To the editor:

In her article “Haskell history reflects facts” (Journal-World, March 18), Marsha Goff makes several errors regarding the Comanche exhibit at the KU Natural History Museum in Dyche Hall, particularly in “how the account of the Battle of Little Big Horn … changed over the years” to be “politically correct.”

In fact, the account changed to be historically correct. Prior to 1970, Comanche’s main exhibit label said the horse “was the only survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn River,” which, of course, is factually incorrect and was therefore removed. Many of the Sioux and Cheyenne who fought in the battle survived, as did a number of the 7th Cavalry horses, which the Indians took with them. A secondary label was removed for the same reason, because it said, incorrectly, that “Comanche was the sole survivor of the Custer Massacre at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876.”

Ms. Goff wonders “why someone didn’t just tell what happened, without editorial opinion rearing its ugly head.” The answer is simple: no history is objective. For example, only one word in the old exhibit label, such as “massacre,” can render “just what happened” into an “editorial opinion.” At Little Big Horn, the victors’ heroism was the losers’ “massacre.” History, too often, is the propaganda of who writes it.

Leonard Krishtalka, director,

KU Natural History Museum