Jane Johnston Schoolcraft
Encyclopedia
Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, also known as Bamewawagezhikaquay (January 31, 1800-May 22, 1842) is the first known American Indian literary writer. She was of Ojibwa
and Scots-Irish ancestry. Her Ojibwa name can also be written as O-bah-bahm-wawa-ge-zhe-go-qua (Obabaamwewe-giizhigokwe in modern spelling), meaning "Woman of the Sound [that the stars make] Rushing Through the Sky." She lived most of her life in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
.
. Her mother, Ozhaguscodaywayquay
, was the daughter of Waubojeeg
, a prominent Ojibwa war chief
and civil leader from what is now northern Wisconsin
. Her father, John Johnston
(1762–1828), was a fur trader who left Belfast, Ireland
in 1790. The Johnston family is famous historically in the Sault Ste. Marie area, where the couple were leaders in both the Euro-American and the Ojibwa communities, but their daughter Jane Johnston was little known until recently. The young Jane learned about Ojibwa traditions from her mother and her mother's family, and she learned about written literature from her father and his large library.
, as she lived her daily life in both Ojibwe and English. While she did not publish her work, she lived a literary life with her husband Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. They worked together closely on each of their writing. Her poetry was generally concerned with private life.
Jane Schoolcraft’s writings have attracted considerable interest from scholars and students, especially those concerned with American Indian literature and history. She has been recognized as "the first Native American literary writer, the first known Indian woman writer, the first known Indian poet, the first known poet to write poems in a Native American language, and the first known American Indian to write out traditional Indian stories." Her role in the American Indian
literary canon has been compared to that of Anne Bradstreet
in the "broader American literary canon."
. He was appointed US Indian Agent
to the Michigan Territory in 1822 and served in the Northwest until 1841.
In 1826-1827, Henry Schoolcraft produced a handwritten magazine called The Literary Voyager or Muzzeniegen, which included some of Jane’s writings. Although he had only single issues, each was distributed it widely to residents in Sault Ste. Marie, then to his friends in Detroit, New York and other eastern cities. The Schoolcrafts' letters to each other during periods of separation often included poetry, also expressing how literature was part of their daily lives.
Henry won fame for his later publications about American Indians, especially the Ojibwe people and their language (also known as Chippewa and Anishinaabemowin). His work was based on information and stories he learned from Jane and the Johnston family, and the access they arranged to other Ojibwe. He was commissioned by the United States Congress
for what became a six-volume study of the American Indian. Henry Schoolcraft’s publications, including materials written by Jane Schoolcraft, were the main source for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
’s The Song of Hiawatha
(1855).
They had four children:
Jane and Henry Schoolcraft moved to Mackinac Island
in 1833, where he was assigned as Indian agent in charge of a larger territory. Their home has since been demolished, but Henry Schoolcraft's office, the Indian Dormitory
, survives. The Schoolcrafts took Janee and John to a boarding school in Detroit when they were eleven and nine, respectively, which was hard for the younger boy. Johnston Schoolcraft wrote a poem in Ojibwe that expresses her feelings of loss after their separation. (Use link below to hear poem sung in Ojibwe.)
In 1841, when Henry lost his position as federal Indian agent, the Schoolcrafts moved to New York City. He worked for the state in American Indian research. Jane Schoolcraft suffered from frequent illnesses; she died in 1842 while visiting a sister in Canada. She was buried at St. John's Anglican Church in what is now Ancaster, Ontario
.
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
and Scots-Irish ancestry. Her Ojibwa name can also be written as O-bah-bahm-wawa-ge-zhe-go-qua (Obabaamwewe-giizhigokwe in modern spelling), meaning "Woman of the Sound [that the stars make] Rushing Through the Sky." She lived most of her life in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
.
Early life and education
Jane Johnston was born in Sault Ste. Marie in the upper peninsula of what is now the state of MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Her mother, Ozhaguscodaywayquay
Ozhaguscodaywayquay
Ozhaguscodaywayquay , also called Neengay or Susan Johnston , was an important figure in the later Great Lakes fur trade. She was born into an Ojibwe family near La Pointe, Wisconsin...
, was the daughter of Waubojeeg
Waubojeeg
Waub-o-jeeg, also written Wa-bo-jeeg or other variants of Ojibwe Waabojiig was a famous warrior and chief of the Ojibwa. He was born into the Adik doodem some time in the mid-18th century near Shagawamikong on the western end of Lake Superior...
, a prominent Ojibwa war chief
War chief
War chief can refer to* Warlord* Tribal chief during wartime, particularly among Native Americans...
and civil leader from what is now northern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Her father, John Johnston
John Johnston (fur trader)
John Johnston was a wealthy and successful British fur trader for the North West Company at Sault Ste. Marie before the War of 1812, and a leader in the Michigan Territory. He never became a US citizen...
(1762–1828), was a fur trader who left Belfast, Ireland
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1790. The Johnston family is famous historically in the Sault Ste. Marie area, where the couple were leaders in both the Euro-American and the Ojibwa communities, but their daughter Jane Johnston was little known until recently. The young Jane learned about Ojibwa traditions from her mother and her mother's family, and she learned about written literature from her father and his large library.
Writing
Johnston wrote poetry and traditional Ojibwa stories, and she translated Ojibwa songs into English. She mostly wrote in English, but she wrote several poems in the Ojibwe languageOjibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
, as she lived her daily life in both Ojibwe and English. While she did not publish her work, she lived a literary life with her husband Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. They worked together closely on each of their writing. Her poetry was generally concerned with private life.
