TAHLEQUAH —
Cherokee historian and novelist Robert J. Conley will be on hand to sign books from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Jacob Gallery, 504 N. Muskogee Ave., in Tahlequah.
This year Jacob Gallery is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Tahlequah.
Robert Conley is making his first public appearance in this area for over three years. This well-known Cherokee author lived for many years near Tahlequah where he spent his days absorbing the Cherokee culture and sharing it with the world through his novels and historical works. According to Conley, he used to go and stand beside the old Cherokee Capitol and “lay my hands on the bricks,” inspired by the memories of the figures who came and went on those grounds. The author of more than 80 books of fiction, history and poetry could often be found drinking coffee and chatting with a circle of friends at the Shack Café or the Restaurant of the Cherokees.
A couple of summers ago, Conley left Oklahoma behind for an honored position at Western Carolina University in North Carolina where he received an appointment as Sequoyah Distinguished Professor in Cherokee Studies. Conley said that living in North Carolina so close, within thirty miles, to the Cherokee Mother Town of Keetoowah, is just like “coming home,” a feeling often experienced by Cherokees who visit the old homeland.
Conley works to keep the University in touch culturally with the Cherokee people of North Carolina. He teaches a survey of Cherokee literature, beginning with the ancient oral stories up to the days of Sequoyah’s syllabary and the advent of the first Cherokee newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix; then to the writings of Will Rogers and Lynn Riggs and on to contemporary Cherokee titles. When not at work at the University, his job takes him to speaking engagements throughout the region and to the reservation in Cherokee, NC, where he has an office in the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This summer Conley was installed as president of the Western Writers of America
Tahlequah artist Murv Jacob, host of the event, says that “Without doubt Robert is the premier Cherokee writer of the modern age and the most distinguished living historian, and this book signing is a great way for visitors and locals alike to meet him up close and in person.”
Copies of Conley’s recent titles, from University of New Mexico Press, that will be available include “The Cherokee Nation: A History” and the new “A Cherokee Encyclopedia.” An assortment of other older and rare Conley titles that Jacob has collected over the years will be available as well. Jacob and Conley invite visitors to bring copies of any of Conley’s books they might already own to be signed.
Robert was contracted to create “The Cherokee Nation: A History” while Wilma Mankiller was Principal Chief and it became available publicly during the Smith administration after years of negotiations. “This book belongs on every Cherokee’s book shelf,” Jacob said. “It is concise and complete and a great read.”
“A Cherokee Encyclopedia” started out as a book about all the Cherokee Chiefs, but Conley found it difficult to find enough information on the early chiefs to fill an entire book. He negotiated with UNM Press to expand the book into an encyclopedia. “It’s hard to think of any memorable Cherokee figure, historic or contemporary, you can’t find there,” said writer Deborah L. Duvall, who will also sign her recent works at the event. “Like all of Robert’s books, the encyclopedia captures your interest and the words flow easily off the page and into your brain, and there’s always a touch of humor – that’s how you tell it’s Conley.”
Author Deborah Duvall is a lifelong Tahlequah resident whose first books focused on local Cherokee history and folk tales. In recent years Duvall has written a series of award-winning children’s books illustrated by her artist husband Murv Jacob. A number of Jacob’s illustrations and paintings will be displayed at the book signing.
Ten years ago Jacob, Conley and Duvall founded the Cherokee Honor Society and paid tribute to a number of area Cherokees. The annual award ceremonies also brought to Tahlequah such luminaries of Cherokee descent as Tommy Lee Jones, Crystal Gale, Keely Smith, and James Earl Jones. “What fun that was,” said Jacob. “When the three of us get together we actually do have ‘good old days’ of some magnitude to talk about.”
