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Photo from the Association of the Descendants of Nancy Ward (ADNW) Facebook Page Congratulations to our board member, Andrea Squires, who was recently chosen as the President of the Association of the Descendants of Nancy Ward (ADNW). Andrea has been active in the group for about 7 years and most recently served as Vice President. The group meets twice a year--with one of those meetings held during the annual Cherokee Holiday in Tahlequah. Membership in the Association of the Descendants of Nancy Ward (ADNW) is open to anyone interested in Cherokee History or Genealogy and includes lineal members (directly descended) and associate members (not lineal members). Andrea is serving after the previous President, David Hampton, decided to step down after 31 years. He will still serve as treasurer. A big congrats to Andrea! Making us proud!

We've added a new book to our online store. (Also available at the Talbot LIbrary and Museum in Colcord, OK) The late Lloyd D. McCombs (who died in August 2025) had written and published this book about his father, who grew up in the Colcord, Oklahoma area. Vernon Ted McCombs later settled in Wichita, Kansas, and, through many difficulties, became a successful businessman there. He was born in 1904, and died in 1952 at the young age of 48. At one time he also owned a farm near Maysville in Delaware County, OK, Du Mac Acres, and raised cattle. It was sold after his death. Vernon was the oldest child of Daisy Kirby McCombs Gibby, and was raised in the McCombs family home near Colcord. We have a limited number of copies and all are autographed by the late author. You can see more details about the book and order this book at our online store here !

We've added a new book to our online store. (Also available at the Talbot LIbrary and Museum in Colcord, OK) This is a newly published book by local author Charlie Amos, a 2001 graduate of Colcord, Oklahoma High School.  He has many family ties to the local area. This book is a western novel--a very interesting story about a Cherokee cowboy working in the Cherokee Outlet in the 1880’s and his journey back to his home and family in the Cherokee Nation in northeastern Oklahoma. It was a 600 mile journey, bringing a Hereford bull he had bought, and some horses gathered along the way, hoping to set up a ranch in his homeland. His friend, Levi, was with him on the journey, they faced outlaws and the elements and a few surprises along the way. An interesting read that mentions many familiar places and people along the way, as well as historical facts. You can order this book at our online store here ! Book #2 in the series will be published soon!

Well known author Michael Wallis has published a new book Belle Starr: The Truth Behind The Wild West Legend . You can now find it in our online store and at our library store. This is currently an Oklahoma best seller and tells about the life story of Belle Starr. Her life was action packed--through Civil War years, through her “outlaw” career, the many characters she knew, her husbands, children, her mysterious death and her descendants. Many stories have been written about her. This book contains extensive Notes, Bibliography, and Illustration Index.  It also contains new information that Mr. Wallis has found about Belle Starr. You can purchase this exciting book at our online store and also at the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord, Oklahoma!

Our Talbot bookstore has recently added two new books. You can order these books online at https://www.talbotlibrary.org/book-store-new-arrivals  . You can also stop by the Talbot Library and Museum and purchase these books! We'd love to see you! Eastern Oklahoma's Forgotten Frontier : An in-depth look at frontier life in Eastern Oklahoma. In the early nineteenth century, new arrivals began making their way into the rugged lands of Eastern Oklahoma, then Indian Territory. These included European settlers and the tribes who were forcibly relocated to the territory after 1830. Their biographies make up stories of over 200 years, including origin of towns and enterprises to profiles of pioneers of the early days of the Oklahoma frontier. $24.99 Murder and Mayhem in Northeast Oklahoma : Northeast Oklahoma was part of Indian Territory during the 1800’s. Many fugitives from US justice sought refuge in its hills and hollows, including Henry Starr and Cherokee Bill. Ater Oklahoma statehood, in 1907, little changed and the area remained a hideout for outlaws into the gangster era of the 1930’s -- outlaws such as Pretty Boy Floyd hiding out in the Cookson Hills. Even in modern times, the area has seen its share of desperate characters and notorious incidents. Award winning author Larry Wood describes many of these. $24.99