Jane Schoolcraft’s writings have attracted considerable interest from scholars and students, especially those concerned with American Indian literature and history. She has been recognized as "the first Native American literary writer, the first known Indian woman writer, the first known Indian poet, the first known poet to write poems in a Native American language, and the first known American Indian to write out traditional Indian stories." Her role in the American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
literary canon has been compared to that of Anne Bradstreet
Anne Bradstreet
Anne Dudley Bradstreet was New England's first published poet. Her work met with a positive reception in both the Old World and the New World.-Biography:...
in the "broader American literary canon."
Marriage and family
In 1823 Jane married Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a US Indian agent in the region, who became a founding figure of American cultural anthropologyCultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
. He was appointed US Indian Agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
to the Michigan Territory in 1822 and served in the Northwest until 1841.
In 1826-1827, Henry Schoolcraft produced a handwritten magazine called The Literary Voyager or Muzzeniegen, which included some of Jane’s writings. Although he had only single issues, each was distributed it widely to residents in Sault Ste. Marie, then to his friends in Detroit, New York and other eastern cities. The Schoolcrafts' letters to each other during periods of separation often included poetry, also expressing how literature was part of their daily lives.
Henry won fame for his later publications about American Indians, especially the Ojibwe people and their language (also known as Chippewa and Anishinaabemowin). His work was based on information and stories he learned from Jane and the Johnston family, and the access they arranged to other Ojibwe. He was commissioned by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for what became a six-volume study of the American Indian. Henry Schoolcraft’s publications, including materials written by Jane Schoolcraft, were the main source for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
’s The Song of Hiawatha
The Song of Hiawatha
The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem, in trochaic tetrameter, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, featuring an Indian hero and loosely based on legends and ethnography of the Ojibwe and other Native American peoples contained in Algic Researches and additional writings of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft...
(1855).
They had four children:
- William Henry Schoolcraft (b. June 1824 - d. March 1827) died of croupCroupCroup is a respiratory condition that is usually triggered by an acute viral infection of the upper airway. The infection leads to swelling inside the throat, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classical symptoms of a "barking" cough, stridor, and hoarseness...
at nearly three. Jane Schoolcraft wrote poems expressing her grief about his loss. - stillborn daughter (November 1825);
- Jane Susan Ann Schoolcraft (14 October 1827 - 25 November 1892, Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
), called Janee; and - John Johnston Schoolcraft (2 October 1829-24 April 1864), served in the Civil War but was wounded at the Battle of GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
and disabled. He died at age 45 in Elmira, New YorkElmira, New YorkElmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
.
Jane and Henry Schoolcraft moved to Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
in 1833, where he was assigned as Indian agent in charge of a larger territory. Their home has since been demolished, but Henry Schoolcraft's office, the Indian Dormitory
Indian Dormitory
The Indian Dormitory is a Federal-style structure built at U.S. government expense on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1838. It was a pioneering idea in building housing for Native Americans visiting the Indian agency on the island. From 1867-1960, it was used as a public school, and from 1966-2003...
, survives. The Schoolcrafts took Janee and John to a boarding school in Detroit when they were eleven and nine, respectively, which was hard for the younger boy. Johnston Schoolcraft wrote a poem in Ojibwe that expresses her feelings of loss after their separation. (Use link below to hear poem sung in Ojibwe.)
In 1841, when Henry lost his position as federal Indian agent, the Schoolcrafts moved to New York City. He worked for the state in American Indian research. Jane Schoolcraft suffered from frequent illnesses; she died in 1842 while visiting a sister in Canada. She was buried at St. John's Anglican Church in what is now Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
.
Legacy and honors
- 1962 - Philip P. Mason published an edition of several issues of The Literary Voyager, with annotation and introduction. He acknowledged Henry Schoolcraft's debt to the John Johnston family for helping with his research and collecting materials. Based on her own works in The Literary Voyager, Jane Schoolcraft's writings gradually began to attract interest in the 1990s, as the work of minorities was more widely studied.
- 2007 - Robert Dale Parker published The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky: The Writings of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, a complete edition of her extensive writings, based mostly on previously unpublished manuscripts, and including a cultural history and biography. Schoolcraft’s writings are now beginning to attract considerable interest from scholars and students of multicultural and American Indian literature and history.
- 2008 - Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of FameMichigan Women's Hall of FameThe Michigan Women's Hall of Fame honors distinguished women, both historical and contemporary, who have been associated with the U.S. state of Michigan. It is housed in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame building, located at 213 W. Malcolm X St. in downtown Lansing, Michigan...
.
In popular culture
- "Sweet Willy, My Boy", lyrics of the song were taken from a poem by Jane Johnston Schoolcraft mourning the death of her first son. From Dave Stanaway and Susan Askwith, CD: John Johnston: His Life and Times in the Fur Trade Era.
External links
- "Jane Johnston Schoolcraft". Michigan Women's Hall of Fame (search by name).
- Margaret Noori, "Bicultural Before There Was a Word for It." Women's Review of Books, 2008, Wellesley Centers for Women, accessed 12 Dec 2008.
- Musical setting of poem by Jane Johnston Schoolcraft. University of Michigan.
- Dave Stanaway and Susan Askwith. CD: John Johnston: His Life and Times in the Fur Trade Era. Borderland Records. Included is the song "Sweet Willy, My Boy", with lyrics taken from a poem written by Jane Johnston Schoolcraft.