In 1836, marcus whitman led an overland party by wagon to the west. Along with his wife narcissa whitman, he started a mission to the cayuse in what is now southeastern washington state in 1836. This page was last edited on 28 december 2019, at 17. Narcissa whitman journal typed transcription 1836 1 item. Narcissa whitman 18081847 traveled some 3,000 miles from her home in upstate new york to oregon country. He continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892. Narcissa prentiss whitman was born march 14, 1808 to stephen and clarissa prentiss in prattsburg, steuben county, new york. Accepting spartan conditions in an adobe cabin at waiilatpu, about twentyfive miles from the hudsons bay companys fort walla walla, narcissa set about missionizing.
A measles outbreak in 1847 killed half of the local cayuse. Whitman was born narcissa prentiss on march 14, 1808, in prattsburgh, new york, and was one of nine children in her family. Mcleod and his company we left the rendezvous and came ten miles in a southwesterly direction. The letters and journals of narcissa whitman 1836 1847 show table of contents on board steamboat siam march 15, 1836. Beginning in 1882, whitman college has had thirteen presidents. The collection includes materials by and about the whitmans. In march 1837, she gave birth to alice clarissa, who was the joy of her life.
The west the letters and journals of narcissa whitman. The tragic tale of narcissa whitman and a faithful history of. She would bring salvation to those wandering sons of our native forests. The letters and journals of narcissa whitman 18361847. Gray was quite sick this morning and inclined to fall behind. This is a continuation of our narcissa whitman painting defaced article. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an american epic. Narcissa s diary entry on september 1, 1836 from the future mission site. Narcissas diary entry on september 1, 1836 from the future mission site. Husband and i rode with him about two hours and a half, soon after which he gave out entirely.
Jan 22, 2019 narcissa prentiss whitman was an american missionary in the oregon country of what would become the state of washington. Narcissa whitman an historical biography download ebook. Henry whitman 18111880, marcus whitman s sisterinlaw circa 1800s 2. Presbyterian missionary narcissa prentiss whitman and mormon polygamous. The whitmans and their party arrived at walla walla fort, near presentday walla walla, washington, on september 1, 1836. For more information, visit the whitman mission national historic site. The tragic tale of narcissa whitman and a faithful history of the oregon trail cheryl harness histories hardcover october 10, 2006. The columbia maternal association was organized september 3, 1838, at dr. Though she could scarcely have known him well, narcissa was quick to accept marcus whitman s offer when he approached her in 1835. Click download or read online button to get narcissa whitman an historical biography book now. Narcissa whitman s stationery single sheet circa 1820s1830s 2. Determined to christianize and civilize the cayuse indians of the columbia plateau region, their. Writing from the waiilatpu mission in oregon, narcissa whitman recalled.
Missionary narcissa prentiss whitman is probably old oregons most famous and tragic woman. It is located on one segment of the trail through the broad open pass, although the missionary party is believed to have crossed the continental divide farther to the north. On their way to found the protestant whitman mission in 1836 with her husband, marcus, near modernday walla walla, washington, she and eliza hart spalding wife of henry spalding became the first documented europeanamerican women. The whitmans were later killed by the indians and sixty people were taken hostage. Marcus whitman september 4, 1802 november 29, 1847 was an american physician. Marcus whitman was an american physician and missionary in the oregon country. Marcus whitman, also from upstate new york, received his schooling in massachusetts and was a classmate of john brown of harper s ferry fame. The whitmans led the way for hundreds of thousands of others who traveled after them. Introduce students to the story of marcus and narcissa whitman, the first settlers to make the overland journey to oregon. Across the country, dozens of statues have been removed from public. Narcissa prentiss whitman wikisource, the free online.
Her and her husband started the whitman mission, along the oregon trail. Narcissa whitman washington state magazine washington. Outside, on a neatly trimmed grass lot, bricks outline where the missions buildings once. Narcissa prentiss whitman was born in prattsburg, new york on march 14, 1808. Printerfriendly format narcissa whitman might have lived out her life in historical obscurity but for two developments. The second attachment is the answer sheet for the diary worksheet. Narcissa whitman and eliza spalding were the first. Nov 09, 2017 this is a continuation of our narcissa whitman painting defaced article. While middleclass americans in the 1830s expected a courtship and marriage based on romantic love, wouldbe missionaries like narcissa had other values and norms.
