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Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End
A tragic reminder of brutality or the vestiges of the aftermath?
Olive Oatman isn’t a household name, but a distinct feature on her face has made her infamous for the worst reasons. She is the girl with the blue tattoo.
The story behind the distinctive tattoo is the stuff of legends. Some believed it was placed on her face during her captivity, following the brutal murders of her family members and the kidnapping of her and her sister. Others believe it was placed on her after her return.
Rumors swelled. Her tattoo became a symbol of Native barbarianism and the triumph of American goodness, but like many stories of that era, the truth is far more complicated.
This short book details the murders, her captivity, the aftermath, and her baffling return to her captors. Unravel the mystery of the woman who would become famous for all the wrong reasons and discover what her life story says about cultural identity, the power of resiliency, and what happens when fact and fiction bend and twist to muddy the waters.
Read on to find out the truth!
Olive Oatman isn’t a household name, but a distinct feature on her face has made her infamous for the worst reasons. She is the girl with the blue tattoo.
The story behind the distinctive tattoo is the stuff of legends. Some believed it was placed on her face during her captivity, following the brutal murders of her family members and the kidnapping of her and her sister. Others believe it was placed on her after her return.
Rumors swelled. Her tattoo became a symbol of Native barbarianism and the triumph of American goodness, but like many stories of that era, the truth is far more complicated.
This short book details the murders, her captivity, the aftermath, and her baffling return to her captors. Unravel the mystery of the woman who would become famous for all the wrong reasons and discover what her life story says about cultural identity, the power of resiliency, and what happens when fact and fiction bend and twist to muddy the waters.
Read on to find out the truth!
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2019
119 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 16, 2019
The woman with the blue tattoo – a journey into history
Bravo to the concept presented by Brent Schulte and History Compacted! In an age of instant gratification, transferring cognition to immediate utilization of the internet (as in Google) to avoid research in a library, and the preoccupation with social media outpacing educational ventures, this fine band of folks take learning in hand and condense history to digestible portions – without omitting facts or significant aspects. The idea is sound, the need is important to recognize.
With vivid clarity Brent relates the strange true story of Olive Oatman, a part of American history few know and fewer appreciate the significance of this woman’s experience. Briefly, in 1851 the Oatman family, of which Olive was a daughter, were on the Santa Fe Trail as members of the Mormon migration from the East Coast, and near the Arizona and California border they were abducted by Mojave Indians, and slaughtered – except for Olivia who survived as a white woman among the Native Americans, emerging five years later with a blue facial tattoo – and much mystery! As with toady’s ‘fake news,’ the truth of Olive’s experience was altered by conflicting reports. Brent sets out to clarify that injustice.
As stated in introductory comments, ‘ In 1856, nineteen-year-old Olive Oatman walked through the gates of Fort Yuma‘ and, amidst a cheering crowd, made her improbable return to American Society. For five years, Olive Oatman had been living in “captivity” with Native Americans. She was spared form the murder that had befallen her parents and four of her siblings, and had somehow endure…The story of Olive Oatman is far more than a kidnapping and survival story. It is a story of media, memory, and narrative that stray for fact and truth. It is a story of different cultures and one’s place and duty therein. It is a story of love, will, and the adaptability of the human spirit. It is a story of a unique American woman with a shocking, beautiful, tragic and mysterious blue tattoo.’
Not only is the book mesmerizing, but it also substantially clarifies the myth of Olive Oatman, adding to the understanding of the impact of the relationship between an ‘outsider’ white woman and the Native Americans with whom she cohabited for five years. Recommended.
Bravo to the concept presented by Brent Schulte and History Compacted! In an age of instant gratification, transferring cognition to immediate utilization of the internet (as in Google) to avoid research in a library, and the preoccupation with social media outpacing educational ventures, this fine band of folks take learning in hand and condense history to digestible portions – without omitting facts or significant aspects. The idea is sound, the need is important to recognize.
With vivid clarity Brent relates the strange true story of Olive Oatman, a part of American history few know and fewer appreciate the significance of this woman’s experience. Briefly, in 1851 the Oatman family, of which Olive was a daughter, were on the Santa Fe Trail as members of the Mormon migration from the East Coast, and near the Arizona and California border they were abducted by Mojave Indians, and slaughtered – except for Olivia who survived as a white woman among the Native Americans, emerging five years later with a blue facial tattoo – and much mystery! As with toady’s ‘fake news,’ the truth of Olive’s experience was altered by conflicting reports. Brent sets out to clarify that injustice.