We would like to say a big thank you to everybody that came out and supported our Old Settler’s Day Festivities. It was a fun time. We enjoyed visiting with everyone, taking old time photos, watching the parade, and helping out with book purchases and information on our library and museum. We are keeping our old time photo booth set up so, when you have a chance, stop by and take a photo with you and your family!! Make some fun memories for $5.00 per photo. As always, you can also stop by to visit our museum grounds or do some family research in our research library. Our Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 to 4:00 Fridays 8:00 to 2:00. Closed holidays and weekends. We will be closed June 17th and 18th for vacation. Hope to see you soon! Talbot Library and Museum 500 S. Concord Ave. Colcord , OK

Join us Saturday, June 7 at the Talbot Library and Museum during Colcord's Old Settlers Day celebration!    **New this year!! Enjoy our Old Settlers Day PHOTO BOOTH and get a photo print for $5.00! Lots of old time fun!   **We will be selling COLD DRINKS and CANDY!      **ALL BOOKS--New and Used--will be 10% OFF only on Old Settlers Day!   **AND don't forget to check out our brand new GIFT SHOP! We hope to see you Saturday, June 7 at 9AM! For more information, contact us .

On April 23, 2025, the Talbot Library and Museum was so happy to welcome some students from Colcord (Oklahoma) Elementary School. The 4th & 5th grade Cherokee Cultural Class enjoyed themselves visiting our library and museum and playing games like blow dart and stick ball on the grounds of our beloved Talbot Library and Museum! We hope they visit us again soon! Colcord Elementary School, Cherokee Cultural Class, 4th and 5th grade at Talbot Library & Museum Colcord Elementary School, Cherokee Cultural Class, 4th and 5th grade at Talbot Library & Museum

MAKING RAKING FUN! On Saturday, April 12, 2025, two Leach, Oklahoma First Baptist Church students, Lydia and Nolan, along with volunteers, Ken and Malia Macken, served with a smile and hard work.  For several hours, they raked along our two-acre museum property fence line, trimmed trees, shrubbery and picked up branches and limbs on the property.  Sponsors from Lydia and Nolan's community have provided them their summer church camp fee for their work.  This work is so very much appreciated by the Talbot Library and Museum! Making Raking Fun! Thanks so much for your hard work!!

Now, there are two ways to order our latest issues of TL&M Genealogy Magazine! NEW! Digital Version: Starting with our first 2025 issue of TL&M Genealogy Magazine, you can now purchase current single issues from our website digitally . You can place the digital product in your cart, checkout, and then receive an email which will allow you to download the current issue to your own device for reading. The link will be valid for 30 days. You can also download it from the final checkout window when you have finished the payment process. $15 per issue. No Shipping and Handling charges Print Version: If you prefer a print copy, as always, you can contact us online  or call us at 918-326-4532 to order and we will mail a copy to you. $15 per issue plus $4 shipping and any applicable sales tax. Order Single Issues - In print or digital!

Subscribers to our TL&M Genealogy Magazine : Depending on your subscription preference, you should have received/receive soon the latest print or email issue!  If you chose a print copy, check your mail box.  If you chose a digital version, please check your email.   For those receiving a digital copy via email: If you don't find the email, please check your spam/junk folder.  Find the message and click "not spam" or "don't block sender", depending on your email client.  You should find it in your inbox. For future emails, please add our email address ( talbotlibrary@earthlink.net ) to your contacts/address book to prevent future emails from going to the spam/junk folder.  Enjoy your new issue of TL&M Genealogy Magazine! Print - US Mail version Email - Digital Version

