Chur-e-rah-rah-he-kah

Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah (aka Chur-Ah-Tah-E-Kah) was a Pawnee woman from the Cáwiiʾi or Grand Pawnee Band of the Southern Tribe

The Pawnee are a Central Plains Indian tribe that historically lived in Nebraska and northern Kansas but today are based in Oklahoma. Historically, the Pawnee lived in villages of earth lodges near the Loup, Republican, and South Platte rivers. Historically, the Pawnee led a lifestyle combining village life and seasonal hunting, which had long been established on the Plains. The Pawnee generally settled close to the rivers and placed their lodges on the higher banks.

Loupe Fork of the Platte River. Photograph by W. H. Jackson, 1871
The Pawnee are divided into the northern band named Skidi-Federation or Skiri (Wolf Pawnee), and the southern band is made up of three sub-bands, the Cáwiiʾi (Grand Pawnee), the Kítkehahki (Republican Pawnee), and the Piitahawiraata (Tapage Pawnee).

"In the middle of the 17th century the Pawnees were being savagely raided by eastern tribes that had obtained metal weapons from the French, which gave them a terrible advantage over Indians who had only weapons of wood, flint, and bone. The raiders carried off such great numbers of Pawnees into slavery, that in the country on and east of the upper Mississippi the name Pani developed a new meaning: slave. The French adopted this meaning, and Indian slaves, no matter from which tribe they had been taken, were presently being termed Panis. It was at this period, after the middle of the 17th century, that the name was introduced into New Mexico in the form Panana by bands of mounted Apaches who brought large numbers of Pawnee slaves to trade to the Spaniards and Pueblo Indians." George E. Hyde, The Pawnee Indians
Their population dwindled each year until there are now (1906), but 649 survivors.
(Curator Note: the 1902 census has 638 entries, the 1903 census has 635 entries)

Tribal territory of the Pawnee and tribes in Nebraska
Source: Wikipedia contributors. "Pawnee people." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Mar. 2024. Web. 1 Mar. 2024.

Buffalo Bill was flanked by Pawnee warriors on the left and Lakota warriors on the right during the show's engagement at Erastina on Long Island in 1886. Photo courtesy of The William F. Cody Archive, Buffalo Bill Center of the West and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Published under a Creative Commons License.

Biography:
Born c. 1833 based on the statement that Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah (aka Chur-Ah-Tah-E-Kah), also probably known as Julia Morgan for a time, died at the age of 72 on January 1, 1905.

But, according to the 1887 Ponca Agency census of the Pawnee, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah age 56 = b.c. 1831, and was of the Chowee Band (probably the Cáwiiʾi or Grand Pawnee of the Southern Tribe)

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah was admitted to the Canton Asylum in January 1903 after being transferred from St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C., diagnosed with chronic mania (Chronic mania is defined as the presence of manic symptoms for more than two years without remission.)

Per the United States Census, 1900 District of Columbia Washington ED 143 Government Hospital for the Insane Washington D.C. city, line 11, Chur-e-rah-rah-he-kah was an inmate. was born in 1846, age 54, married with one child living.

"By the end of the year (1903), the asylum housed sixteen patients, ten males, and six females, with one man dying during the year. "The patients' tribal affiliations were Cherokee, Comanche, Osage, Pawnee, Mission Indian of California, Winnebago, Shoshone, Chippewa, and Sioux." These first patients were diagnosed with eight different types of mental conditions: chronic epileptic dementia, alcoholic dementia, senile dementia, congenital epileptic idiocy, congenital imbecility, acute melancholia, chronic melancholia, and chronic mania."
Source: Vogt, Jay. NATIONAL REGISTER of HISTORIC PLACE REGISTRATION FORM. 5 Jan. 1998, npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/0cdb76b4-c077-421a-a4aa-109496f1bcd8.

In the letter dated February 17, 1934, from Dr. L.L. Culp to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah was admitted from Pawnee, Oklahoma, died in the Canton Asylum on January 1, 1905, and was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery, tier 5 plot 8.

Her profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

Research Notes:
-the 1902 Indian census is the first available on-line, Kittie is not included, but Kittie would not have been included if she were already at St. Elizabeth in Washington. There are no entries for Kittie Chur-e-rah-rah-he-kah (aka Chur-Ah-Tah-E-Kah)
-Carla Joinson says her nickname was Kittie, but that is not found in any census. Dr. L.L. Culp used the name Kittie in his February 17, 1934 letter and has her age at 72*. (My thought is that it was simply a nickname given to her by the white nurses at the asylum because they could not pronounce her given Indian name. Or a name of affection given to her by other Indian inmates. For Dr, Culp, his source was likely the cemetery map on the superintendent's wall.)
-It is probable that Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah is in the 1890 Indian census as Chu-e-rah-rah-he (butt) aka Julia Morgan age 59 with son William Morgan age 23 (The ages align with previous entries but no husband named Morgan has ever been associated with her. Why would she have given up the Morgan name when an inmate in St. Elizabeth? Records at St. Elizabeth use the name Chur-e-rah-rah-he-kah. Curator Note: notice that the final 6th syllable appears illegible, with no hyphen preceding it as is usual everywhere else, the first letter could be a "K" or a "B" but the last three letters appear to be "utt" which have not been used before in her Indian name. also note that immediately above in the family of Sun Chief the last person listed has a final syllable of "hutt", which may have been confused. )
-Summary naming conventions