As stated in introductory comments, ‘ In 1856, nineteen-year-old Olive Oatman walked through the gates of Fort Yuma‘ and, amidst a cheering crowd, made her improbable return to American Society. For five years, Olive Oatman had been living in “captivity” with Native Americans. She was spared form the murder that had befallen her parents and four of her siblings, and had somehow endure…The story of Olive Oatman is far more than a kidnapping and survival story. It is a story of media, memory, and narrative that stray for fact and truth. It is a story of different cultures and one’s place and duty therein. It is a story of love, will, and the adaptability of the human spirit. It is a story of a unique American woman with a shocking, beautiful, tragic and mysterious blue tattoo.’
Not only is the book mesmerizing, but it also substantially clarifies the myth of Olive Oatman, adding to the understanding of the impact of the relationship between an ‘outsider’ white woman and the Native Americans with whom she cohabited for five years. Recommended.
November 18, 2019
Truth or....?
What a story!! Wonderful compact history lesson! The tricky part? What part is fact and what parts are fiction? It's true,yes,that the massacre did happen. And yes it was close(by today's standard) close to Fort Yuma. And yes, 2young girls were taken! The fun part is the culling away of Mr Strattons' fictionalized version(he did intersperse telling of the story with some facts) but to sell books he had to sensationalized it with his version! Of course, the actual survivor had to be convinced to continue in the same vein!
I enjoyed the story, and of course, I will be reading more about Olive Oatman! Enjoy the book everybody!! I did...--P/
What a story!! Wonderful compact history lesson! The tricky part? What part is fact and what parts are fiction? It's true,yes,that the massacre did happen. And yes it was close(by today's standard) close to Fort Yuma. And yes, 2young girls were taken! The fun part is the culling away of Mr Strattons' fictionalized version(he did intersperse telling of the story with some facts) but to sell books he had to sensationalized it with his version! Of course, the actual survivor had to be convinced to continue in the same vein!
I enjoyed the story, and of course, I will be reading more about Olive Oatman! Enjoy the book everybody!! I did...--P/
January 22, 2020
Not very well researched
For a book that is supposedly historic/non-fiction, there was a surprising lack of accuracy in at least some of the facts. It's as if the author is just retelling a story he heard somewhere without making any effort to get the details right.
Specifically, the information in chapter one about the Mormons and Joseph Smith consisted mainly of half-truths and inaccurate assumptions. I personally have done a great deal of research on the United States during this period of time, specifically pioneers and Mormons, so I immediately recognized these problems.
For the rest of the book, I kept wondering how many other facts were missing or twisted. Since this is my first time reading about Olive Oatman, I had no way of knowing for sure.
I did finish the book, mainly because I was interested in Olive's story, but also because it was pretty short. I will most likely find another book or two about her; I suggest you skip this book and find a biography by a more conscientious author.
For a book that is supposedly historic/non-fiction, there was a surprising lack of accuracy in at least some of the facts. It's as if the author is just retelling a story he heard somewhere without making any effort to get the details right.
Specifically, the information in chapter one about the Mormons and Joseph Smith consisted mainly of half-truths and inaccurate assumptions. I personally have done a great deal of research on the United States during this period of time, specifically pioneers and Mormons, so I immediately recognized these problems.
For the rest of the book, I kept wondering how many other facts were missing or twisted. Since this is my first time reading about Olive Oatman, I had no way of knowing for sure.
I did finish the book, mainly because I was interested in Olive's story, but also because it was pretty short. I will most likely find another book or two about her; I suggest you skip this book and find a biography by a more conscientious author.
December 8, 2019
Disappointed
Two stars for good intentions and effort. This small book is notable for poor grammar and much misuse of punctuation (needs editing). In addition, there is a decided lack of organization that could have made it more readable. Few quoted passages are cited. I took the time to read the "LA Star" article and think that that one source alone should put a period on this history; all else is supposition and innuendo. Ending with a sentence that smacks of a horror movie come-on is out of place in a serious historical work.
Two stars for good intentions and effort. This small book is notable for poor grammar and much misuse of punctuation (needs editing). In addition, there is a decided lack of organization that could have made it more readable. Few quoted passages are cited. I took the time to read the "LA Star" article and think that that one source alone should put a period on this history; all else is supposition and innuendo. Ending with a sentence that smacks of a horror movie come-on is out of place in a serious historical work.
July 8, 2020
A bad term paper
Unfortunately this "book" reads like a bad term paper from senior year of high school. Skip it and learn about this interesting story from a more reliable source.
Unfortunately this "book" reads like a bad term paper from senior year of high school. Skip it and learn about this interesting story from a more reliable source.
November 25, 2019
I received an ARC [Advanced Reader’s Copy] Mobi.file copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway they had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.
