May 20, 2012
On this day in Osage country, Louis F. Burns, renowned Osage writer and historian passed away.
Louis F. Burns was born on January 2, 1920 in Elgin, Kansas, but was raised in the Osage Nation and very connected with his tribal roots. Burns descended from the Little Bear/Strike Axe band of Little Osages, and was a member of the well-known Tinker family. Even as an adult, Burns remained active within his tribe serving as a member of the I’n Lon Schka Society.
Burns’ scholarly career commenced at Kansas State University, Emporia, with the completion of his undergraduate degree in education and graduate degree in history. At the University of Southern California Burns spent time working towards his doctorate. Throughout his career Burns published thirteen books written on Osage subjects; was editor of two professional educational newsletters; had two articles published in the Chronicles of Oklahoma; and served as a feature writer for the Osage Nation News and Inside Osage (Osage News).
Across a span of about a decade, Burns also presented several papers at various seminars including the Plains Indian Seminar, held in Cody, Wyoming; the Missouri Valley Historical Society conference in Omaha; and the Oklahoma Historical Society Annual Meetings.
Louis F. Burns led a career full of accomplishments and was presented with a variety of awards. Such accomplishments and awards included:
- Knighted by the Companions of l’Hippocras
- Deemed Who’s Who in the West by the 27th edition of Marquis
- Deemed Who’s Who in the World by the 19th edition of Marquis
- Listed in the British International Men of Achievement
- Found in the Dictionary of International Biography
- Named in the list of 2,000 Outstanding Scholars of the 20th century
- Inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 2002.
Burns was married to his wife, Ruth Blake, for over 60 years before her passing in 2006. He passed away on May 20, 2012.
Morgan M. Guzman
Further Reading
“Louis F. Burns (1920-2012).” Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/examiner-enterprise/obituary.aspx?n=louis-f-burns&pid=157745932&fhid=8814 Date accessed May 3, 2018.
“Louis F. Burns, a Tribute.” Osage News. http://osagenews.org/en/article/2012/08/07/louis-f-burns-tribute/ Date accessed May 3, 2018.
Louis F. Burns Papers, Sequoyah National Research Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
