence, January-May, 1990 Even as work progressed on the Memorial and Plaza, plans were made for the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center, to be built next to the Plaza. Design and fund-raising for this project began in earnest in 1990.
Folder 72 - Correspondence, June-December, 1990
Folder 72 - Correspondence, January-June, 1991 This year was also spent on the design and fund-raising for the Indian Heritage Center, as well as for the Memorial and Plaza. Grant applications continued to be pursued as well.
Folder 73 - Correspondence, June-December, 1991
Box 2
Folder 1 - Correspondence, 1992 This year was also spent on the design and fund-raising for the Indian Heritage Center, as well as for the Memorial and Plaza. This year also saw the beginning of the project of adding an Interpretive Trail to the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center at the Fort Mitchel site . Grant applications continued to be pursued as well. A copy of The Speaker: An Occasional Newsletter of the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association, #1, Summer 1992 is also in this folder.
Folder 2 - Correspondence, January-June, 1993 This folder contains a transcript of the 1832 Census of the Creek Nation, Lower Towns and records of donations to the CIHA to honor names on that census. This list was apparently begun in May of this year.
Folder 3 - Correspondence, July-December & nd, 1993
Folder 4 - Correspondence, Records, January-April, 1994 The Board's focus during the early part of 1994 was on fund raising, grant applications and the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center at Fort Mitchell, Alabama on May 25.
Folder 5 - Correspondence, May, 1994 The month of May, 1994 was taken up almost exclusively with the groundbreaking ceremony held at Fort Mitchel, Alabama, on the 25th. This folder also contains a transcript of the Census of the Creek Nation: The Lower Towns, of 1832, as well as the list of people who sponsored the names of Indians included in that census to benefit the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center.
Folder 6 - Correspondence, June, 1994 June was spent mostly in dealing with the May groundbreaking, including thank-you notes, recruiting for the Board of Directors, setting up exhibits in the Heritage Center and planning for increased fundraising, including a grant application for landscaping and other improvements to the Heritage Center site, as well as other activities. This folder also includes a document titled: Purpose of the Indian Heritage Center. According to this document, dated June 24, 1994: "The purpose of the Indian Heritage Center is to celebrate the culture and accomplishments of the Indians who inhabited the Chattahoochee River Valley until their removal west in the 1830s. It is intended as a gesture of friendship and reconciliation toward a courageous people harshly treated and too long ignored in our history. The Heritage Center, which incorporates Native American symbolism and contemporary design, will be a tangible representation of expanding awareness of greater understanding among people who once believed themselves bitter enemies, but now know they are but one people".
Folder 7 - Correspondence, July, 1994 This month was mostly taken up with the grant application to the Alabama Transportation Enhancement Program (ISTEA grant).
Folder 8 - Correspondence, August-October, 1994 During this period the Association was active in planning various Indian heritage events, fund raising and organizational issues.
Folder 9 - Correspondence, November-December, 1994 & nd
Folder 10 - Correspondence, January-March, 1995
Folder 11 - Correspondence, April-June, 1995
Folder 12 - Correspondence, July-August, 1995
Folder 13 - Correspondence, September-December, 1995
Folder 14 - Correspondence, January-February, 1996 The major topic for this period was beginning construction of the next phase of the Center at Fort Mitchell, as well as fundraising and outreach.
Folder 15 - Correspondence, March-April, 1996 The main focus of the Association during this time period was preparing the July dedication of the completed Plaza area of the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center.
Folder 16 - Correspondence, May-June, 1996 During this period, the focus of the CIHA was construction of the Plaza and its dedication, as well as fundraising and outreach.
Folder 17 - Correspondence, July-December, 1996 During this period the CIHA dealt with the long-planned dedication of the Plaza and thus the completion of the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center. They also worked on fundraising and outreach.
Folder 18 - Correspondence, January-June, 1997 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach.
Folder 19 - Correspondence, July-December 1997
Folder 20 - Correspondence, January-June, 1998 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach. They also dealt with the close-out of the fund raiser's contract in early part of the year and a round of fund-raising for the flame sculpture to complete the Square Ground area of the Indian Heritage Center.
Folder 21 - Correspondence, July-December, 1998 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach. They also dealt with the close-out of the fund raiser's contract.
Folder 22 - Correspondence, January-June, 1999 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach. During this time frame they were raising funds for the creation of a 1,500 meter interpretive trail at the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center.
Folder 22 - Correspondence, July-December, 1999 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach. During this time frame they were raising funds for the creation of a 1,500 meter interpretive trail at the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center. They also dealt with reports of dissention among the various historical groups involved with projects relating to the Fort Mitchell site.
Box 3
Folder 1 - Correspondence, January-February, 2000 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach. There was also a discussion about coordination issues between the CIHA and the Oxbow facility owned by CSU.
Folder 2 - Correspondence, March-June, 2000
Folder 3 - Correspondence, July-December, 2000 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach, with a special emphasis on the bidding and construction of the Interpretive Trail project, and building an endowment fund for the CIHA.
Folder 4 - Correspondence, January-June, 2001 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach, with a special emphasis on the completion of the Interpretive Trail project, and support for an Indian homecoming on May 5th.
Folder 5 - Correspondence, June-December, 2001 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach, with a special emphasis on several special events at the Center.
Folder 6 - Correspondence, January-June, 2002 The main focus of the Association during this time frame was, as usual, fundraising and outreach, with a special emphasis on concluding their contract with a former fund-raising consultant and moving into more events based programming after nearly two decades of building projects.
Folder 7 - Correspondence, July-December, 2002
Folder 8 - Correspondence, 2003
Folder 9 - Correspondence, 2004
Folder 10 - Correspondence, 2005
Folder 11 - Correspondence, 2006
Folder 12 - Correspondence, 2007
Folder 13 - Correspondence, 2008
Folder 14 - Correspondence, 2009
Folder 15 - Correspondence, 2010
Folder 16 - Correspondence, 2011
Folder 17 - Correspondence, 2012
Folder 18 - Correspondence, 2013
Folder 19 - Correspondence, 2014
Folder 20 - Correspondence, 2015
Folder 21 - Correspondence, nd
Series 3 - Photographs and Graphics
Box 4
This box contains photographic negatives and prints of mostly undated and unidentified events held at the Center. Some are dated 2001, but most have no date although they seem to show the dedications of the trail, the flame sculpture and other events mentioned in the Minutes and Correspondence.
In addition to the box of photographs, there are two large format renderings of the Flame sculpture and a design of the proposed landscaping of the site, all undated. These materials are in the map cases.
