Jessica Crabtree

October 27, 1913: Birth of Crow historian and chief Joe Medicine Crow

Joseph Medicine Crow was born and raised on the Crow Indian reservation in Montana. He is the grandson of White Man Runs Him, one of Custer’s Indian scouts.

Like his famous grandfather, Medicine Crow became a scout for the US army when America entered World War II. He holds the distinction of being the last living Crow war chief, having completed the traditional training as a boy on the reservation and fulfilled the mandatory requirements during active duty in Europe: he counted coup on a German soldier, stole horses from a German cavalry battalion, and himself led a successful war party.

Medicine Crow is an esteemed scholar and historian. He was the first Crow Indian to attend college, earning a master’s degree in anthropology in 1939. He has since become widely recognized as the leading authority on Crow history and culture.

As the official tribal historian of the Crow Nation, one of his most important scholarly pursuits was the accurate reconstruction of the events surrounding the Little Bighorn battle. His research was based both on surviving records and the oral accounts of Crow scouts – including his own grandfather – who had witnessed or participated in the actual events, but whose stories had been neglected or suppressed. Although he is a prolific writer and spokesperson, his work in this field has been recognized as his most significant contribution.

Above: Joseph Medicine Crow in his early 20′s.

Medicine Crow has traveled extensively as a representative of his Crow nation and is widely acclaimed as a teacher and mentor. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Medal of Freedom.

Famous Montanans: Joseph Medicine Crow

Medicine Crow was featured in Ken Burns’ documentary The War as part of a profile of Native Americans in the armed forces during World War II. The companion website has a photo gallery and some great interview footage.

PBS The War from Ken Burns: Profile of Joseph Medicine Crow