The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-07-07
THE JEFFERSON PAINTINGS.
Mrs. Narosssa Owen Writes Of Her
Paintings at Worlds Fair.

Following Is the full text Of letter
received by the Chieftain from Mrs
Narcissa Owen, who has on exhibition
In the Indian Territory building al
the Worlds Fair her famous paintings |
representing six generations Of Thos.
JefEerson's family:
"The Chieftain's kindly notice last
winter Of our patriotic art studies for |
the Louisiana Purchase exhibit In the
Indian Territory building at st. Louis,
reprenting six generations Of Thomas
JeiIerson's family, istruly appreciated,
though through erroneous informa-
tlon the Chieftain made three Of our
portraits to represent persons Of one
hundssd years or more ago, while In
reality they we're the only artists
models OF the entire group, all Others
having been painted from black and
white studies obtained from the Car
negie library, Washington, ID. C,.and
two family photos In possession ofMrs.
John S. Morris, formerly OF Month
cello ranch in Cooweescoowee district,
IL. T., but now Of Washington, d. @.
son portrait picture No | will he
found:
1893, Thomas Jefferson.
1908, Mrs. Thos. Mann, Randolph.
1860. Thomas jefferson Randolph.
on portrait picture No. ?,
1870 Mrs. r. @. Fl. Kean, Lynch
| burg, Va.
1856, Mrs. John f. Morris, Lynch
burg, Va.
| 1904, Misses Pattie and Adelaide
Morris. born at Monticello nneh, 1. T.
"To the lady Ia the pretty lace dress
and her very nice Indian Territory
little girls we leay the Chieftain ia
do the amesde honorable.
ITO the reporter who mentions the
artist As an old Indian woman Of s.
years, we extend our most gracious
pardon, for the reason that he must
admit that many Of the Cherokee In.
dians OF eighty-three years ago were
not only civilized but cultured. Even
an uncultured Cherokee invented :
marvellous alphabet which enables ans
Cherokee speaker In one months STUDY
to read or write anything written In
his language.
"a reporter for the Century Maya
zine IN 1850, who visited the Female
!, Seminary, Tahlequah, mentioned hav
. ing heard classic Music, and saw in tho
windows beautiful exotics, evidently
. cared for by the hand OF some dusky
! maiden Il seems that poets are not
the only class OF licensed writer's
I'VE give you, dear Chieftain, thi.
opportunity 70 take a few hundred
/ years OF tile heads Of the modern dag
! Jefferson ladies. And now to return
10 the portrait pictures Of three gen
! erations each. Your mistake In regard
? TO them Is proof that We have not
been understood IS doing patriotic
! honor 10 Indian Territory, our country
| and to President Thomas jefferson
and his family ia the painting Of ths
two pictures.
These painting have not beer
hung in way 70 show the historical
connection, as they should have been
bat are used as house decorations only
They are placed on different nooB o.
the building. regardless Of the authors
wish to have them hung together
showing tho order of dates FROM $50,
to 1904.
There are Others of the jefferson
descendants who are worthy Of a placl
on ans canvas, but my work did noI
begin until las, Noyembcr and thl
: time did not admit Of carrying on
: any great artistic aspirations. which
! did not posses beyond desire 70 d
: my part IS = patriotic woman Of IN
Cherokee Nation and lover Of Oh
Virgins the home Of a much honoFo'
mother aItdof my friends, pattle Keal
Morris and family.
Thanking you again for your kinI
words. ! an,
Respectfully yours.
NARcIssA 0wKN."
: Cares aeiAtieA. fn