Historical Archive
Community Scholars Program
As part of the Grant, we were pleased to partner with Virginia Siegel, Folk Arts Coordinator and Folklorist for Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts, a program of the University of Arkansas Division of Special Collections. Virginia led a Community Scholars Program and series of three training sessions to help train and inspire local citizens to find, document and present community culture, folklife and traditional arts. A direct result of this program and training was the creation of the “Cherokee Village Oral History Project”.
Cherokee Village Oral History Project
December 2023, the Our Town Grant kicked off the Cherokee Village Oral History Project with a series of six video interviews held at Cooper’s Pointe, the former home of John and Mildred Cooper in Cherokee Village. The purpose of the Oral History Project is to capture and preserve history and perspective from individuals who lived and participated in the history of this community. This includes the period before Cherokee Village’s founding in 1954 as well as the Village’s development over the past seven decades.
Introduction Video: Jonathan Rhodes, Cherokee Village Community Developer
Interviewee: Billy Joe French, Musician and Long-Time Sharp County Resident
Interviewer: Jonathan Rhodes, Cherokee Village Community Developer
Interviewee: Martin Carpenter, Long-time Sharp County Resident and Chairman of the Board, FNBC Bank
Interviewer: Jonathan Rhodes, Cherokee Village Community Developer
Interviewee: Dr. Brooks R. Blevins, Author and Noel Boyd Professor of Ozark Studies, Missouri State University
Interviewer: Graycen Bigger, Executive Director, Northeast Arkansas Intermodal Authority
Interviewee: Ron Rhodes, Executive Broker/Owner, Executive Broker/Owner, King-Rhodes & Associates Real Estate
Interviewer: Jonathan Rhodes, Cherokee Village Community Developer
Interviewee: Dr. Suzanne H. Miller, former Camp Miramichee camper/counselor
Interviewer: Jonathan Rhodes, Cherokee Village Community Developer
Interviewee: Nannette Daugherty, Hardy History Association
Interviewer: Amanda Smith, Executive Director, Spring River Innovation Hub and Tourism & Marketing Consultant, CV A&P Commission
Cherokee Village Historical Society (CVHS) Digital Archive
Digital archive coming soon…stay tuned!