Languages Represented: The collection materials are in Cherokee and English.
Extent: 115 items.
Collection Date Range: 1996 – 2005
Creators: Durbin Feeling
Collection Identifier: DFE
Abstract: The Durbin Feeling collection contains a series of letters written in Cherokee to and from members of Durbin Feeling’s family. It also includes various audiovisual resources in Cherokee, such as short films and basketball commentary.
Acquisition Information: These records came to the Sam Noble Museum in 2007 and were deposited by Mary Linn.
Access Restrictions: The materials are open for research. Contact the NALC at (405) 325-3332 or language.samnoblemuseum@ou.edu.
Cite As: [title], [catalog number], Durbin Feeling Collection, Sam Noble Museum Department of Native American Languages.
Collection Scope and Contents: It is believed that the Cherokee people migrated from the Great Lakes region of what is now the United States to the southeast region (present day Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee), taking their language with them. The Cherokee language uses its own writing system, known as the Cherokee syllabary.
In 1975, Durbin Feeling of the Cherokee Nation took the syllabary and published the Cherokee-English Dictionary. He later went on to teach at the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, and then worked in the language department of the Cherokee Nation in the town of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where Cherokee is prominently spoken. Cherokee is an Iroquoian family language and the only Southern Iroquoian language still actively spoken (primarily in parts of Oklahoma and North Carolina). Feeling has also collaborated with the electronics company Apple in the designation of Cherokee fonts for writing on iPads and iPhones. In 2007, he partnered with the Sam Noble Museum to establish the Durbin Feeling Collection.
The Durbin Feeling Collection features textual documents including Cherokee stories from the United Keetowah Band, reports to the Cherokee people and more than 100 letters written in Cherokee, mainly from Mr. Durbin Feeling addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling during his time serving in the Vietnam War. Other letters are exchanged between Durbin Feeling, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Feeling, Maggie Turtle, and J.V. Carwell.
The collection also features video footage in Cherokee, including claymation movies and Oklahoma high school basketball championship games, with play-by-plays by Dennis Sixkiller completely in the Cherokee language. A list of basketball terms in Cherokee accompanies this footage.
| Catalog # | Title |
|---|---|
| DFE-001.001 | Durbin Feeling’s Letters from Vietnam, 1969-1975 (in Cherokee) |
| DFE-001.002 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 5, 1968 |
| DFE-001.003 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 6, 1968 |
| DFE-001.004 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 15, 1968 |
| DFE-001.005 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 24, 1968 |
| DFE-001.006 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 29, 1968 |
| DFE-001.007 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, October 6, 1968 |
| DFE-001.008 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, October 9, 1968 |
| DFE-001.009 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 3, 1968 |
| DFE-001.010 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 8, 1968 |
| DFE-001.011 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 19, 1968 |
| DFE-001.012 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 24, 1968 |
| DFE-001.013 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 2, 1968 |
| DFE-001.014 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 3, 1968 |
| DFE-001.015 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 5, 1968 |
| DFE-001.016 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 16, 1968 |
| DFE-001.017 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 24, 1968 |
| DFE-001.018 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 28, 1968 |
| DFE-001.019 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 18, 1969 |
| DFE-001.020 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 7, 1969 |
| DFE-001.021 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 12, 1969 |
| DFE-001.022 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 23, 1969 |
| DFE-001.023 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, March 1, 1969 |
| DFE-001.024 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Russell Feeling, April 7, 1969 |
| DFE-001.025 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, April 20, 1969 |
| DFE-001.026 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, May 1, 1969 |
| DFE-001.027 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 29, 1969 |
| DFE-001.028 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 6, 1969 |
| DFE-001.029 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 13, 1969 |
| DFE-001.030 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 22, 1969 |
| DFE-001.031 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 18, 1969 |
| DFE-001.032 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 25, 1969 |
| DFE-001.033 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 10, 1969 |
| DFE-001.034 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 12, 1969 |
| DFE-001.035 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 20, 1969 |
| DFE-001.036 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, October 16, 1969 |
| DFE-001.037 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 14, 1969. |
| DFE-001.038 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 30, 1969 |
| DFE-001.039 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 3, 1970. |
| DFE-001.040 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 7, 1974. |
| DFE-001.041 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 17, 1974. |
| DFE-001.042 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling. |
| DFE-001.043 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling. |
| DFE-001.044 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling. |
| DFE-001.045 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 6, 1968 |
