Big Cypress Former Museum Director Dies

Former Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Director David Blackard Passes Away

BIG CYPRESS RESERVATION, Fl – As the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum approaches its 25th Anniversary, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is saddened to announce the recent passing of former museum director David Blackard.

Blackard was instrumental in planning and designing the museum’s exhibits in pre-construction as early as 1993 when he started working for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and served as the first Curator under Executive Director Billy L. Cypress (Scott, 2019).

Through Blackard’s passion for Seminole History and Culture, he traveled the United States to curate pieces for the museum as far away as San Francisco. Blackard brought Billy L. Cypress’s vision to life with various tribal exhibits from the 1880-90’s, including 50 mannequins dressed portraying Seminole life (Dudley, 1997).

In a published article by Blackard, he stated “Having lived in South Florida since 1953, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in the history and culture of the Florida Seminole. Thus, it was an honor to earlier serve the Seminole Tribe of Florida on the Tribe’s museum project working for the late Billy L. Cypress.”

These first class exhibits as well as other interpretative exhibits can still be seen today inside the galleries at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Blackard developed relationships with many of his colleagues in unforgettable ways, including Tina Marie Osceola, the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Director of Tribal Preservation Office.

“I have known David for most of my life and not once did I ever hear David call himself an expert in my people’s history or culture,” said Osceola. “He loved the Seminole and he deeply cared for the indigenous way of life in the United States. He always saw himself as a public servant to Tribes. I don’t know anyone else like him.”

Blackard’s other accolades include being the author of Patchwork and Palmettos: Seminole Miccosukee Folk Art Since 1820, published on June 1, 1990, and serving as the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Library Program Supervisor since 2007.