In a small classroom on the lower level of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, a cardboard box, small scraps of paper, and manila file folders are set out before three researchers. The modest setting belies the unprecedented project being undertaken.
For the first time ever, the Beinecke is delving into its Kilpatrick collection of Cherokee manuscripts, nearly 2,000 documents from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries, all written in the hand of native authors. The goal is to discover what is in the collection, translate, and catalog all the documents, and make them available to researchers and educators. Reda more at: http://news.yale.edu/2013/09/12/team-exploring-linguistic-legacy-cherokee-documents-beinecke