Back in my high schools [50 years ago] I had a 93 average for each of the years I went there in History, which is an indication that I must have loved the subject, and American History had been my favorite.
One area of American History which is lacking completeness is that of the Native Americans [American Indians]. Of course, the events which usually get covered are those which involve any conflict between the “white man” and the “redskins”; such as the infamous one involving Colonel Custard; while events involving the capture, torture, and killing of the pioneer settlers heading west. However, one single, 19-year-old girl, Olive Oatman, made to Fort Yuma, after 5 years of captivity with a mysterious blue tattoo on her face, where everyone there cheered her miraculous return to the civilized world.
As in any such miraculous event, there’s always a lot of legend regarding the entire history of it, requiring historians to separate the facts from the fiction. American Indians, as we’ve been taught, usually are superstitious when things occur that they’ve never experienced before. What it be that Olive did something or had there been something about her physical appearance which prevented from experiencing the same fate as her parents and siblings.
What the author, Brent Schulte, has attempted to do with apparent success has been to methodically go through all the historical documents he could find to give his readers the amazing true story of Olive Oatman, a story which adds to the basic understanding of the differences between the two cultures the book covers, especially how here where there’s has been a cohabitation between a single, white American woman and the Mojave Indians.
For wanting to enlighten the knowledge of the readers of this book, as a student of American History, I’ve given Mr. Schulte and his publisher 5 STARS in making this book an educational reality.
Back in my high schools [50 years ago] I had a 93 average for each of the years I went there in History, which is an indication that I must have loved the subject, and American History had been my favorite.
One area of American History which is lacking completeness is that of the Native Americans [American Indians]. Of course, the events which usually get covered are those which involve any conflict between the “white man” and the “redskins”; such as the infamous one involving Colonel Custard; while events involving the capture, torture, and killing of the pioneer settlers heading west. However, one single, 19-year-old girl, Olive Oatman, made to Fort Yuma, after 5 years of captivity with a mysterious blue tattoo on her face, where everyone there cheered her miraculous return to the civilized world.
As in any such miraculous event, there’s always a lot of legend regarding the entire history of it, requiring historians to separate the facts from the fiction. American Indians, as we’ve been taught, usually are superstitious when things occur that they’ve never experienced before. What it be that Olive did something or had there been something about her physical appearance which prevented from experiencing the same fate as her parents and siblings.
What the author, Brent Schulte, has attempted to do with apparent success has been to methodically go through all the historical documents he could find to give his readers the amazing true story of Olive Oatman, a story which adds to the basic understanding of the differences between the two cultures the book covers, especially how here where there’s has been a cohabitation between a single, white American woman and the Mojave Indians.
For wanting to enlighten the knowledge of the readers of this book, as a student of American History, I’ve given Mr. Schulte and his publisher 5 STARS in making this book an educational reality.
November 14, 2019
From 1851, Olive Oatman was a captive of Native Americans and in 1856, she was brought back from captivity with a blue Mohave tattoo on her face. This book tries to make a distinction between "the story" and "the facts." The story, as related by the author, was gut-wrenching.
Before this book, I'd never heard of the "Second Great Awakening," which reestablished religion as central to people's lives in the early 1800s. I'm glad the author mentioned this concept because when I googled it, I found out why the Oatman's might be willing to move so far for religious freedom. It was an important movement, especially for certain Protestant faiths.
I appreciated the fact that the author worked hard to unravel the truth from the 'story'. I read a few years ago, a book by a Texas lawyer-turned-author who studied captured whites who were eventually returned to their American families. It is available from Amazon and is called: "The Captured: A True Story of Abduction by Indians on the Texas Frontier" by Scott Zesch. After reading that book, I'm willing to bet that Olive was happy with the Mojave. Zesch's book talks about the wistfulness the returned captives were about their Indian lives, and how hard it was for their families to understand.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting aspect of our historical heritage. I enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down.
Before this book, I'd never heard of the "Second Great Awakening," which reestablished religion as central to people's lives in the early 1800s. I'm glad the author mentioned this concept because when I googled it, I found out why the Oatman's might be willing to move so far for religious freedom. It was an important movement, especially for certain Protestant faiths.
I appreciated the fact that the author worked hard to unravel the truth from the 'story'. I read a few years ago, a book by a Texas lawyer-turned-author who studied captured whites who were eventually returned to their American families. It is available from Amazon and is called: "The Captured: A True Story of Abduction by Indians on the Texas Frontier" by Scott Zesch. After reading that book, I'm willing to bet that Olive was happy with the Mojave. Zesch's book talks about the wistfulness the returned captives were about their Indian lives, and how hard it was for their families to understand.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting aspect of our historical heritage. I enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down.
