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From: "Gene R. Griffith" <>
Subject: Re: [NativeAmericanDelmarva] Plecker info
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 19:58:12 -0500
References: <b6.b72a8e3.270e2c0a@aol.com> <39DDDEC3.897A7B74@erols.com> <39DE007A.E9AF56FC@canada.com>


Hello,
My family was one of the families that Walter Plecker took an interest in to
the point
that he took one of my aunts and cousins when they were little less than
teenagers
and had them declaired feebled minded and had them put into a home for the
feebled
minded in Lynchburg,VA. Had them sterlized and then expermited on each of
them
some were left almost blind and other things to numerous to mention.
The last of my aunts who Plecker did this to, died just this past month and
until the day
that she died she was still cursing Pleckers name for what he had done to
her.
She was 71 and had lived all these years in the torment that he made for
her.
May the Great Spirit finally give her the peace she so richly deserves.

Littlewolf(Monacan Indian)
----- Original Message -----
From: Rarihokwats <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: [NativeAmericanDelmarva] Plecker info


> In 1924, the Racial Integrity Law institutionalized the "one drop rule",
under which any
> person, including Indians, who was believed to have "one drop" or more of
"Negro blood"
> was designated as Black. A person with no "non-Caucasian blood" was
classified as white,
> as well as persons who claimed 1/16th or less "Indian blood". This
exemption was to
> protect prominent white persons who claimed to be descended from
Pocahantas. To be
> anything but white in Virginia meant exclusion from employment, education,
and basic
> services.
>
> The "ancestral registration" provisions of the law were strictly enforced
by Dr. Walter
> Ashby Plecker, a small-town doctor who became registrar of the state's
Bureau of Vital
> Statistics in 1912. In 1925, he began a campaign to force the U.S. Census
Bureau to report
> no Indians in Virginia in 1930. The Census Bureau conceded to mark
Virginia Indians with a
> footnote: "Includes a number of persons whose classification as Indians
has been
> questioned." Plecker believed that all Indians had 'polluted' their blood
by mingling it
> with free African-Americans. Plecker thus saw those who claimed Indian
ancestry as
> opportunists seeking what Helen Rountree called a 'way station to
whiteness'-- in other
> words, he saw all Indians as blacks attempting to 'pass.'"
>
> Nonetheless, in 1930, the U.S. Census reported 779 Indians in Virginia,
noting for the
> first time there were 59 Indians in Caroline County.
>
> Plecker's successor, Russell E. Booker Jr., termed Plecker's activities
from 1912 to 1946
> as "documentary genocide".
>
> A copy of the Plecker letter quoted earlier on these pages is at
> <http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/hoos/images/pleck.jpg>;
>
> (Helen Rountree's article in the Chesopian magazine (vol 10, 1972, p. 87)
gives excellent
> detail on the racism in Virginia with which the Indians had to deal in the
first half of
> the 20th Century.
>
> See also "Battles in Red, Black, and White: Virginia's Racial Integrity
Law of 1924, a
> brief overview by Kendra Hamilton at
<http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/POCA/POC_law.html>;.)
>
> Rarihokwats
> <>
>
>
>
> Fulton wrote:
>
> > Cynthia,
> >
> > There's no reason why you can't post this info to another list. The Dr.
Plecker
> > papers are public documents. Information on him is available on the web,
The
> > University of VA Alberman Library, and the Richmond VA State Library.
> >
> > Bebe
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Could I have your permission to post this information to another list?
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> > > Cynthia Mahjoub
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 10/5/00 9:05:52 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
> > > writes:
> > >
> > > << Trying to locate documentation regarding Native Americans is very
> > > difficult.
> > >
> > > Dr. Walter Ashby Plecker spent decades trying to deny the existence
of
> > > Indians
> > > in Virginia (go figure??). Virginia's former registrar of the Bureau
of
> > > Vital
> > > Statistics, Dr. Plecker, believed there were no real native-born
Indians in
> > > Virginia and anybody claiming to be Indian had a mix of black blood.
He
> > > classified Indians as Blacks and even issued in 1943 a list of
surnames
> > > belonging to "mongel" or mixed-blood families suspected of having
Negro
> > > ancestry who must not be allowed to pass as Indian or White. Plecker
ran the
> > > Bureau from 1912 to 1946. He helped pass the 1924 Racial Integrity
Act, a
> > > strict race classification and law. Dr. Plecker changed and/or
destroyed
> > > labels on vital records to classify Indians as "colored, mongrel,
mulatto",
> > > investigated the pedigrees of racially "suspect" citizens, and
provided
> > > information to block or annul interracial marriages with Whites. He
not only
> > > did this to Indians, but other races as well.
