Abstract
Romantic interest among whites in the figure of Osceola began even before his death, and has continued ever since. His abilities as a warrior, his dramatic flair, and the well publicized circumstances of his capture and of his death in captivity soon thereafter, account for this interest. Many who know nothing else about the Seminole know Osceola’s name and some of the white folklore about him. He is almost certain to crop up in casual questioning of the Seminole today by tourists and others. On one occasion, I was present when a customer asked a leading Seminole enterpreneur in his Tamiami Trail store, “Are you people Osceolas or Seminoles?’’ ! It is thus not surprising that Seminole traditions of the man have been influenced by the white folklore concerning him. Credence as independent historical evidence is due only to those parts of Seminole tradition which are not also part of the common white folklore about Osceola, nor are likely to have been influenced by this folklore and the resultant increased importance of Osceola’s position in Seminole historical tradition.
Recommended Citation
Sturtevant, William C.
(1954)
"Notes on Modern Seminole Traditions of Osceola,"
Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 33:
No.
3, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol33/iss3/6