We just added two new great books in our online bookstore. Learn more about the history of Arkansas during the Civil War and about Oklahoma and the movement for the state of Sequoyah and how it remains alive today. Great reads! 1) Civil War Arkansas, 1863: The Battle for a State By Mark K. Christ  This book is about the battle to wrest control of the Arkansas River Valley in 1863, thus gaining control of the state itself. The River was vital for moving troops and supplies. This campaign is often overshadowed by the siege of Vicksburg. The author offers parallel events in Arkansas, with consequences for both Union and Confederate powers. The Union captured Little Rock, taking the state out of Confederate control the rest of the war. Other battles were at Arkansas Post, Helena and Pine Bluff. This interesting book contains soldier’s letters and diaries, as well as civilian voices into the story as well. Paperback, 334 pages, w/ illustrations/maps, published 2014. $21.95 2) The State of Sequoyah: Indigenous Sovereignty and the Quest for an Indian State By Donald L. Fixico Published in 2024, the author describes how the forty-sixth state could have been Sequoyah, not Oklahoma. In 1905, the Five Tribes of Indian Territory gathered to form their own Indian-led state. Leaders of the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Muscogees and Seminoles drafted a constitution, which was ratified. In the end, Congress denied the request. President Theodore Roosevelt declared his support for the merging of Indian Territory with Oklahoma Territory, paving the way for Oklahoma statehood in 1907, ending the State of Sequoyah dream. This book tells the story of how the state of Sequoyah movement unfolded and the extent to which it remains alive today. Fixico concludes his narrative by highlighting recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, most notably McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020), that have reaffirmed the sovereignty of Indian nations over their lands and people—a principal inherent in the Sequoyah movement.Did the story end in 1907? Could the Five Tribes revive their plan for separate statehood? Fixico leaves the reader to ponder this intriguing possibility. Hardcover, 206 pages,13 illustrations,3 maps. $34.95 Both of these books are also available for purchase at the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord, Oklahoma.

Subscribers:  TL&M Genealogy Magazine 2024, Issue #2 has been mailed out! (TL&M  subscriptions  and  back issues  available at links!)

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Talbot Library and Museum held a fundraiser yard sale on our grounds in Colcord, Oklahoma! It was a hot day, but we appreciate everyone who attended, bought items and volunteered to help! All proceeds are going to the Talbot Library and Museum operating fund. These funds help keep us going! Thank YOU!!

We have just added two new book arrivals to our online bookstore! (They are also available at our Talbot Library and Museum location in Colcord, OK) Book Descriptions Below. Click on title or photo for link to book: The Road To Disappearance: A History Of The Creek Indians - $24..95 By Angie Debo Another classic book, by the late renowned author and historian, Angie Debo. Her contributions to Indian history of Oklahoma and the entire state of Oklahoma are numerous.   This fascinating history was first published in 1941 as Volume 22 in The Civilization of the American Indian Series. This is a compelling story of the history and internal life of the Creek people. Search For The Native American Purebloods, Third Edition - $24.95 By Charles Banks Wilson, foreword by Herman J. ViolaThis is a classic book, first published in 1983, this third edition in 2000, out of print since 2005. Now being republished. Over several decades, the late renowned Oklahoma artist, Charles Banks Wilson created a gallery of portraits of “purebloods” from each Oklahoma tribe. The series contained 77 pencil drawings, with narratives. This third edition contains 13 additional drawings and an afterword by Mr. Wilson.

Many of you may be interested.......This note is from Teresa Parker at the Dickson Cemetery in Gentry, Arkansas. We have attached the list of damaged monuments below her note: "(Below is)....a list of monuments that were damaged during the tornado at Dickson Cemetery. It is listed in alphabetical order so you can look for your family name(s). As monuments are owned by the family and not the cemetery, the monument companies are asking that you call them directly to have repairs done and we are working with them to keep a list. There are still many families that they have not heard from. If you have questions, you can reach out to me at tjparke8@gmail.com or 479-619-5839. There are about 165 stones that are damaged. We have many older stones from the 1800's and early 1900's that do not have any family left and we are taking donations to help with those. You can donate at www.DicksonCemetery.com  or contact us at the phone or email above. 100% of donations go to the upkeep of the cemetery. There are many more repairs to be done. We are working to get cleaned up enough that we can mow as much as possible, repair the pavilion, repair the sign, clean up trees, etc."

