A Chickasaw Dictionary holds an honored place in Chickasaw and First American literary history as the first published dictionary of our tribe’s language. It has served as an important reference guide ever since. Compiled at the behest of former Chickasaw Governor Overton James, this dictionary took Vinnie May (James) Humes and her husband, Reverend Jesse Humes, two and half years to complete. Jesse Humes died in 1966, just as work on the first draft ended. Mrs. Humes finished the work herself, in honor of her husband.