My grandmother and her family were part-Indian (her grandmother was 
full-blooded), and living in Campbell County during the early 1900s.  They 
are listed as "Mulatto" on the 1920 and 1930 census, and "Negro" in the 1930 
census (the family members I could find on the census, anyway).  In 
addition, many of my Mom's cousins have discovered that they were listed as 
either "Colored" or "Negro" on their birth records.

Dr. Walker A. Plecker was the first registrar of Virginia's Bureau of Vital 
Statistics (1912-1945). He may have been acting under the authority of the 
Virginia government, but that does not erase the fact that, at the very 
least, he was an extremely misguided man.  He corresponded with Joseph 
Goebbels of Nazi Germany about his handling of the "Jewish problem", and was 
known to have ordered the sterilization of many Virginia Indians and 
African-Americans.  The aforementioned book, "Indian Island of Amherst 
County," is a very good source on this evil man.

I may be calling Plecker evil because of my own personal prejudice, but he 
is responsible for damaging thousands of lives.  Thank goodness men like him 
are gone!

Jean Spradlin-Miller

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anita Wills" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: SLAVE OWNERSHIP BY NATIVE AMERICANS IN VIRGINIA


> Ann,
> His last name was Plecker, and many of my relatives in Amherst County have 
> horror stories to tell about him. The Natives were also designated as, 
> "Issue", by Plecker.  However, he was acting under the authority of the 
> State of Virginia, and the laws of that time period. There is a book 
> titled, Indian Island, which has gives information on Plecker and how he 
> was able to weld so much power.
>
> Anita 

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