We have just added this new book to our online store. It is also available at our location in Colcord, Oklahoma! The title is: The Cherokee Syllabary: An Illustrated Key To The Cherokee Language. This book by Brad Wagnon is a new unique, colorful book, and a great educational tool for children as well as adults!  It would be very helpful for becoming familiar with Native speech.  Each page contains illustration of syllabary character, how to pronounce the word in Cherokee and English. Illustrations are done by Beth Anderson. This is a hardback book with 40 pages. You can order it online now in our online store!

This new book in our store was written by James Neil Barnes.  It is about his own great-great grandmother, Annie Spirit’s life from 1826-1910. The book includes Annie’s grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, children etc. and their lives parallel with the rise and fall of the Cherokee Nation. It contains informative Cherokee history as well as family history. Talbot Library and Museum was used as one of his resources in researching and writing the book.  You can get more information and order the book online here! This book is also available for sale at the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord, OK.

Bobby (Bob) Gene Stinchcomb, 93, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, passed away on March 9, 2024.  He was born on September 13, 1930, in Yukon, Oklahoma.  Bob was one of seven kids who were raised on a farm in northeast Oklahoma near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border.  Bob learned valuable lessons of hard work while living on the farm.  He was a hard worker and early riser his entire life. Bob attended Carnes School, a mile from their farm on the Moseley Prairie, then attended Colcord School in Colcord, OK where he graduated in 1948. He pursued his higher education with a focus on electrical engineering at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, OK, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Denver, and the University of Tulsa. Bob’s professional career in electrical engineering included employment at Douglas Aircraft, North American, and Gemco in Tulsa and Martin Marietta in Denver.  He worked on the Apollo space program as well as flight simulation systems. In the 1970s, he became an entrepreneur and owned Cash Plumbing in Broken Arrow, Ok and then worked at Heatwave Supply in Tulsa where he retired in 1995. Bob proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954 during the time of the Korean War. Shortly after his honorable discharge from the armed forces Bob met the love of his life, Alice Joan Lay, while they both attended NSU.  They married in 1955 and were married for 68 ½ years.   Shortly after marriage they moved to Norman, OK where Bob attended the University of Oklahoma.  He had a job picking up stadium seat cushions after OU football games.  He liked to tell the story of being in attendance the day that Notre Dame broke OU’s 47-game winning streak.  He was a lifelong OU sports fan and particularly enjoyed watching OU softball in his later years. Their first child, Regina Kay, was born in Norman in 1956.  Their married life then took them back to Tulsa where their second child, Bobby Lee, was born in 1958. They then headed to Littleton, CO about 1960 where the last two of their children - Keri Lynne and Sheri Ann-- were born in 1963 and 1964, respectively.   Bob and his family settled back in Tulsa in 1964.   After raising their kids in Tulsa and retiring, Bob and Joan moved to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma in 1999. When his children were young, Bob coached many sports teams and attended sporting and extracurricular activities in support of his kids.   In his free time, Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his kids and grandkids, and fixing anything and everything around the house. He found joy in these simple pleasures.  Bob had a closely knit and large immediate and extended family and always loved the times he could visit with any of his family members.   Upon retirement, Bob and Joan did some traveling which often included visiting their kids and grandkids living in other states. They were also active in church mission work and Bob volunteered as a board member at the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord, OK for many years. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Alice Joan (Lay) Stinchcomb; his children Regina Kay Cruze (Wayne), Bobby Lee Stinchcomb (Niketa), Keri Lynne Parker, and Sheri Ann Sharp (George); 10 grandchildren: Jared (Karen) Williams, Zack (Audrey) Williams, Josh Williams, Ryan (Josie) Stinchcomb, Krystal (Stephen) Wiser, Kyle (Brittanie) Stinchcomb, Nathan (Jodie) Parker, Mikayla (Kan) Prawalwichit, Kate Sharp and Keri Sharp;  11 great-grandchildren: Sam, Nathan and Isaac Williams, Wyatt and Hunter Williams, Sarah and Logan Wiser, Ben and Abigail Stinchcomb, and Noah and Jett Parker; sister Mary Ruth (Stinchcomb) McCoy; sisters-in-law Ulele (Rouse) Stinchcomb, Hilda Stinchcomb, Linda (Perry) Stinchcomb, and Walsie (Lay) Fitzgerald; and brother-in-law CH (Patti) Lay. He is also survived by numerous other nephews and nieces. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Osie Mack and Mille Ruth (Garrett) Stinchcomb; granddaughter Jerri Lynn Williams; brother/sister-in-law Glenn and Ruby (Campbell) Stinchcomb; brothers Ray and Bud Stinchcomb; sisters Zona (Stinchcomb) Brenner and Joyce Ann Stinchcomb; In-laws Carmon H. and Ruby (Eaton) Lay; brother/sister-in-law Andrew and Edith (Lay) Jolliff; sister-in-law Donna (Lay) Mitchell; and brothers-in-law Jack McCoy and Bobby Fitzgerald. The funeral service for Bobby Gene Stinchcomb was held at Fellowship Bible Church in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma on Friday March 15, 2024 at 10:30AM with Pastor Steve Dennis officiating. Bobby Stinchcomb, Jared Williams, Ryan Stinchcomb, Zachary Williams, Kyle Stinchcomb and Nathan Parker served as casket bearers. Immediately following the service, Bob was laid to rest, with military honors, at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma at 12:30PM. His legacy of service, toughness, love for his large family, and great work ethic will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him. Memorial donations may be sent to the Talbot Library and Museum, PO Box 349, Colcord, OK 74338 or www.talbotlibrary.org. The family of Bob Stinchcomb has entrusted his care, service and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Fort Gibson, 918-478-2555. (You can view the online obituary at Clifford D. Garrett Family Funeral Home.)