> > >
> > > Any wonder why we have difficulty locating records? This law is
still in
> > > place. Please, understand, I'm not trying to be political. But, I
think it
> > > is necessary for those who are searching their Native heritage to
understand
> > > why records in the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics are incorrect
or
> > > missing.
> > >
> > > The following is a transcribed copy of the certificate that Plecker
had
> > > affixed to all "suspect" birth, death, and marriage certificates in
Virginia.
> > > _______________________________________________________________
> > > WARNING-- To be attached to the backs of birth or death certificates
of those
> > > believed to be incorrectly recorded as to color or race.
> > >
> > > Howe in his History of Virginia, 1845, pages 349-350 says of the
Mattaponi
> > > and
> > > Pamunkey Indians of King William County: "Their Indian character is
nearly
> > > extinct by intermixture with the white and negroes."
> > >
> > > Encyclopedia Britannia, Eleventh Edition, Volume 14, page 460 and
464, says
> > > of
> > > Chickahominy Indians. "No pure bloods left, considerable negro and
mixture,"
> > > and of Pamunkeys, "All mixed-bloods: some negro mixture."
> > >
> > > The Handbook of American Indians (Bulletin 30), Bureau of American
Ethnology,
> > > under the heading "Croatan Indians," The theory of descent from the
colony
> > > may
> > > be regarded as baseless, but the name itself serves as a convenient
label for
> > > a people who combine in themselves the blood of the wasted native
tribes, the
> > > early colonists or forest rovers, the runaway slaves or other
negroes, and
> > > probably also of stray seamen of the Latin races (Italian,
Portuguese, etc)
> > > from coasting vessels in the West Indian or Brazilian trade.
> > >
> > > Across the line in South Carolina are found a people, evidently of
similar
> > > origin, designated- "Redbones." In portions of western North
Carolina and
> > > eastern Tennessee are found the so-called "Melungeons" (probably from
French
> > > melange, "mixed") or "Portuguese" apparently an offshoot from Croatan
proper,
> > > and in Delaware are found the "Moors." All of these are local
designations
> > > for people of mixed race with an Indian nucleus differing in no way
from the
> > > present mixed-blood remnants known as Pamunkey, Chickahominy, and
Nansemond
> > > Indians in Virginia, excepting in the more complex loss of their
identity.
> > > In
> > > general, the physical features and complexion of the persons of this
mixed
> > > stock incline more to the Indian than to white or negro.
> > >
> > > The same under "mixed-bloods," says; "The Pamunkey, Chickahomniy,
Marshpee,
> > > Narraganset, and Gay Head remnants have much negro blood, and
conversely
> > > there
> > > is no doubt that many of the broken coast tribe have been completely
absorbed
> > > into the negro race."
> > >
> > > In 1843, 144 freeholders of King William County in a petition to the
> > > legislature to abolish the two Indian reservations of that county,
B.12d7,
> > > State Library, say: "There are two parcels or tracts of land situated
within
> > > said County, on which a number of persons are now living, all of whom
by the
> > > laws of Virginia, would be deemed and taken to be free mulattoes, in
any
> > > Court
> > > of Justice; as it is believed they all have onefourth or more of
negro blood;
> > > and as proof of this, they would rely on the generally admitted fact,
that
> > > not
> > > one individual can be found among them, of whose grandfathers and
> > > grandmothers, one or more is or was not a negro; which proportion of
negro
> > > blood constitutes a free mulatto, see R C Vol. 1st page." These
conclusions
> > > are confirmed by responsible citizens now living in that county
December
> > > 1927.
> > >
> > > A. H. Estabrook and Ivan E. McDougle in their book, "Mongrel
Virginians,"
> > > 1926, describe a group of mixed bloods centering in Amherst County
and
> > > extending to the Irish Creek Valley in Rockbridge, and to other
surrounding
> > > counties, known locally as "Issue" or "Free Issue." They say, page
15:
> > > "These
> > > freed negroes mated with themselves or the half-breed Indians in the
County.
> > >
> > > Therefore: In consideration of the above and other similar evidence
relating
> > > to all or practically all groups claiming to be "Indians", The
Virginia
> > > Bureau
> > > of Vital Statistics accepts the belief that there are no descendants
of
> > > Virginia Indians claiming or reputed to be Indians, who are unmixed
with
> > > negro
> > > blood, and in accordance with the requirements of the Vital
Statistics and
> > > Racial Integrity Laws that births and deaths be correctly recorded as
to
> > > race,
> > > classifies as negro or colored, persons, either or both of whose
parents are
> > > recorded on the birth or death certificate or marriage license, or
who are
> > > themselves recorded are Indian, Mixed Indian, Mixed, Melungeon,
Issue, Free
> > > Issue, or other similar non-white terms.
