Drawings by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' These sketches feature Ash Hollow, Nebraska, and the scenery after departing during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that they arrived at Ash Hollow on June 13th:
'Our encampment last night was with the company that lost stock, and our travel today with them, which was all the chance excepting laying by; there being no chance for water till we arrive at the mouth of Ash Hollow on the North Fork. The road down Ash Creek, bad, for 3 or 4 miles. Arrived at the North Fork at 7 o'clock; found currants and choke-cherries plenty, and a fine spring near the mouth of Ash creek; and a cabin called Ash Grove Hotel; inside, at the bar, we found the cards of all the companies that had preceded us, which was quite a treat. The distance from one fork to the other, 15 miles. Day fine, road dry and dusty.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features the fording of a river during the last leg of her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that their party finished their travels around November 30th:
'Commenced making a canoe, for the purpose of going to the settlements for supplies, in company with Robert Lancefield and Isaac Lebo; and continue our work until Thursday, 3rd December. I then start ahead for beef, on horseback, leaving the others to finish the canoe, and go down the river for flour, E. I arrived at Long Tom bath on the 4th of December; found it swimming; was detained until Sunday, 6th, in making a canoe; and crossing in the evening, met Orus Brown in company with some others, coming back with Pack-horses to bring in those behind. I returned with them, and was, from this, to the twenty-fifth of the month getting my family to Salem; the weather, all the time, rainy, and swails of water to wade every day; left my wagon and cattle at the forks of the river. I would conclude this journal by saying, that I was well pleased with the society and location of Salem, was kindly received, and such indulgence granted me as I needed; but our living is poor, can obtain nothing but bread and meat, vegetables being very scarce, and we nothing but labor to give.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features a view of the Platte River in Nebraska during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that their party passed through this area around June 3, facing cold weather and the death of a party member:
'The weather disagreeably cool; started in fine season, and came in sight of the sand hills of Platte, in about 3 miles and arrived on the borders of the bottom about ten o'clock. This the most romantic view I have ever seen. Made 18 miles, and camped by some willows on the banks -- the sluice of Grand Island. Mr. Shelton, from Franklin, had a daughter die this night, from a swelling on her throat, occasioned by the scarlet fever, before they left the state; having lost another child since they left home, which they buried in Jackson county.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features a view of the Platte River in Nebraska during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that their party passed through this area around June 3, facing cold weather and the death of a party member:
'The weather disagreeably cool; started in fine season, and came in sight of the sand hills of Platte, in about 3 miles and arrived on the borders of the bottom about ten o'clock. This the most romantic view I have ever seen. Made 18 miles, and camped by some willows on the banks -- the sluice of Grand Island. Mr. Shelton, from Franklin, had a daughter die this night, from a swelling on her throat, occasioned by the scarlet fever, before they left the state; having lost another child since they left home, which they buried in Jackson county.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features the scenery in Kansas, along the Blue Earth River, during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that their party passed through this area around May 17th:
'Our course this day was over hills running parallel with the Kansas; the morning cool; drove ahead till after two o'clock, it became very hot; several oxen overcome with the heat; stopped about three hours on a branch at the end of the Kansas bottom; country still very near a Kaw village. Mr. Barnard, while on guard, caught one attempting to steal our stock; made, by our reckoning, 20 miles.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features part of the scenery between the Continental Divide and American Falls, Idaho, during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that their party arrived at American Falls on August 9, whereupon they made the decision to take the California route:
'Passed the American Falls, about 2 miles from camp, and some interesting springs half a mile above. Traveled, today, 18 miles of bad road, and camped on the river bank, with indifferent grass. Met Mr. Applegate, from Oregon, who had viewed new route.'
Drawing by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' This sketch features the scenery after leaving the Black Hills in Wyoming, perhaps Laramie Peak, during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that they entered the Black Hills on June 24th:
'We deviated the usual route, on leaving the Fort, which is over the high lands between Platte and Larimie Fork; ours was up the Platte; traveled about 9 miles and intersected the old road at the spring, which is very bold and rather warm. We now enter the Black Hills; rose from a valley onto high, rolling prairie; went 6 miles from this spring and encamped on the banks of a clear mountain stream; grass tolerable.'