Talbot Lib​rary recently added this book to our Talbot Walkingstick Research Library.  This book is now located in our local history book section at the library in Colcord.  (We are not offering this book for sale, but it is for sale on Amazon) Resources for the writing of this book include the Row-Colcord History book and Heritage of the Hills, Delaware County, Oklahoma History. Please stop by and take a look at this latest addition to our Library. From Nothing-to Something”,  The Vernon Ted McCombs Story  By Lloyd D. McCombs Mr. McCombs has just recently written and published this book about his father, who grew up in the Colcord, Oklahoma area.  Vernon Ted McCombs later settled in Wichita, Kansas, and became a successful businessman there, through many difficulties. He was born in 1904, died in 1952, at the young age of 48. At one time he also owned a farm near Maysville, in Delaware County, OK, Du Mac Acres, and raised cattle. It was sold after his death. Vernon was the oldest child of Daisy Kirby McCombs Gibby, and was raised in the McCombs family home near Colcord. The book contains many color and black/white photographs and family history of Lloyd D. McCombs.  Also, photos and history of the Du Mac Acres farm are included. He references the Row-Colcord History book and Heritage of the Hills, Delaware County, Oklahoma History book as resources. The book will be a great addition to Talbot’s Walkingstick Research Library, placed in our local history book section.

The Talbot Library and Museum (TL&M) recently did some re-arranging in the library.  We added file cabinets that contain past issues of the TL&M Genealogy publication and the Goingnake Messenger publication.  We offer these past issues for sale! To utilize this space well, we decided to put a table top over the file cabinets.  George Davis, husband of our valued employee, Jennifer, created a table top for this area.   This area creates more room for research work and there is bench seating as well.  We also have a copy machine nearby to aid those researching.   (Thank you, George, for your great work on this!) We have named our new area the Grace Puffinbarger Memorial Research Area in honor of our late longtime employee and Talbot friend, Grace.   She always enjoyed visiting with those who came in to do research and peruse our large collection.  Talbot was a special place for Grace and we think she would have been pleased.