October 25, 1937
The Daily Journal Capital
Microfilm Roll: MN00297
On this day in Osage country, the winners of the Indian baby contest, held at the second annual American Indian Exposition and Congress, were announced.
The second annual American Indian Exposition and Congress was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from October 21 through the 23. This year was especially important because it marked the 30th anniversary of Oklahoma’s statehood.
According to the event’s pamphlet, the most sought-after event during the exposition was the Indian baby contest. Hundreds of babies, ages five and under, entered the contest and were judged based on costume choice and health. The Osage Tribal Clinic supervised the care of Osage babies during their Tulsa visit. By the close of the event, three Osage babies stole the show placing first across several categories. Out of nearly thirty entries for the Osage baby health category, Frankie Pahunkah from Pawhuska placed first in the boys’ health, and Geraldine Alice Russell from Hominy placed first in girls’ health. Fannie Mae Beartrack won the prize for best costume overall.
Osage involvement in the American Indian Exposition and Congress also included a food booth which served meat pies, squaw bread, and coffee. The booth was run by a subdivision of the Catholic Altar Society, the Klash-Kah-She club, a group whose members were full-blood Osage women. The Klah-Kah-She club is a group that still exists today; they celebrated their 90th anniversary in January 2018. During the 1937 event, the club also hosted a luncheon for nearly one hundred members of the Tulsa Art club. Osage tribal members also displayed Osage art in the form of oil and water color paintings. Works exhibited in the show included those of Russell Wagoshe, Marion Revard, Mary Tall Chief, and Louis Haskell. The Kihekah Indian Shoppe also ran a booth, selling a wide range of Indian artifacts.
The exposition was comprised of many other events, including, a military exhibition, pioneer customs and contests program, Indian dances and games, an Indian craft exhibits, and a Navajo exhibit displaying Navajo sand art, rugs, and silversmiths.
Morgan M. Guzman
“Osage Babies Win Prizes at Tulsa.” The Daily Journal-Capital. October 25, 1937, p. 1. Microfilm roll number MN00297. Sequoyah National Research Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Further Reading
“Pamphlet-2nd annual American Indian Exposition and Congress.” Gilcrease Museum. https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/43264286 Date accessed May 2, 2018.
Source File(s)
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