Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

“B” is for Blue, Gilbert (1933-2016)

“B” is for Blue, Gilbert (1933-2016). Catawba leader. Chief Gilbert Blue of the Catawba nation was born on the Catawba Indian Reservation in South Carolina. In 1973 Blue was elected chief of the Catawba tribe of South Carolina. Under his leadership, the Catawba successfully pursued their lawsuit against the state of South Carolina for land claims and their quest for reinstatement of status as a federally recognized Indian tribe. The Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993 was passed by Congress and agreed to by South Carolina in 1994. Chief Blue was active in Native American issues and organizations. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in which he served in various leadership positions. Gilbert Blue led the Catawba nation from 1973 until 2007.

Stay Connected
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.