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Phillips, Paul. C (Editor); Lewis, W. S. (Editor) : Historical Reprints. The Oregon Missions as Shown in the Walker Letters. Sources of Northwest History No. 13

State University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers with staple binding. Black lettering printed on front cover. No date, circa 1930. 6 1/2" x 9 1/2." Eighteen pages, complete. Pages and covers are very clean and intact except for light age toning throughout, slightly bumped corners, and a closed tear at top of back cover measuring 1." A Very Good copy. "Sources of Northwest History No. 13." "Reprinted from the Historical Section of The Frontier, a magazine of the Northwest, published at the State University of Montana, Missoula. Vol. XI, No. 1, November, 1930." This issue contains a collection of letters written by or to Elkanah (also, Elkaneh) Walker (1805-1877) and to Mary R. Walker (1811-1897). Elkanah and Mary were married and both missionaries. In 1838, they first went to Oregon when they were sent by the American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions to aid fellow missionaries Marcus Whitman (1802-1847) and Henry H. Spalding (also, Spaulding; 1803-1897). Whitman and Spalding had established missions at Waiilatpu near present-day Walla Walla. Waiilatpu was the location of the infamous Whitman massacre. There are about twelve letters reprinted herein. Many of the letters are between Elkanah and other missionaries including Whitman, Spalding, and David Greene. One of Elkanah's letters is addressed to Mary and another is addressed to both Mary and their family. Another letter is addressed to Mary from Ms. Gray who was possibly the wife of author and mission board member William H. Gray. The letters vary greatly in subject but are an invaluable historical record to this tumultuous period in Oregon's history when tensions were high between local Indigenous tribes and white settlers and missionaries. Among the subjects addressed in the letters are the missions, health of acquaintances, converting Indigenous people, anti-Catholic sentiments by the Protestant missionaries, the Whitman Massacre, and Elkanah's controversial views about Indigenous people and white settlers (his views generally promote Manifest Destiny). The Whitman Massacre took place on November 29, 1847 in Waiilatpu. Marcus Whitman, his wife, Narcissa Whitman, and eleven others were murdered by a small group of Cayuse tribal members who believed Whitman had poisoned Cayuse people. Their accusations stemmed from Whitman's inability to prevent or cure a measles outbreak that disproportionately affected the Cayuse but not white settlers (European explorers and settlers introduced measles and other diseases to North America which decimated many Indigenous populations). All of the buildings at Waiilatpu were destroyed in the massacre. Five Cayuse men, known as the Cayuse Five, surrendered after settlers demanded five men be punished in retribution. The Cayuse Five were tried and hanged for the massacre even though their guilt and court jurisdiction were not proven. The Whitman Massacre was a major factor that led to the Cayuse War (1847-1855). William S. Lewis of Spokane, one of the editors, had hand-copied these letters from the originals that were, at the time, owned by Cyrus Walker, Elkanah and Mary's son.. Book. Book Condition: Collectible-Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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