The members of OCTA have an important role in the preservation of the trails: their physical remains as well as their history and legacy. As such, we have become a great resource for the study of the westward migration and the development of the American West. Many of our nation's preeminent historians turn to us for information and vice versa.
We have been honored to have a wide variety of historians (both professional and hobbyists) speak to our members at the conventions. This year's convention will focus on the role the greater Kansas City area played in the westward movement between the 1820s and the 1860s.
This year's speakers include:
MODERATOR: ROBERT RICHMOND
past Assistant Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society and past President of the American Association for State and Local History. He was the moderator of the Trails Head 1995 symposium, plus the presenter of the February 1997 Trails Head program on missionaries and the trail era.
KEYNOTE: CRAIG CREASE
trails historian
Shawnee, KS
"THE NATURE OF THE TRACE: THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF THE SANTA FE, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA TRAILS IN KANSAS CITY"
The Kansas City metropolitan area is unique in that it is the only location in the country where three of the major historic frontier trails follow the same course as they do in this area - The Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail and the California Trail. From 1821 to the dawn of the Civil War, these trails evolved from and ran through both trail heads of Westport and Independence.
MARK KELLY
archaeologist/attorney
Lenexa, KS
"WHAT DO I DO NOW? A MOUNTAIN MAN'S DILEMNA"
As the fur trade diminished in the early decades of the nineteenth century, many entrepreneurs adapted to the trail era by becoming trail guides, military attaches, stockmen, planters, settlers, town builders and storekeepers.
LOREN HORTON
retired Director of the State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
"BURIALS AND GRAVE-MARKING ALONG THE OVERLAND TRAILS"
By using evidence found in 342 diaries, journals, letters and reminiscences, this study presents a partial explanation of the methods of burial and grave-marking during the years from 1833 to 1868 on the Oregon and California trails.
JOHN MARK LAMBERTSON
Director of the National Frontier Trails Center
Independence, MO
"HOPES AND FEARS, EXCITEMENT AND TEARS: JUMPING OFF ON THE OREGON/CALIFORNIA TRAILS"
This paper highlights the complex jumble of emotions and limited trail-survival skills of the departing emigrants, and contrasts it to the seasoned and savvy trail travelers they had become by the time they reached the Platte River.
ROBERT MANLEY
retired professor of history and retired museum administrator
Seward, NE
"WHERE ENDS THE EASTERN ROAD: THE MISSOURI RIVER FRONTIER AS OBSTACLE AND OPPORTUNITY"
While arrival at the Missouri River psychologically meant the beginning of the overland journey, the trail travelers gained experience from encountering many obstacles along the way --experiences which not only helped settle the West, but also allayed fears about the viability of the plains.
HARMON MOTHERSHEAD
retired professor of history
Maryville, MO
"THE MISSOURI RIVER: THE HIGHWAY OF EXPLORATION, COMMERCE AND COMPETITION"
Prior to the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the Missouri River and its tributaries served as the base of operation for the changing phases of the westward movement, i.e. exploration, fur trade, military operations and the overland trail trade. The advent of the steamboat on the Missouri, however, shaped the development of trade and established a number of river towns which competed for the outfitting business.
ALAN PERRY
Adjunct Professor of History at the University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
"THREE FRONTIERS: EUROPEANS AND NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE CENTURY BEFORE THE TRAILS"
Various Native American and European powers competed for dominance in commerce, in politics and in military matters in the century before the emigrant trail era when Missouri joined the new United States.
ARNOLD SCHOFIELD
Senior Research Historian at the Fort Scott National Historic Site
Ft. Scott, KS
"WAGONS, WHISKEY AND WALKERS: TRANSPORTATION ARTERIES OF THE OREGON, CALIFORNIA AND SANTA FE TRAILS"
Four routes in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas (the Harmony Mission Road, the Military Road, the New 1859 Ft. Scott to Ft. Leavenworth Road and the Cherokee Road) served as major alternate routes which fed into the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails.
RODNEY STAAB
historian
Kansas City, KS
"JOHN AUGUST SUTTER IN MISSOURI"
Before settling in California, John August Sutter participated in the entrepreneurial activities of Westport, Missouri, during 1836 through 1838.
MICHAEL TATE
professor of history and former Director of Native American Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
Omaha, NE
"NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OVERLANDERS ALONG THE OREGON, CALIFORNIA AND MORMON TRAILS"
This investigation, while looking at the relationships between Native Americans and overlanders along the trail east of Chimney Rock, attempts to refute the oversimplified Hollywood version of the Indian-emigrant story as one of continuous attacks and bloodshed. Acts of kindness and mutual cooperation also mark the relationships which now must be viewed from within the context of Indian cultural norms.