| DFE-001.046 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 22, 1966 |
| DFE-001.047 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, March 13, 1967 |
| DFE-001.048 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, March 26, 1967 |
| DFE-001.049 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, October 22, 1968 |
| DFE-001.050 | Letter from Russell Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 3, 1968 |
| DFE-001.051 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 8, 1968 |
| DFE-001.052 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 8, 1969 |
| DFE-001.053 | Letter from Russell Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 20, 1969 |
| DFE-001.054 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 12, 1969 |
| DFE-001.055 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 18, 1969 |
| DFE-001.056 | Letter from Maggie Turtle to Elizabeth Feeling, May 11, 1970 |
| DFE-001.057 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Elizabeth Feeling, May 16, 1970 |
| DFE-001.058 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 18, 1970 |
| DFE-001.059 | Letter from Mrs. Diana Adney to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 4, 1970 |
| DFE-001.060 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 12, 1971 |
| DFE-001.061 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 18, 1971 |
| DFE-001.062 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, February 25, 1971 |
| DFE-001.063 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 4, 1971 |
| DFE-001.064 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Feeling, September 18, 1971 |
| DFE-001.065 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Feeling, October 8, 1971 |
| DFE-001.066 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 18, 1971 |
| DFE-001.067 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 10, 1972 |
| DFE-001.068 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Elizabeth Feeling, January 8, 1972 |
| DFE-001.069 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, February 28, 1972 |
| DFE-001.070 | Letter from Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, April 21, 1972 |
| DFE-001.071 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 19, 1972 |
| DFE-001.072 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Elizabeth Feeling, June 26, 1972 |
| DFE-001.073 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 10, 1972 |
| DFE-001.074 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 14, 1972 |
| DFE-001.075 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, July 28, 1972 |
| DFE-001.076 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 14, 1972 |
| DFE-001.077 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 23, 1972 |
| DFE-001.078 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 18, 1972 |
| DFE-001.079 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, October 4, 1972 |
| DFE-001.080 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, December 21, 1972 |
| DFE-001.081 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 10, 1973 |
| DFE-001.082 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, February 20, 1973 |
| DFE-001.083 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, March 9, 1973 |
| DFE-001.084 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, April 30, 1973 |
| DFE-001.085 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 11, 1973 |
| DFE-001.086 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 18, 1973 |
| DFE-001.087 | Letter from Bessil Dunham to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 2, 1973 |
| DFE-001.088 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 30, 1973 |
| DFE-001.089 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 4, 1973 |
| DFE-001.090 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 21, 1973 |
| DFE-001.091 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elisabeth Feeling, November 19, 1973 |
| DFE-001.092 | Letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling to Mrs. Betty Sixkiller, September 6, 1968 |
| DFE-001.093 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, September 6, 1968 |
| DFE-001.094 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, February 27, 1974 |
| DFE-001.095 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, June 24, 1974 |
| DFE-001.096 | Letter from Elizabeth Feeling to Durbin Feeling, July 12, 1974 |
| DFE-001.097 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, August 27, 1974 |
| DFE-001.098 | Letter from J. V. Cardwell to Elizabeth Feeling, October 15, 1974 |
| DFE-001.099 | Letter from Mrs. Maggie Turtle to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, November 18, 1974 |
| DFE-001.100 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, 1974 |
| DFE-001.101 | Letter from Elizabeth Feeling to Durbin Feeling, 1974 |
| DFE-001.102 | Letter from Durbin Feeling to Mrs. Elizabeth Feeling, January 23, 1975 |
| DFE-002 | Journey of the Cherokee-Kituwah |
| DFE-003 | 2005 Report to the Cherokee People |
| DFE-004 | Cherokee Stories from the United Keetowah Band, Compiled by Durbin Feeling, 10/17/2006 |
| DFE-005 | Spirit of the Fire |
| DFE-006 | The Messenger |
| DFE-007 | The Beginning They Told & The Ball Game |
| DFE-008 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Area Finals: Beggs vs. Sequoyah, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 4, 2005 |
| DFE-009 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Quarter Finals: Dewey vs. Sequoyah, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 10, 2005 |
| DFE-010 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Quarter Finals: Millwood vs. Sequoyah, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 10, 2005 |
| DFE-011 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Semi Finals: Chisholm vs. Sequoyah, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 11, 2005 |
| DFE-012 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Semi Finals: Millwood vs. Sequoyah, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 11, 2005 |
| DFE-013 | 2005 Oklahoma High School Basketball Championships: Newkirk Lady Tigers vs. Sequoyah Lady Indians, with Cherokee Play-By-Play, March 12, 2005 |
| DFE-014 | Basketball Terms in Cherokee |
