Letters from the Burnham Collection

Click title to see images of the letter and a line by line transcription. You may also search the text of the letters here.

Letters written by David Pendleton Oakerhater

Letter to Mrs Mary Burnham dated 31 May 1878

David Pendleton Oakerhater writes to Mrs. Burnham about learning to read, write and pray. He praises the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Wicks, and tells of selling bows and arrows he has made. Signed with the English translation of his Cheyenne name, Making Medicine.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 14 June 1878

Oakerhater thanks Mrs. Burnham for a coat she sent him and tells her of his daily activities: studying, gardening and playing croquet. He speaks of his growing faith in and love for Jesus.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 20 July 1878

In addition to reporting on his daily routine, Oakerhater writes of receiving a letter from his brother Little Medicine, whom he has not seen in three years. He was happy to receive a picture and letter from the Cheyenne Agency near his family's home in Indian Territory [present day Oklahoma].

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 27 July 1878

Oakerhater tells Mrs. Burnham he has polished "Sea beans" as she asked. He also relates receiving letters from Capt R. H. Pratt and the Bishop [of New York]

Letter to Mr. J. B. Wicks dated 30 September 1878

Oakerhater reminisces about his time at Fort Marion and the white people from St. Augustine, Florida who came to visit the Indians. He praises the kindness of Capt. Pratt, who made him a first sergeant over the Indian "soldiers." He went to school after leaving the Fort, and arrived in Paris Hill, NY where he was greeted by the Episcopal community. He speaks of Mrs. Burnham as his mother and Mr. Wicks as his father, and expresses his fondness for Wicks's young daughter, Ruth. He also relates the tension and fighting among his Indian friends Zotom and Taawayite. He tells her of his decision to stop killing birds because God made and loves the birds.

Letter to Little Medicine dated 7 October 1878

Oakerhater writes to his brother Little Medicine, assuring him that he is happy and well. He informs his brother that he has been baptized and has taken the Christian name David Pendleton. He sends his love to family and friends in Indian Territory, whom he misses very much. He asks for a pair of moccasins and sends his brother some money. He begins to sign his letters "David Pendleton."

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 5 December 1878

Oakerhater had been ill, and writes to Mrs. Burnham that he has mostly recovered and has returned to his routine of school, study, church and prayer. He speaks of taking communion [probably for the first time, as he would not have been able to do so before his baptism]. His encounter with some geese makes Miss Allie Wicks laugh.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 16 January 1879

A brief note telling Mrs. Burnham of a deep snow and informing her that a clock [perhaps one she gave him] fell off a shelf and broke its stand.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 4 April 1879

A long letter telling Mrs. Burnham of his experiences at Fort Marion where, befriended by Capt. Pratt, he began to learn English and Christianity. He met may good white people there, he says, and was paid by Mrs. George Pendleton to give archery lessons to her daughters. He says he is glad to learn the white man's ways, and expresses despair about the poverty of his people in Indian territory, about their "heathen" ways and their lack of knowledge about Christianity.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 1 June 1879

Oakerhater thanks Mrs. Burnham for money she sent him, which he has used to buy a trunk, coat and pants. He, Mr Wicks, Paul and Henry went by wagon to Utica, NY to make these purchases. They also visited friends at another Episcopal congregation and worshipped with them.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 30 September 1879

Oakerhater writes from the Cheyenne & Arapaho Indain Agency in Indian Territory, telling Mrs. Burnham about his journey west via Wichita. He had an emotional reunion with family and friends, but was saddened that so many people he had known were now dead. He thanks her for her kindness to his wife and requests her financial assistance.

Postal Card to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham postmarked 8 October 1879

Oakerhater expresses his joy at seeing his fellow Cheyenne and at being reunited with his wife and son. He looks forward to seeing Mrs. Burnham in Syracuse, NY.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 19 October 1879

Oakerhater has returned to Wichita, KS with 29 Cheyenne and Arapaho children and his wife and son, in the company of Capt. Pratt. His wife and son will go to the House of the Good Shepherd in Syracuse, NY, where Mrs. Burnham is House Mother. He thinks often of Mrs. Burnham and hopes to see her soon.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 25 January 1880

Oakerhater is at school in Paris Hill, NY, where he is homesick for Indian Territory. He has received a letter from his cousin Little Chief wanting him to come home in the spring. Mrs. Burnham has urged him to stay in school, but he is torn betwenn his desire for education and his longing for home.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 1 February 1880

Oakerhater writes that he will follow Mrs. Burnham's wishes and stay in school. He is repairing his old soldier's coat to send to his brother in Indian Territory.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 9 April 1880

Mrs. Burnham is planning a trip to Carlisle Barracks Indian School in Pennsylvania, and Oakerhater asks her to check on his cousin and nephew who are studying there. He also requests money for a new hat and cape.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 6 June 1880

Oakerhater writes in great distress as his wife Nomee is very ill and he fears for her life. He is also concerned for his aged mother in Indian Territory. He wants very much to learn English well and to read about God, but has been unable to study because he is so worried about his wife and mother.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 24 November 1880

Oakerhater thanks Mrs. Burnham for her letter with news of his son, and assures her he is studying hard. He also gives her news of their friends in Paris Hill, NY.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 27 December 1880

This letter begins with a joyous description of Christmas preparations and celebrations, sleigh rides, and catalogues of gifts given and received (his favorite was a china cup and saucer from Miss Cora Wicks), but turns somber as he worries about his son, who has been ill for some time. He fears the child will not recover and wishes to see him again. [Unfortunately, his forebodings were accurate; his son died.]