Narcissa prentiss whitman march 14, 1808 november 29, 1847 was an american missionary in the oregon country of what would become the state of washington. In 1828 she attended emma willards female seminary in troy, new york, and in 1831 she was a student at franklin institute, where she met dr. She was the first white woman to cross the rocky mountains in 1836 on her way to found the whitman mission among the cayuse indians near modern day walla walla, washington. Your proposal concerning keeping a diary as i journey comes before my mind often.
The letters of narcissa whitman by narcissa prentiss. Their ultimate destination was to establish a ministry to indians in the oregon territory. The letters and journals of narcissa whitman 18361847 pbs. Narcissa prentiss whitman wikisource, the free online library. Louis, missouri, looking for the white man s book of heaven.
Jan 23, 2019 the columbia maternal association was organized september 3, 1838, at dr. He would later inherit his fathers papers and collect all available sources related to the whitman killings. Extensive excerpts from narcissa whitman s diary are available. In 1906, when trail veteran ezra meeker began marking the oregon trail, he placed a monument at south pass recognizing the crossing by eliza spalding and narcissa whitman. As a young woman, she became intent on serving as a missionary. There are excerpts from narcissa whitman s diary, pieces of her china and some of marcus whitman s tools. Sensible of the evils that beset the young mind in a heathen land, and confident that no arm but gods can secure our children or those committed to our care from the dangers that surround them and bring them early into the fold of christ and fit them for usefulness here and glory. In recent months, the united states has seen an uptick in vandalism of statues portraying figures from throughout its history, from christopher columbus to robert e. In 1836, american missionary narcissa whitman 18081847 became the first woman of european heritage to cross the rocky mountains into the western united states. To understand part of whitman s history, read the interesting stories of the past presidents who steered the college to where it is today. These women faced similar challenges in exchanging the comforts of middleclass life for what they felt was a higher calling. The prentisses were presbyterians, but at the age of. Determined to christianize and civilize the cayuse indians of the columbia plateau region, their goals were.
Narcissa whitman is the author of narcissa whitman diaries and letters 1836 3. Long in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree in the department of english. After their marriage, in february 1836, she accompanied him to oregon. Murray is currently serving the college as our fourteenth president. Lock of narcissa whitman s hair in display mount circa 1830s 2. Buy the letters of narcissa whitman by narcissa prentiss whitman online at alibris. Narcissas letter to family on august 27, 1836 near the snake river west of fort hall you can better imagine our feelings this morning than we can describe them. Marcus whitman near modern day walla walla, washington. Guide to the marcus and narcissa whitman papers 18231961. Extensive excerpts from narcissa whitman s diary are available through edsitement at the new perspectives on the west website, which also includes a synopsis of the whitman s tragic experiences taken from the pbs documentary series, the west. Narcissa prentiss whitman 18081847 sister projects. Lace curtains trim the windows and the oregon trail is among the books on the shelves in this white clapboard house.
Advocate and journal, a publication of the methodist. Narcissa whitmanin 1836, american missionary narcissa whitman 18081847 became the first woman of european heritage to cross the rocky mountains into the western united states. Narcissa whitman biography life, family, children, parents. Narcissa married marcus whitman, another missionary wanttobe, and they headed west. This edition is the second printing and it differs from the first printing in that there is a slight change in the title page, adding the 18361847 dates, and also adding five more narcissa whitman letters supplied by washington state historical society and the national park service.
Birthplace of narcissa whitman, prattsburg, new york, october 2008. She and her husband were on an arduous journey westward, hoping to bring christianity to native american tribes in the columbia plateau region in what is presentday washington state. Narcissa prentiss was born into a deeply religious presbyterian family in upstate new york. Narcissa whitman diaries and letters 1836 kindle edition by whitman, narcissa. Read the following excerpt from the pioneer diary of narcissa whitman, credited as the first white woman to travel the oregon trail. Narcissa whitmans name is familiar to many in the northwest. Although the whitmans helped many of the sick cayuse, a mischevious worker at the whitman mission convinced the cayuse the whitmans had purposely caused the epidemic. Eells, myron, marcus whitman, pathfinder and patriot, 1909, alice harriman company, seattle.
I could not realize that the end of our long journey was so near. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. She was killed by local natives during the whitman massacre of 1847. Childhood home of marcus whitman, rushville, new york, october 2008. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. On their way to found the protestant whitman mission in 1836 with her husband, marcus, near modernday walla walla, washington, she and eliza hart spalding wife of henry spalding became the first documented europeanamerican women to. Presbyterian missionary narcissa prentiss whitman and mormon polygamous wife ida hunt udall believed god had called them to special missions. Narcissa whitman was a missionary in oregon country presentday near walla walla, washington. Marcus and narcissa whitman were one of the first emigrants on the oregon trail. Born in 1808 in new york, narcissa prentiss was the daughter of a prominent amity family whose entire life centered on the presbyterian church. Narcissa prentiss, one of the first two women to cross the rocky mountains, was born here in 1808.
