Omaha Tribal Historical Research Project, Inc. [OTHRP]

Presents

Omahas in History

 

 

 Photograph courtesy OTHRP Archives

Hiram Chase, Esq.

county attorney, judge, linguist

 

 
Language book cover
Language book page 1

 
 

 

Hiram Chase, Esq.
 

Chase was the great grandson of Mohwoorgga. He attended mission schools on the Reservation until he was 15. Chase attended a school in Pennsylvania and college in Peru, Nebraska. He studied law in Cincinnati graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree. In 1889 Chase was admitted to the bar becoming the first Native American to pass the Nebraska Bar..

Chase went into law practice with fellow Omaha, Thomas Sloan, whom he taught the law. This law firm was the first Native American law firm in the United States. Together they became the first Native Americans to argue a case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sloan doing the actual presentation.

In 1893 Chase was elected County Judge of Thurston County and served one term. In 1898 He was elected County Attorney and re-elected in 1901. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M.

Chase was the first Omaha to try recording the language on paper.  In 1897 he wrote O MU HU W B GRa Za, The Chase System of Reading and Recording the Omaha and Other Indian Languages published in Pender, NE in 1897.

 
Language book page 6
Language book page 7

 

 


            Photograph courtesy OTHRP Archives.

Hiram Chase

 

To contact  OTHRP, INC. directly:

RR 1 Box 79A
Walthill, NE 68067
402-846-5454


  A museum for the people, built by the people to house the artifacts and sacred items taken from the people over a century ago.  Help right a historic wrong by being a part of the return of a culture, make a donation with or without a purchase.

If you enjoyed our site or use information found on this site in your academic or professional research, please show it by making a donation to our Interpretive Center/Museum project. People helping people makes the world a better place.

This site is the work of an all volunteer multi-cultural group of people.  We update it regularly so that it is timely and useful.  It is constantly expanding as we bring new information and new art pieces to the public.  This is a free service given willingly by people who believe in promoting artisans and in helping the Omaha people built their museum for their artifacts and sacred objects that were finally returned to them in 1991.  We ask that you join us by telling others about the site and to make a donation to the museum.  Every little bit helps. 

All donations are USA tax deductible.

PREVIOUS            OTHRP HOME            NEXT 

JACKALOPE ARTS HOME