• 1886 = all Indian Names except large families
• 1887 = Pawnee and Otoe = mostly Indian names, beginnings of assimilation, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah (Insane) and Ee-e-hrah, Ponca, Tonkawa all English names.
• 1888 = Pawnee about 50-50 Indian-English names, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah (Lunatic) and Ee-e-hrah
• 1889 = Pawnee about 50% English, Otoe 75-25 Indian-English (assimilation in progress), Ponca and Tonkawa 100% English, Skeedee Pawnee about 70-30 English-Indian, all pawnee Bands lumped in one census, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah and Ee-e-hrah
• 1890 = Pawnee up to about 80-20 English-Indian, Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah becomes Julia Morgan and son William Morgan
• 1891 = Sun Chief is HF and Julia and William are now B.H.O.?, drops the Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah and becomes Julia Morgan age 63 and William Morgan age 23.
• 1892 =
• 1893 = Pawnee now 99.9% English names, the name "Chief" has become a surname, William marries Emma or Emina? Curley Chief age 17 (father ... Curley Chief belonged to a different band)
• 1894 = Pawnee at 100% English names, Pawnee again separated by band, Julia now has granddaughter Richandia Morgan but son William disappears from the census (died?)
• 1895 = Julia is seen as a popular name in Pawnee (many), granddaughter Richandia disappears from the census (died young?)
• 1896 = Emma Morgan disappears from the census (died or remarried?)
• 1897 = Julia age 66 labeled B.H.S. (By him or her self) living alone under HF Walter Sun Chief
• 1901 = it is apparent that the population of the Pawnee is being drastically reduced!
• 1905 = Julia is 75
• 1906 = Julia Morgan has died, and is no longer in the census (the same year as Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah)!

-Note, in census reports Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah is in the group following Sun Chief, who is one year younger, inferring a sibling relationship. As she older, that location remains, indicating a position of reverence among the band, a tribal elder?
-St. Elizabeth Hospital is NOT extant in the 1890 census so I can't tell if Chu-e-rah-rah-he-kah was a patient then based on the 1887-1888 Indian censuses that identify her as Insane or a Lunatic.
__________
Sources:

1887 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll386unit/page/n84/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 87/383, line 8 (age 56, marked Insane, 1 son), census of the Ponca Agency, Chewee Band #2 = Cáwiiʾi (Grand Pawnee)

1888 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7F9J-FCMM : Fri Oct 06 03:17:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank Shotwell, 1889, pg. 161/383, line 476 (age 57, son 20, noted Lunatic), census of the Pawnee, Pawnee Agency, Indian Territory

see also: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99W8-3DF8?view=ind...

1889 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7F9J-FCMM : Fri Oct 06 03:17:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank Shotwell, 1889, pg. 240/383, line 479, census of the Pawnee, Pawnee Agency, Indian Territory

see also: https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll386unit/page/n237/mode/...

1890 Jun - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll386unit/page/n350/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 351/380, line 638 (Slightly different spelling Chu-e-rah-rah-he-butt (now)= Julia Morgan with the same relationship to Sun Chief = assimilation of Pawnee advance), census of Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Indian Territory

see also https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99W8-36S2?view=ind...

1891 Jun 30 - ---. “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n45/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 46/509, line 442 (age 60, son William is 23), census of the Pawnee, Pawnee Agency, Ok.

1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n105/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 106/509, line 445 as Julia Morgan, census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Okla. Terr.

1893 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n197/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 198/509, line xx (William marries Emma? Curley Chief), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Okla. Terr.

1894 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n279/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 280/509, line 7 (age 63) now has granddaughter Richandia Morgan but son William disappears from census,

1895 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n385/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 386/509, line 8 (age 64), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1986 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll387unit/page/n457/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 458/509, line 6 (age 65) Emma disappears form census (died?), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1897 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll388unit/page/n50/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 51/532, line 410 (age 66 living alone), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1898 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll388unit/page/n134/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 135/532, line 415 (age 67 living alone under HF Walter Sun Chief), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1899 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll388unit/page/n221/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 222/532, line 390 (age 68 living alone), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1900 Jun 4 - "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DK5S-Q2L?cc=1325221&wc...: 5 August 2014), District of Columbia > Washington > ED 143 Government Hospital for the Insane Washington D.C. city > image 20 of 52; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), pg. 795/875, line 11 (age 54!)

1900 Jun 30 - ---. “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll388unit/page/n303/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 304/532, line 376 (age 69 under Starry Sun Chief a 15 year-old orphan), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma

1902 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll336unit/page/n26/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 27/669, line 373 (age 72), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma Territory

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, archive.org/details/indiancensusroll138unit/page/n137/mode/1up?view=theater. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 59/669, line 375 (age 73), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma Territory

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll336unit/page/n121/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 122/669, line 368 (age 75), census of the Pawnee Indians, Pawnee Agency, Oklahoma Territory

1905 Jan 1 - Culp, L.L. Culp to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, February 17, 1934, RG 75, CCF 1907-1939, box 4, folder 7448-150 Part 2, Canton Asylum, NARA-DC.

1905 Jan 2 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14491662/chur_ah_tah_e-kah: accessed March 1, 2024), memorial page for Chur Ah Tah E Kah (unknown–2 Jan 1905), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14491662, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400). (Curator Note: Name is spelled differently: Chur Ah Tah E Kah

1905 Jan 2 - Hilton, M. (Ed.). (2023, July 10). Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians Historical Marker. Historical Marker. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=183486 Photo by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 10, 2023, courtesy of HMdb.org

Edith Standingbear 5-13-05 · Chur-Ah-Tah-E-Kah 1-2-05 · Ollie House 7-19-04

1910 Aug 12 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=674, line 8, Table 7 Form of mental diseases of those admitted since opening of Asylum