Dr. Emmet Starr is considered the foremost authority on the history of the Cherokee Indians. This book was published in 1921 after Dr. Starr had spent several years collecting Cherokee genealogies during his years working for the Dawes Commission. The Dawes Commission had been set up in Indian Territory by the Federal Government to help with the allotment process in the late 1890s. Dr. Starr had the fortunate opportunity while working with the Dawes Commission to interview the Cherokee Indians when they applied for their allotment and to prove their Cherokee lineage. His first hand knowledge included personal interviews, family histories, photographs, and various documents of the person who was applying for their allotment. These documents, are of course, a part of the Dawes Applications but, through his foresight he recorded most of the history and family genealogies and published it in his book. Today, his book his considered the foremost authority on the history of the Cherokees and anyone who is a serious genealogist on the Cherokee's would definitely have his books in their collection.