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 17 January 1881

A letter of sympathy to Mrs. Burnham on the death of her brother, Mr. Saville.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 8 April 1881

Oakerhater is pleased that Mr. Wicks is planning for their mission work in Indian Territory, but is sad over the imminent death of his child, which he expects any day. He asks for Mrs. Burnham's prayers. He refers to the burial site of his wife, Nomie, who had died of the illness mentioned in an earlier letter.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 17 June 1881

David Pendleton has returned to Indian Territory, and he describes a touching reunion with his mother, who thinks at first that she is dreaming. He and Mr. Wicks conducted a service of Christian burial for the son of Cheyenne chief Big Horse.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 6 July 1881

Writing from Indian Territory, Oakerhater tells of much sickness in the Indian camps, and of his work telling his people about Jesus. He is tired from all the work but feels he is doing God's will. He apologizes that he has already spent the $20 she sent him for expenses, and asks her to pray about sending him more money. Mr. Wicks has been at the Kiowa Agency for two weeks, but has sent a post card promising to return the following week.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 30 July 1881

Thanks Mrs. Burnham profusely for the box of clothes she sent to the Indian Agency and relates how the goods were distributed. He sends her a message from his mother, who has decided to convert to Christianity. Apologizing, he asks her about money that one of his fellow Indian students, Shave Head, insists that Mrs. Burnham owes him.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 2 September 1881

Oakerhater gives Mrs. Burnham news of Paul Caryl Zotom, a Kiowa who had been at Fort Marion and at school with him. He was dismayed that Paul attended a "heathen" Medicine dance. [This probably refers to the Sun Dance, one of the most sacred Cheyenne ceremonies. Ironically, Oakerhater's Cheyenne name is translated both "Making Medicine" and "Sundancer."] The school children and teachers have returned to the Mission school. Oakerhater asks for Mrs. Burnham's advice on whether to build a hospital first, or a church and mission house. He leans toward the former, as most who fall ill prefer to be at home.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 6 October 1881

He thanks her for her letter, which he shared with his family, and encloses a message to her from his mother. The chiefs have asked him to be their interpreter at the Indian Agency.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 13 November 1881

David Pendleton Oakerhater tells of baptizing his brother's child, who was very ill, giving him the Christian name Charles Wesley Gardner. He asks Mrs. Burnham to pray for the child. He also describes the Cheyenne boys and girls who will soon be baptized. It is a very beautiful autumn, but the sighting of snow geese has lead some to predict a snowy winter.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 13 December 1881

He thanks Mrs. Burnham for her letter and for the Christmas box she sent, which they will open on Christmas day, and wishes her and his friends in the East a merry Christmas and happy new year.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 15 December 1881

He thanks Mrs. Burnham for her letter and for money she sent him. He read his letter to his Indian friends, who all imagine her to be a very tall, large woman. There are 120 students at the Cheyenne school.

Letter to an Episcopal Bishop dated 13 January 1882

Oakerhater writes to a Bishop [of New York?] asking his prayers for the "poor red people" and telling him of his evangelical work among the Cheyenne. He speaks rapturously of his own faith and hopes that "I will grow up in [God's] knowledge as the tall tree grows up, and up, and up."

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 27 February 1882

Mrs. Burnham has not answered David's last two letters, and he is afraid she is sick. He tells her that Mr. Wicks will baptize his mother the following week.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 22 March 1882

Oakerhater is glad to receive a letter from Mrs. Burnham, who is often in his thoughts, but is distressed to hear she will be going abroad for a year and a half.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 30 July 1883

Welcoming Mrs. Burnham home, he urges her to visit Indian Territory. Capt. Pratt is coming in September to recruit more Cheyenne students for the Carlisle school. Oakerhater rides the countryside visiting the sick. The buffalo are all gone, so the Indians have turned to farming, trying to grow corn.

Letter to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 6 June 1885

Oakerhater thanks Mrs. Burnham for the barrel of supplies sent by the ladies of All Saints Episcopal Church and tells her of his efforts to convert his people to Christianity. His new wife, Susie, was very happy to receive the presents from back East. They are happy to have an adopted daughter, Julia, who was the niece of Oakerhater's first wife, Minnie.

Letter from Susie Pendleton to Mrs. Mary D. Burnham dated 8 July 1885

David's new wife writes to thank Mrs. Burnham for the linens and cutlery she sent, and tells her of a visit to the Wicks family.