Se-Quo-Yah, Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet

Se-Quo-Yah, Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet
Se-Quo-Yah, Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet

Se-Quo-Yah, Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet

Datec. 1836-44
Artist (American painter, 1785–1862)
Publisher (Philadelphia publisher, 19th century)
Illustration CitationThe History of the Indian Tribes of North America, by Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall (Philadelphia: Rice, Rutter, & Co., 1865–1870).
MediumColor lithograph
Dimensionssheet: 10 × 6 3/4 in. (25.4 × 17.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mary R. Seymour; Accessioned, 2019
Object number2019-44
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPRINT
Label TextSequoyah, a Cherokee trader and artisan, devised a syllabary--a set of symbols to represent each syllable in the Cherokee spoken language. His invention allowed the Cherokee to achieve mass literacy and preserve their language and cultural traditions as Euro-American society encroached on their territory.
Se-Loc-Ta
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
John Ross, A Cherokee Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1850-55
David Vann, A Cherokee Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1850-55
Shin-Ga-Ba-W'ossin
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
Nea-Math-La, A Seminole Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
Push-Ma-Ta-Ha
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
Pa-She-Pa-Haw, A Sauk Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
Me-Na-Wa
Charles Bird King
1842-1858
Mistippee
Charles Bird King
c. 1865
Pa-She-Nine, A Chippewa Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1850
Oche-Finceco
Charles Bird King
c. 1850-55
Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief
Charles Bird King
c. 1850-55