Drawings by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' These sketches feature the scenery of Scotts Bluff during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that they camped near Scotts Bluff on June 19th:
'Passed the Chimney in the forepart of the day; and the formation of the cliffs have a tendency to fill the mind with awe and grandeur. The Chimney might pass for one of the foundries in St. Louis were it blackened by burning stone coal. There is a marley bluff standing near it that reminds me of points that I have seen of the Capitol at Washington. Made 20 miles, and camped near Scott's Bluffs.'
Drawings by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' These sketches feature the scenery after departing from Ash Hollow, Nebraska during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that they arrived at Ash Hollow on June 13th:
'Our encampment last night was with the company that lost stock, and our travel today with them, which was all the chance excepting laying by; there being no chance for water till we arrive at the mouth of Ash Hollow on the North Fork. The road down Ash Creek, bad, for 3 or 4 miles. Arrived at the North Fork at 7 o'clock; found currants and choke-cherries plenty, and a fine spring near the mouth of Ash creek; and a cabin called Ash Grove Hotel; inside, at the bar, we found the cards of all the companies that had preceded us, which was quite a treat. The distance from one fork to the other, 15 miles. Day fine, road dry and dusty.'
Drawings by Pherne Brown Pringle, the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.' These sketches feature the scenery around noon on June 4th, a few days before reaching the Sand Hills during her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. Copies of later drawings were accompanied in an album by journal entries of Pherne's husband, Virgil K. Pringle.
Virgil's journal indicates that they enjoyed fair weather the next day, on June 5th:
'The morning cool, but the day pleasant for traveling and the roads of the best order being level bottom and firm; Met 2 Pawnee Indians, returning to the north from a hunt; their horses heavy packed with skins; understand from them that about 30 lodges are a short distance ahead, coming down the river; and that we will find buffalo plenty in two days. Made 16 miles, and camped, with plenty of timber; antelope plenty.'
Portfolio of Pherne Brown Pringle that held her sketches from her family's journey on the Oregon Trail. The label on the portfolio claims that her drawings are the only known sketches from such an early date. Pherne was the daughter of Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the 'Mother of Oregon.'
This sketch was made by Pherne Brown Pringle, who crossed the Oregon Trail by covered wagon in 1846 at the age of 14. She kept a diary and made sketches during the trip.
This sketch of Newport, Oregon, was drawn in 1865 by Pherne Brown Pringle. Pringle emigrated to Oregon by covered wagon in 1846 at the age of 14, creating sketches and a diary along the way. According to the handwritten caption on this drawing, she created this sketch some years later, around the age of 33.
A jade carved button with a flower design and two buttonholes at the center. Collected in Tianjin, China between 1982 and 2011. Pictured on a polished wood stand.
A carved jade button with an open work flower pattern on a polished wood stand. Large flower at the center with smaller flowers decorating the outer edges. Buttonhole at the center. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i between 1982 and 2011.
Jade hairpin in long rectangular shape with two carvings at the end. A bat is carved into the bottom half of the end with an abstract human figure in a circular shape on top. Collected between 1982 and 2011 in Shanghai, China.
A carved Jade bowl that sits on top of a bronze stand with small men holding up the base. From the Scholar's Desk Pieces Series in the Stella O.H. Lee Jade Collection. Collected in Datong, China between 1982 and 2011.
A dark-green, jade carving in a flat circular shape. The design is a scholar and a fish in the Lingzhi style. Collected in Shanghai, China between 1982 and 2011.
A white jade Buddha carved in a sitting position with hands on knees and a halo above his head and shoulders. There is a small drill hole in the halo, likely for stringing to make into a necklace or hanging pendant. Back is flat. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i between 1982 and 2011.
