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Description
This letter dated November 4, 1952, from Sam Stern to United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick, notes that he has enclosed a letter he has received that, he writes, Burdick is better able to address than he himself. Stern is the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Fargo chapter of the Grand Lodge of the Order of the Elks. There is a handwritten note from Stern at the bottom of the letter.
The enclosed letter dated July 18, 1952, from George S. Stephenson of Los Angeles, California and formerly of Fargo, North Dakota, to Stern, expresses Stephenson's concerns about the living conditions of American Indians, particularly their children. Stephenson opens the letter by briefly recounting his early life, running away from his home on a ranch in "Western Canada" to Argusville, North Dakota, then to Fargo, North Dakota, where he lived for many years. Stephenson notes that he joined the Order of the Elks as an adult, and that he is a "member of the Sioux tribe of Indians" and has been involved in trying to improve living conditions for indigenous people for more than fifty years. Stephenson explains that he has written to Stern because he heard on the radio that Stern had been made Grand Exalted Ruler, and he would like Stern to use his "prestige" to influence "our congressman" to vote for appropriations which would improve indigenous health. Stephenson notes he has included a report from the "Indian Health Service Department," but this report was not present with this letter in Burdick's papers.
See Also:
Letter from Laura Page Knudson for Representative Burdick to Sam Stern Regarding George Stephenson, November 10, 1952
Letter from Laura Page Knudson for Representative Burdick to George Stephenson Regarding Health of American Indians, November 12, 1952
Date of Work
11-4-1952
Keywords
indigenous health, healthcare, infant mortality, living conditions
Organizations Referenced
Order of Elks, Alex Stern & Company, United States Bureau of Indian Affairs Health Branch
People Referenced
Sam Stern, Samuel Stern, Usher Burdick, George S. Stephenson, Ed May, Morris Kaufman,
Recommended Citation
Stern, Sam, "Letter from Sam Stern to Representative Burdick Regarding George Stephenson, November 4, 1952" (1952). Usher Burdick Papers. 247.
https://commons.und.edu/burdick-papers/247