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=== History and Tidbits === | === History and Tidbits === | ||
The term "Melungeon" has generally been applied to a widely distributed group of people associated with the general region of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky in the United States, but generally regarded as particularly concentrated in the general area of Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Northwest North Carolina. References are also made to Melungeon groups in Ohio and Louisiana. Although definitions of what exactly constitute a Melungeon differ, these are a mixed-race people. | The term "Melungeon" has generally been applied to a widely distributed group of people associated with the general region of [[Indians_of_Tennessee|Tennessee]], [[Indians_of_Virginia|Virginia]], North Carolina, [[Indians_of_South_Carolina|South Carolina]], and [[Indians_of_Kentucky|Kentucky]] in the United States, but generally regarded as particularly concentrated in the general area of Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Northwest North Carolina. References are also made to Melungeon groups in [[Indians_of_Ohio|Ohio]] and [[Indians_of_Louisiana|Louisiana]]. Although definitions of what exactly constitute a Melungeon differ, these are a mixed-race people. | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffff66" | | | bgcolor="#ffff66" | <center>'''Highly publicized DNA study'''</center><br>A recent DNA study has been highly publicized as indicating that Melungeons in [[Hancock County, Tennessee]], [[Hawkins County, Tennessee]], and [[Lee County, Virginia]] descend from African males and European females. Conclusions of this study were published in ''The Journal of Genetic Genealogy'' (April 2012). This was widely reported in the news media through such articles as [http://news.yahoo.com/dna-study-seeks-origin-appalachias-melungeons-201144041.html DNA study seeks origins of Appalachia's Melungeons] (AP). | ||
<center>'''Highly publicized DNA study'''</center><br>A recent DNA study has been highly publicized as indicating that Melungeons in [[Hancock County, Tennessee]], [[Hawkins County, Tennessee]], and [[Lee County, Virginia]] descend from African males and European females. Conclusions of this study were published in ''The Journal of Genetic Genealogy'' (April 2012). This was widely reported in the news media through such articles as [http://news.yahoo.com/dna-study-seeks-origin-appalachias-melungeons-201144041.html DNA study seeks origins of Appalachia's Melungeons] (AP). | While this study has been widely publicized as though it completely settles the question of Melungeon origins generally, it does not. Various surnames traditionally associated with Melungeon identity were not included in the study. In addition, it leaves untouched some of the families who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically classed as whites, but who claimed Native American ancestry, such as the Sizemore claimants among the Eastern Cherokee applicants. | ||
While this study has been widely publicized as though it completely settles the question of Melungeon origins generally, it does not. Various surnames traditionally associated with Melungeon identity were not included in the study. In addition, it leaves untouched some of the families who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically classed as whites, but who claimed Native American ancestry, such as the Sizemore claimants among the Eastern Cherokee applicants. | |||
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In addition, alternate names exist for Melungeons, one of the most prominent being Guineas, another being Black Dutch. Sometimes the "Black" designation will appear in front of a Melungeon surname, not necessarily to indicate sub-Saharan African ancestry, but merely to designate a tendency toward somewhat dark skin.<br> | In addition, alternate names exist for Melungeons, one of the most prominent being Guineas, another being Black Dutch. Sometimes the "Black" designation will appear in front of a Melungeon surname, not necessarily to indicate sub-Saharan African ancestry, but merely to designate a tendency toward somewhat dark skin.<br> | ||
=== Records === | |||
The '''majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies'''. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:<br> | |||
*[[American Indian Allotment Records|Allotment records]] | |||
*[[American Indian Annuity Rolls|Annuity rolls]] | |||
*[[American Indian Census Rolls|Census records]] | |||
*[[American Indian Correspondence and Reports|Correspondence]] | |||
*[[American Indian Health Records|Health records]] | |||
*[[American Indian Correspondence and Reports|Reports]] | |||
*[[American Indian School Records|School census and records]] | |||
*[[American Indian Vital Records Supplements in Census Rolls|Vital records]] | |||
=== Resources === | === Resources === | ||
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==== Bibliography ==== | ==== Bibliography ==== | ||
Probably the best-known book concerned with this subject is N. Brent Kennedy, ''The Melungeons: The Resurrection of a Proud People: An Untold Story of Ethnic Cleansing in America'' | Probably the best-known book concerned with this subject is N. Brent Kennedy, ''The Melungeons: The Resurrection of a Proud People: An Untold Story of Ethnic Cleansing in America''(Mercer University Press, 1997) ([http://books.google.com/books?id=Jqhd3tVSJNkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=melungeon&hl=en&ei=xVaTTaiUJ5G6tgf5-vQ9&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=melungeon&f=false Google Books link]). | ||
Many have taken issue with Kennedy's conclusions, probably most notably Virginia Easley DeMarce:<br> | Many have taken issue with Kennedy's conclusions, probably most notably Virginia Easley DeMarce:<br> | ||