Editorial: Cherokee Nation preserves chief's historic documents

Few things matter more to the Cherokee Nation's history than the papers of its longest serving chief, John Ross, who led the tribe during its removal and across the Trail of Tears 175 years ago.

Now, Ross' many letters will be preserved into perpetuity thanks to a partnership between the Cherokee Nation and the Gilcrease Museum. The tribe last week presented a check for $20,000 to the museum to preserve the "John Ross Papers" held in the museum's archival collection.

The correspondence of one the tribe's greatest leaders will be preserved for history.