File:Frank Bazhaw to Alice Mary Longfellow, 10 May 1893 (2deffcb1-e499-4786-aa99-5cfa5201469f).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#056

[printed letterhead: The Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute]
Hampton Va., May 10, 1893.
Miss Alice Longfellow, -
Dear Friend,
It is with pleasure I write this letter to you; as it is the only thing I can do towards your kindness.
Let me tell you in a brief way where I am from and where I have been before coming to Hampton. In a certain part of the Indian Territory, now recently known as Oklahoma is where my home and tribe are situated. The Pottawatomie tribe to which I belong, number [p. 2] about one thousand, and before taking their land under the Dawes Bill, they occupied in common a scope of territory thirty miles square.
The greater part of Oklahoma in general is prairie country. The land bordering the rivers and other smaller streams is very good for farming purposes. While the rest of the country, which is rolling, thinly covered with timber, is covered with heavy tall grass, and used mainly for grazing stock. Since my tribe has taken their land in severility, farming has become their main occupation, previous- [p.3 ] ly to this they devoted good deal of attention to raising live stock,
The Pottawatomies send most of their children to government school in Kansas, while a few boys of my tribe come to Hampton.
I have been here now four years. I am happy to say that I am thankful for coming at this school. Before coming to Hampton I went to a government school on our reservation. [p. 4] which has been taught by some Hampton graduates. After going to this school about two years, I next went to White Institute, in the state of Indiana, where I attended school three years. Here at the White Institute I heard for the first time one of the classes of about fourteen Indians boys and girls recite together the poem, entitled “The Village Blacksmith”.
When I left this Institute, I next went back to my home, and worked about two years on a cattle ranch. I have always regretted that l spent so much time out of school but at the same time I learned a great deal in practical life.
[p. 5] This system of holding large extensive range of country by cattle men on these reservations has been done away with the passing of the Dawe’s Bill.
As the country is being more cultivated, large tracts of lands that were used for hunting purposes are now being turned into farms.
During all my time here at Hampton, I have learned good deal, not only simply from books, but many other [p. 6] things. which I know will be a great help to me in life. The longer I go to school, the more I become interested in studying. And there is no study I like better than studying literature. In studying the writing of the different American Poets, I find a poem entitled “Evangeline” by Mr. H. W. Longfellow, which interested me very much, I also noticed that the same poem is being published in a paper called the “Week’s Current."
It is my desire when I go west to try and practice our class motto, “Receive to Give”. I also have a desire to go [p. 7] to school a few more years, providing I can have the opportunity.
Again I will say before closing my letter, that I am thankful to you for your kindness to me.
Yours gratefully,
Frank Bazhaw.

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); organizations; hampton institute; education; correspondence; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)