Assuming Identity: Material Exchange in Southeastern Euro-Indian Encounters, c. 1680 - 1750

From the beginning of colonisation, Southeastern Native Americans used and adapted European materials in to their day-to-day lives. In particular, textile exchange held a central place in Euro-Indian relations, with clothing and style used to express identity and judge character. This thesis explores the role of material in relations and personal identity, using inventories, travel accounts and art to explain the accumulation of items as well as the ways they were used. By looking at the development of trade and style from 1680 to 1750, the autonomy of Native Americans are illuminated as they were able to retain traditional markers of their identity, while also actively using and engaging with European textiles.