> > >
> > > The Bureau of Vital Statistics has consented to accept an
interrogation mark
> > > as indication that the writer of the certificate considered the
individual as
> > > probably of colored origin, but preferred not stating the fact, to
appear in
> > > the local record.
> > >
> > > This warning will apply also to any who may be incorrectly recorded
as white,
> > > when known to be of Negro, Malay, Mongolian, West Indian, East
Indian,
> > > Mexican, Filipino, or any other non-white mixture.
> > >
> > > The above statement of information now available, is given for the
guidance
> > > of
> > > those to follow us in this work, and is intended to apply to the
individual
> > > whose birth is reported on the certificate Vol._____No.____ to which
this is
> > > attached.
> > >
> > > The following is a transcribed copy of a 1943 official bulletin from
Dr.
> > > Plecker to Virginia county officials which includes a list of
surnames.
> > >
> > > Commonwealth of Virginia
> > > Department of Health
> > > Bureau of Vital Statistics
> > > Richmond
> > >
> > > January 1943
> > >
> > > Local Registrar, Physicians Health
> > > Officers, Nurses, School Superintendents
> > > and Clerks of the Courts
> > >
> > > Dear Co-workers:
> > >
> > > Our December 1942 letter to local registrars, also mailed to the
clerks, set
> > > forth the determined effort to escape from the negro race of groups
of "free
> > > issues;" or descendants of the "free mulattoes" of early days, so
listed
> > > prior
> > > to 1865 in the United State census and various types of State
records, as
> > > distinguished from slave negroes.
> > >
> > > Now that these people are playing up the advantage gained by being
permitted
> > > to give "Indian" as the race of the child's parents on birth
certificates,
> > > we
> > > see the great mistake made in not stopping earlier the organized
propagation
> > > of the racial falsehood. They have been using the advantage thus
gained as
> > > an
> > > aid to intermarriage into the white race and to attend white schools,
and now
> > > for some time, they have been refusing to register with war draft
boards as
> > > negroes from Caroline County were sentenced to prison on January 12
in the
> > > United States Court at Richmond for refusing to obey the draft law
unless
> > > permitted to classify themselves as "Indians."
> > >
> > > Some of these mongrels, finding that they have been able to sneak in
their
> > > birth certificates unchallenged as Indians are now making a rush to
registrar
> > > as white. Upon investigation we find that a few local registrars
have been
> > > permitting such certificates to pass through their hands unquestioned
and
> > > without warning our office of the fraud. Those attempting this fraud
should
> > > be warned that they are liable to a penalty of one year in the
penitentiary
> > > (Section 5099 of the Code). Several clerks have likewise been
actually
> > > granting them license to marry whites, or at least to marry amongst
> > > themselves
> > > as Indian or white. The danger of this error always confronts the
clerk who
> > > does not inquire carefully ar to the residence of the woman when he
does not
> > > have positive information. The law is explicit that the license be
issued by
> > > the clerk of the county or city in which the woman resides.
> > >
> > > To aid all of you in determing just which are the mixed families, we
have
> > > made
> > > a list of their surnames by counties and cities, as complete as
possible at
> > > this time. This list should be preserved by all, even by those
counties and
> > > cities not included, as these people are moving around over the State
and
> > > changing race at the new place. A family has just been investigated
which
> > > was
> > > always recorded as negro around Glade Springs, Washington County, but
which
> > > changed to white and married as such in Roanoke County. This is
going on
> > > constantly and can be prevented only by care on the part of local
registrars,
> > > clerks, doctors, health workers, and school authorities.
> > >
> > > Please report all know or suspicious cased to the Bureau of Vital
Statistics,
> > > giving names, ages, parents, and as much other information as
possible. All
> > > certificates of these people showing "Indian" or "White" are now
being
> > > rejected and returned to the physician or midwife, but local
registrars
> > > hereafter must not permit them to pass their hands uncorrected or
> > > unchallenged
> > > and without a note of warning to us. One hundred and fifty thousand
other
> > > mulattoes in Virginia are watching eagerly the attempt of their
pseudo-Indian
> > > brethren, ready to follow in a rush when the fist have made a break
in the
> > > dike.
> > >
> > > Very truly yours,
> > > (signature)
> > > W. A. Plecker, M.D. State Registrar of Vital Statistics
> > >
> > > (attached to the above letter is the list of surnames by county as
follows)
> > >
> > > Albemarle:
> > > Moon, Powel, Pumphrey
> > >
> > > Amherst:
> > > (Migrants to Allegheney and Campbell) Adcock (Adcox), Beverly (this
family is
> > > now trying to evade the situation by adopting the name of Burch or
Birch,
> > > which was the name of the white mother of the present adult
generation),
> > > Branham, Duff, Floyd, Hamilton, Hartless, Hicks, Johns, Lawless,
Nukles
> > > (Knuckles), Painter, Ramsey, Redcross, Roberts, Southwards (Suthards,
> > > Southerds, Southers). Sorrells, Terry, Tyree, Willis, Clark, Wood
> > >
> > > Bedford:
> > > McVey, Maxey, Branham, Burley (see Amherst)
> > >
> > > Rockbridge:
> > > (migrants to Augusta), Cash, Clark, Coleman, Duff, Floyd, Hartless,
Hicks,
> > > Mason, Mayse(Mays), Painters, Pults, Ramsey, Southerds (see Amherst),
> > > Sorrell,
> > > Terry, Tyree, Wood, Johns
> > >
> > > Charles City:
> > > Collins, Dennis, Bradby, Howell, Langston, Stewart, Wynn,
Custalow(Custaloo),
> > > Dungoe, Holmes, Miles, Page, Allmond, Adams, Hawkes, Spurlock,
Doggett
> > >
> > > King William:
> > > Collins, Dennis, Bradby, Howell, Lanston, Stewart, Wynn,
Custalow(Custaloo),
> > > Dungoe, Bolnus, Miles, Page, Allmond, Adams, Hawkes, Spurlock,
Doggett
> > >
> > > New Kent:
> > > Collins, Bradby, Stewart, Wynn Adkins, Langston
> > >
> > > Henrico and Richond City:
> > > (see Charles City, New Kent, and King William)
> > >
> > > Caroline:
> > > Byrd, Fortune, Nelson (see Essex)
> > >
> > > Essen and King and Queen:
> > > Nelson, Fortune, Byrd, Cooper, Tate, Hammond, Brooks, Boughton,
Prince,
> > > Mitchell, Robinson
> > >
> > > Elizabeth City and Newport News:
> > > Stewart (descendants of Charles City families)
> > >
> > > Halifax:
> > > Epps (Eppes), Stewart (Stuart), Coleman, Johnson, Martin, Talley,
Sheppard
> > > (Shepard), Young
> > >
> > > Norfolk County and Portsmouth:
> > > Sawyer, Bass, Weaver, Locklear (Locklair), King, Bright, Porter
> > >
> > > Westmoreland:
> > > Sorrells, Worlds (Worrell), Atwells, Butridge, Okiff
> > >
> > > Greene:
> > > Shifflett, Shiflet
> > >
> > > Prince William:
> > > Tyson, Segar (see Fauquier)
> > >
> > > Fauquier:
> > > Hoffman (Huffman), Riley, Colvin, Phillips, (see Prince William)
> > >
> > > Lancaster:
> > > Dorsey (Dawson)
> > >
> > > Washington:
> > > Beverly, Barlow, Thomas, Hughes, Lethcoe, Worley
> > >
> > > Roanoke County:
> > > Beverly (see Washington)
> > >
> > > Lee and Smyth:
> > > Collins, Gibson (gipson), Moore, Boins, Ramsey, Delph, Bunch,
Freeman, Mise,
> > > Bolden (Bolin), Mullins, Hawkins - Chiefly Tennessee "Melungeons"
> > >
> > > Scott:
> > > Dingus (see Lee)
> > >
> > > Russell:
> > > Keith, Castell, Stillwell, Meade, Proffitt (see Lee and Tazewell)
> > >
> > > Tazewell:
> > > Hammed, Duncan, (see Russell)
> > >
> > > Wise:
> > > (see Lee, Scott, Smyth, and Russell Counties)
> > >
> > > End of document
> > > _______________________________________________________________
> > >
> > > Now I understand why relatives were reluctant to discuss family
ancestory.
> > > They were afraid of imprisonment and continual misclassification of
> > > heritage. This is genealogical history. Also, please lets keep
political
> > > and emotional views to ourselves regarding this topic and stay
focused on
> > > genealogy.
> > >
> > > Anah Kowamaness, Bebe
> > > >>
> > >
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> > >
> > > ==============================
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