Below are just a few of the speaker selections from the last two national OCTA conventions:
Convention 1999
J.S. Holiday
J.S. Holiday was the keynote speaker at the 1999 Convention in Chico, California, giving great details about the days of the Gold Rush. He is the author of two outstanding publications about the California Gold Rush: "The World Rushed In," a truly epic chronicle of the trials and tribulations of traveling the California Trail and working the California gold fields; and "Gold Fever," a recent publication for the California Sesquicentennial.
Joanne Levy
An OCTA member, Joanne Levy is a resident of the California Gold Rush Country and is the author of "They Saw the Elephant: Women in the California Gold Rush," a chronicle of the trail west and life in the gold mining camps from the perspective of women who participated in the gold rush, and a recent novel, "Daughter of Joy: A Novel of Gold Rush San Francisco."
Chico's Featured Speakers
The 1999 Convention in Chico, CA, also featured other experts who spoke on the trails into the California gold fields and the California Gold Rush, including Frank and Mary Ann Tortorich, Larry Shiflet, Dick Silva, Mike Gillis, Don Weston, Jacqueline Williams, Jim McClain, Greg MacGregor, and Curtis Grant.
Convention 1998
"Blazing a Wagon Trail to Oregon" - Lloyd Coffman
Why the Great Migration began when it did. What type of people undertook such a trip. What their trail experience provided in the way of information and encouragement to subsequent trains. As an owner of a hardware store in Baker City, Lloyd became interested in the history of Eastern Oregon. He taught history classes through Eastern Oregon State College and trained the staff of the Flagstaff Hill facility in trail history.
"A Literal Overview of the Oregon Trail" - Robert Kabel
This color slide illustrated presentation began with comments about flying and aerial photography. The trail was then followed from Independence, MO, to Oregon City, OR. Sites difficult or impossible to reach on the ground were viewed from the air. Bob is retired as Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering from Penn State University. A pilot and photographer, he and his wife Barbara have driven, hiked, photographed, and talked about the trail.
"Myths Perpetuated by History Texts" - Keith May
The role of Natives is seldom taught in history textbooks. Using a slide show of trail sites across Oregon and diary entries, positive interactions were stressed and myths were dispelled. Keith is the first male first grade teacher in Umatilla County since the pioneer days. OCTA's Educator of the Year in 1995, he has six books to his credit including two about Pendleton and one about the Oregon Trail in Oregon.
"Native Americans: The Walmart of the Trail" - Christina Ray May
Native Americans offered a valuable resource of clothing, footwear and food. Women had positive trade interactions with the natives. Diary Excerpts were used along with displays of pioneer clothing. Christina is a private school science/math/health teacher. She has authored a book on pioneer clothing.
"Young Pioneers and Natives: From Fear to Fascination" - Violet Kimball
How the pioneer's fear of the Indians turned to fascination for many of the youth. The trading, shooting ability, offers of ponies for brides, customs and cuisines interested many pioneer children. Violet has read about 500 accounts and has amassed a collection of quotes and interesting events.
"Lower Well Spring Diversion of the Oregon Trail" - Greg Green
A report from the archaeologist who located Lower Well Spring after 55 years of confusion and closure of the area. He concluded that traces leading to and from the area were original diversion routes. Greg is an engineering and environmental services consultant contracted to work on a resources management plan for the U.S. Navy's Naval Weapons Systems Facility near Boardman.
"Two-Way-Seeing" - Shannon Applegate & Esther Stutzman
A dramatic and musical conversation/performance exploring similarities and differences between pioneers and native Oregonians. Performed in period costumes, their dialogue portrayed an attempt to reconcile two peoples struggling to learn from the past. Esther is a traditional American Indian storyteller of Coos and Yonkalla/Kalapuya heritage. An educator, she is working on a curriculum for the Kalapuya people. Shannon is a pioneer descendant and author, editor, lecturer, writing teacher and regional historian.
"Fanny and Friends" - Joyce Badgley Hunsaker
OCTA's own Joyce Badgley Hunsaker is a fourth generation Oregon Trail pioneer descendant and a fifth generation California Trail pioneer descendant. Her unforgettable living history portrayals of the Westering experience have won her critical acclaim nationwide as both actress and historian. Ms. Hunsaker has performed on stage for audiences from coast to coast, and has been featured many times on national television and radio. Her presentation of "Fanny and Friends" was created specifically for the Pendleton '98 Convention.