She and her husband, marcus, established their mission to the cayuse indians near walla walla in 1836. Marcus and narcissa whitman papers, 18231961 archives west. Louis by an old acquaintance of narcissa s, the rev. Along with eliza hart spalding wife of henry spalding, she was the first europeanamerican woman to cross the rocky mountains in 1836 on her way to found the protestant whitman mission with husband dr. Dayton public schools 8th grade social studies instructional. Milton kimball, a presbyterian minister and a field agent of the american board. The split meant increased labor and loneliness for narcissa. The founder of ogden, utah, miles goodyear, traveled with them until fort hall.
The first was her decision, in 1836, to marry a missionary named marcus whitman 18021847 and travel with him to what was then called oregon country, some. In fact, narcissa whitman was the first woman ever to. The tragic tale of narcissa whitman and a faithful history. Most of the white children lived, but almost half of the cayuse died.
As their eldest daughter, narcissa helped with the upbringing of her younger brothers and sisters. Narcissa kept a journal of the tripthe first documented crossing of the plains to. Narcissa whitman was the wife missionary marcus whitman. Pbs the west the letters and journals of narcissa whitman. The marcus and narcissa whitman papers range in date from 1823 to 1961 the bulk of them being from 1835 to 1846approximately the time of their missionary work in the oregon territory. Missionary narcissa prentiss whitman is probably old oregons most famous.
He and his wife, narcissa, along with reverend henry spalding and his wife, eliza, and william gray, founded a mission at present day walla walla, washington in an effort to convert local indians to christianity. The third attachment is the complete version of the diary as far as i know. Some excerpts from narcissa s diary while on the oregon trail. The papers form an artificial collection assembled by the oregon historical society from a variety of sources. Narcissa prentiss whitman march 14, 1808 november 29, 1847 was an american. In 1828 she attended emma willard s female seminary in troy, new york, and in 1831 she was a student at franklin institute, where she met dr. The moving account, which included excerpts from harriets journal, letters, and a. On the first day of class this semester, kristine leier, a senior majoring in history and anthropology, returned one of the more macabre items owned by the wsu libraries. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading narcissa whitman diaries and letters 1836. Narcissa whitman 18081847, how marcus whitman saved oregon by oliver nixon, ca.
Her first ancestor in america, henry prentice, emigrated from england prior to 1640 and. Analysis of the diary of narcissa whitman teaching american history. Analysis of the diary of narcissa whitman from david jones. Read the following excerpt from the pioneer diary of narcissa. His name is famous for the incident of his death at the hands of cayuse antagonists in 1847, but his name is also affixed to a county in washington state and a liberal arts. The letters and diaries of narcissa prentiss whitman and ida hunt udall, a dissertation prepared by genevieve j. Pdf marcus whitman left his mark on oregon country as an early missionary to cayuse people on the columbia plateau and as an advocate for american settlement of the region. Missionaries marcus and narcissa whitman begin their. When whitman s party went through this, she and eliza spalding became the first white women to cross the continental divide. Reproductions supplied by edrs are the best that can be made. The missionary party consisting of marcus and narcissa whitman, and henry h and eliza spalding, and william h gray, a lay aide, traveled west along with fitzpatricks supply caravan.
Louis by an old acquaintance of narcissas, the rev. Read the following excerpt from the pioneer diary of. The letters and journals of narcissa whitman 1836 1847. Narcissa prentiss whitman was an american missionary in the oregon country of what would become the state of washington. Whitman s major work, leaves of grass, was first published in 1855 with his own money. Narcissa s letter to family on august 27, 1836 near the snake river west of fort hall you can better imagine our feelings this morning than we can describe them. Biography of narcissa whitman whitman mission national. Accepting spartan conditions in an adobe cabin at waiilatpu, about twentyfive miles from the hudson s bay company s fort walla walla, narcissa set about missionizing.
3 1680 1124 339 61 515 890 474 198 394 1491 781 41 98 1448 1495 619 1527 1483 707 1173 1634 1088 238 158 922 404 1499 1215 473 1276 1649 1475 441 1465 338 230 1446 34 1496 297 965 523 1193