A Comparative Analysis of the Oregon Trail Experience in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
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FROiiJTIERS27OPiEN: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE OREGON TRAIL EXPERIENCE IN THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURIES JENNIFER ELIZABETH YOUNG KYLE B.A. Simon Fraser University, 1987. A THESIS SEBMITTED IX PARTIAL FULFILMd5T OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF AF'I'S in the Department of Geography @ JENNIFER ELIZABETH YOUNG KYLE 1996 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY JTLY 1996 All-A & rights resemed, This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or by other means, without permission of the author. 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It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission Title of ThesislProjectlExtended Essay erswomen: A Com~ara e Analvsis- Of The Oregon -1 Ex~erienceIn The Nineteenth And Twentieth wes APPROVAL Name: Jennifer Elizabeth Kyle Degree: Mas~erof Arts Title of Thesis: Frontierswomen: A Comparative Analysis Of The Oregon Trail Experience In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries Examining Committee: Chair: A.M. Gill, Associate Professor / P.M. Keros.=iZ,Associate Professor Senior Supervisor L.J* $venden - khsxia& professor D.E. Turbeville IIX, Associate Professor, fkpa+It;neatd Geography and hbfiTopdogj Eastern Washington University External Examiner Date Approved: wy 24,1996 ABSTRACT From the 1840s to the end of the nineteenth century, well over 50,000 people migrated by wagon train to the Oregon Territory. This thesis evaluates the e-xperience of women making this trek between the years 1845 and 1885, through a late twentieth century re-enactment and examines the contemporary experience by comparing it with the record of diaries and historical studies of the early migrations. The result suggests those issues, actions and reactions that are found to be held in common between the two periods. Fahat is enduring about the trek experience, and what is of only ephemeral importance are thus highlighted, contributing to an understanding of the regional character of the Pacific Northwest. The conceptual framework draws upon the Turnerian frontier thesis, formulated shortly after the migrations ceased. Physical landscapes are emphasized, for direct encounters with elements of the physical geography (storms, way-finding, locations of water, fording of rivers) were crucial. Experiences of women are analyzed in the context of the general migration focusing around the following issues: women's roles as decision-makers along the trail, adaptations in social organization made among women, and between women and men. The methods employed were a search of, and immersion in, diaries and commentaries written by women on the trail, 2nd participation in a re-enactment of the trek itself. On the trek, taken with a late-twentieth century group, the author kept her own extensive diary and field notes, using these in direct comparison with those surviving from a century ago. As an enduring response to the trek experience, there was and is a conscious appreciation of the physical landscape for its ruggedness, dangers, and beauty. But in the last century there was also an appreciation of its potential, for many women appraised it with a calculating eye for what it offered as a basis for settlement and farming. In response to the migration experience, women learned to cope with toil and stress, banding together in ways that may have been influential in contributing to the relatively progressive position women have held in the life and politics of the Pacific Northwest. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my mother and father, my sisters Jan and Joanne, my daughters, Katherine and Erin, my granddaughter, Mary, and to all of the women whose lives have touched my heart and soul in the process of researching and writing this book. WE'RE HEADING WEST DARLIN' iv ACKNOWLEDGgMgNTS A number of people have contributed greatly to this study. To all of them I am most grateful. 1 would especially like to thank my senior supervisor, Paul M. Koriscil, for the freedom to pursue my own path and to Leonard J. Evenden, my other very significant committee member for always being there to advise, encourage and direct me each step of the way. A special note of thanks to Dan Turbeville from the Geography Department at Eastern Washington State University, for presiding as external examiner. My heartfelt thanks also goes to Robert Horsfall for being my friend and confidante, and to other members of the faculty and staff in the Geography Department of Simon Fraser University for their support, especially Ray Squirrell, Chief Cartographer. For various suggestions, information, and whining sessions, I would like to thank my dear friends Lydia Harris and Karen Ryan. I would like to express my love and deepest gratitude to those women and men who lent unfailing support to keep me emotionally, spiritually and physically healthy on a continuing and daily basis. My family in recovery includes Mary S., Hella P., Pat L., Czaig L., Gerry S., Frank W., Gerry M., Jim M,, Bob K., Gene P., Jim W., Ric M., and Glenn V. I wish you all another twenty-four hours. Finally, and with humility, I would like to thank God. TABLE OF CONTEHTS APPROVAL ABSTRACT GEDICATIGN CIiAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION WHY OREGON FREDERICK JACKSON TURNER STATEMENT OF PROBLEM METHODOLOGY RESEARCH MATERIAL FOR TEE THESIS DEVELOPMENT OF THE THESIS CHAPTER TWO: LITER9TUXE REVIEW AND THE BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH GEOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE GEOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE ABOUT EXPLORATION GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL LITERATURE ABOUT MIGRATION GEOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE ABOUT GENDER TWENTIETH-CENTURY HISTORIANS AND THE NINETEENTH- CENTURY =RICAN FRONTIER TWENTIETH-CENTURY HISTORIANS AND THE OREGON TRAIL TWENTIETH-CENTURY HISOTIRANS AND WESTERN WOMEN'S HISTORY THE BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES THE BIOGRAPBICAL APPROACH AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY TBE BIOGRA2HICAL APPROACH IN THE THESIS COTJERED WAGON WOMEN'S DIAF-IES AND LETTERS AS A RECORD FOR HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER THREE: PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE SETTING INTERIOR PLAINS NATUFAL VEGETATION OF THE GREAT PLAINS REGION CLMIATE CF THE GREAT PLAINS REGION THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SYSTEM THE INTERMONTANE PLATEUX VEGETATION OF THE INTERMONTANE PLATEAU REGION CLIMATE OF THE INTERMONTANE PLATEAU REGION THE PACIFIC MOUNTAIN SYSTEM CLIMATE OF THE PACIFIC MOUNTAIN SYSTEM VEGETATION OF THE PACIFIC MOUNTAIN SYSTEM CHAPTER FOUR: TWEXTIETH-CENTURY MIGRATION ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL THEMES RELATED TO THESIS: MIGRATION ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL, SEEN IN PERSPECTIVE BY THE WOMEN IN THE DIARIES LACK OF WOMEN'S VOICES IN THE HISTORICAL RECORD CRITERIA : EXPECTATIONS, HOPES IMPRESSIONS OF THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE REFLECTIOXS OF IDAHO: BOISE REFLECTIONS OF OREGON: NYSSA KEENEY PASS DURKEE BAKER CITY BLUE MOUNTAINS WELLS SPRING CECIL JOHN DAY RIVER CROSSING WASCO, DESCHUTES RIVER AND THE DALLES DUFUR & TYGH VALLEY MOUNT HOOD LAUREL HILL CLIMATE : DUST TEMPERATURE WIND : WIND AS OBSTACLE WIND AS RELIEF PRECIPITATION SHADE HARDSHIPS RELATED TO THE MIGRATION EXPERIENCE: WALKING RIDING A HORSE RIDING IN THE WAGONS DRIVING MY CAR WASHROOMS/SHOWERS/SANITATION CAMPSITES AUTHENTIC CLOTHING SEPARATION OF CORE GROUP FROM STATE WALKERS FINANCIAL FOOD mDICAL PROBLEMS LAUNDRY vii RELATIQNSHIPS WITH 'DAY' WALKERS: DAN AND JEW KOKES BERNIE 1mm DENICE) HUOT MARY HERBERT RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE 'COMMIJNITY' OF STATE WALKERS RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL STATE WALKERS: BARBARA STINGER STELLA KAISER SUE SMITH LARRY AUSPOS PAT LYTTLE SIGNIFICANT MALE RELATIONSHIPS: DAVID 'SKINNER' COLLINS DOUG JONES MIKE MCKINLEY OUTRIDERS /COSPJBOYS : JUDI SAVAGE GREG MFxKERTZ THE TEAMSTERS COMMUNITIES WE PASSED THROUGH THE FOREST SERVICE BUS DRIVER: DAVID RUTH THE FRONTIER SALOON KEEPERS: JANICE KEELER AND BILL FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME FULFILLMENT/REGRETS CHAPTER FIVE: A DESCRIPTIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS OF WOMEN'S NINETEENTH-CENTURY DIARIES RECORDED ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL. INTRODUCTION CRITERIA : EXPECTATIdNS, HOPES IMPRESSIONS OF THE PHYSIC= LANDSCAPE GREAT PLAINS: ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI COUNCIL BLUFFS (KANESVILLE), IOWA INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI NEBRASKA : FORT KEARNEY 185 NORTH PLATTE RIVER (COUNCIL BLUFFS ROAD) 186 HISTORICAL LANDMARKS : ASH HOLLOW ANCIENT BLUFF RUINS COURTHOUSE ROCK viii CHIMNEY ROCK SCOTTS BLUFF WYOMING : FORT L9fi;WIlfIE ROCKY MOrUXTAINS: NORTHERN ROCKY MQUNTAINS BLACK EILLS INDEPENDENCE ROCK DEVIL'S GATE SWF.ET!dATER RIVER ( INDEPENDENCE ROCK AND PLATTE ) WYOMING %?ISIN: SOUTH PASS WIXJ RIVER MOUNTAINS BIG SANDY GREEN RIVER LODGEPOLE (CREEK) RIVER ( LODGEPOLE TRAIL - SOUTHERN ROUTE THROUGH WYOMING) : CHEYENNE LARAMIE MEDICINE BOW MOUNTAINS (ELK MOUNTAIN) BRIDGER'S PASS (WEST OF N.