July 17, 2020
Brent Schulte did a great research on the subject of Olive Oatman, a young woman kidnapped along with her sister during a massacre of her family on their way to Fort Yuma. They became Mormans but broke off from Brigham Young's group and then broke off again from a group that they had later joined. Now the famiy was alone and were sighted by a Yavpai group. It started peaceful. But ended up horrible.
The Yavpai used Olive and her younger sister as slaves. Olive and her ertsister had to endure a long walk to the desert and she must have thought thought that their life would never get better. Fortunately, they were traded to the Mohave people and were treated by them with respect and kindness. But a time of starvation hit the Mohave and her sister did not survive. Olive learned their language, adopted the women' s hair style and clothing and there is a question of whether or not she really wanted to give her up her life with them. We will never know. This is full of question and the author asked many of them. Olive Oatman remains a mystery. Never to really fit into the white women's society, she may have been happier to remain living with the Mohave.
I bought this book for myself and my thoughts and feelings in this review are entirely my own,
The Yavpai used Olive and her younger sister as slaves. Olive and her ertsister had to endure a long walk to the desert and she must have thought thought that their life would never get better. Fortunately, they were traded to the Mohave people and were treated by them with respect and kindness. But a time of starvation hit the Mohave and her sister did not survive. Olive learned their language, adopted the women' s hair style and clothing and there is a question of whether or not she really wanted to give her up her life with them. We will never know. This is full of question and the author asked many of them. Olive Oatman remains a mystery. Never to really fit into the white women's society, she may have been happier to remain living with the Mohave.
I bought this book for myself and my thoughts and feelings in this review are entirely my own,
August 9, 2023
I only recently discovered the story of Olive Oatman and I think this book gave a comprehensive view of the historical aspects. I liked that it posed questions rather than trying to fill in the gaps where parts of her story were shaped by those with a vested interest in skewing the narrative. I thought it gave a balanced view of how she might have felt about her time living with the Mohave in particular before returning to American society. Fascinating tale.
November 21, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very straight-forward with little to no speculation. It is told in an easy-to-read format and was interesting from the first page. I read this book in one sitting and was eager to see what each new page told.
I highly recommend this book for people who love history and facts.
I highly recommend this book for people who love history and facts.
November 25, 2019
Just wonderful!
Fascinating, heartbreaking, sad, lovely, & important story of the resilience of one woman whose life took a turn that she never expected... A triumph of the human spirit, at time when life could be extraordinarily harsh & a fight for survival... Makes me even more grateful for my life... Very highly recommended!
Fascinating, heartbreaking, sad, lovely, & important story of the resilience of one woman whose life took a turn that she never expected... A triumph of the human spirit, at time when life could be extraordinarily harsh & a fight for survival... Makes me even more grateful for my life... Very highly recommended!
December 15, 2019
Brief yet well written. This short read was very straight forward and well detailed. I'm glad I read this first before reading anything else about Olive Oatman's biography especially Stratton's book. A great history and and slight autobiography read. Would definitely recommend to American history readers and as well as autobiography readers.
December 21, 2019
Intriguing but not as expected
I thought this story would be more of a first person story. The encounters of her life. At points it was, others it was a brief summary. I liked it. It's like reading a history book without all the fluff. I enjoyed this book and I am excited to read more! Thank you for the escape back into a time far beyond my own.
I thought this story would be more of a first person story. The encounters of her life. At points it was, others it was a brief summary. I liked it. It's like reading a history book without all the fluff. I enjoyed this book and I am excited to read more! Thank you for the escape back into a time far beyond my own.
November 25, 2019
This is a very interesting book. We read about Olive's story of being taken captive by the Indians after most of her family was massacred. So unusual and especially the differences that are told about the kidnapping in later years. Good book!!
June 20, 2023
Set mostly in AZ and CA. 103 pp. No lie about this being “history compacted.” This effort feels like little more than an extended Wikipedia article, with the addition of some stabs at analysis at the end. Fascinating subject that I’ll want to read about more in depth.
November 19, 2019
This book showed on free at bookbub
I love history and it showers a true story, it interested me.
I had no idea if I would !like it or not, but it was presented in a way that allows the reader to come to their own opinion about it.
Well presented and interesting.
I love history and it showers a true story, it interested me.
I had no idea if I would !like it or not, but it was presented in a way that allows the reader to come to their own opinion about it.
Well presented and interesting.
February 7, 2020
A very interesting read.
December 10, 2021
Olive Oatman
The story of Olive Oatman is an intriguing historical mystery that can never be truly resolved
a mix of tragedy and triumph.
The story of Olive Oatman is an intriguing historical mystery that can never be truly resolved
a mix of tragedy and triumph.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews