Hello to all list members. My name is Katie Hull and I am currently involved in a research project that perhaps some of you would be so kind as to contribute to. I am an archaeologist interested in culture contact. I am working on a research project which explores contact between Native Americans (especially, but not limited to, the "Five Civilized Tribes") and Africans, African-Americans, or other people of African descent before the Civil War. As many of you know, there are extensive historical records which describe contact on the societal level, such as slavery, maroon settlements, and military movements. However, very little is mentioned about contact on the cultural level. By this I mean the adoption/sharing/rejection of cultural traits of one group by the other. This can include the "Indianization" of Africans, trade between the groups, the adoption of some African traits by Native groups, intermarriage or offspring, adoption, etc. I am very interested in the personalization of such contact through stories from family historians, genealogists, and other persons with such knowledge. The historical record mentions very little about the effects of contact between the Native American groups and Africans, and I believe that contact to be notable and historically important in the development of the United States. I would be very grateful to anyone with stories, pictures or genealogical information that demonstrates the effects of contact between these 2 groups. The contact DOES NOT have to have been amicable; I am equally interested in stories regarding the clash of cultures. I will not use any information that is given to me without the expressed consent of the donator. I will not publish any report without the expressed consent of the donators. I would be glad to post/mail this report to any persons who are interested, once the research is completed. I am an amateur genealogist/historian myself, and have great respect for family information. A bit about me: I am a Ph.D candidate at the University of Toronto, although I am originally a farm girl from near St. Louis, Missouri. My major research interest is in those who were "forgotten" in history; I am currently excavating a Famine-era village in Ireland. Thank you for your time. If you would like to discuss this research further, offer suggestions, or submit your stories/photos/etc., please do not hesitate to e-mail me at eire.arch@iname.com or mail your information to: 1665 Pickering Parkway, Suite 102 Pickering, Ontario L1V 6L4 Canada. Respectfully, Katie Hull