Alice Fletcher, Research, Sioux
“Alice Cunningham Fletcher as a young woman. Photograph
by Ormsbee's First National Gallery, New York.” (Smithsonian National Museum of
Natural History-Alice Fletcher Picture)
This posting for
module number two I opted to write about the Smithsonian National Museum of
Natural History foreward regarding the life of ethnographer and historian Alice
Fletcher. The perspective from which the
article is written particularly struck a chord with me personally because while
describing her life it reminds us that we as students/researchers are also
historians. Sometimes while studying and
reading certain subjects we tend to forget the importance of what it is we are
examining or we may even ignore our own potential by selling ourselves
short. In brief, Fredrick Ward Putnam,
director of the Harvard Peabody Museum, took note of Alice Fletchers talents
and offered her the chance of a lifetime to work under him. (Smithsonian Museum of Natural History-Foreward Alice Fletcher ) “Fletcher responded
with fright: "I am simply a student, and trying to interest other[s] to go
forth and make original investigation, I hardly feel myself entitled to accept
so valuable a gift." With Putnam’s urging, she soon changed her mind and
became a fixture at the museum.” (Smithsonian Museum of Natural
History-Foreward Alice Fletcher ) This is just a simple reminder to always put
your best foot forward and the rest will take care of itself.
Shifting swiftly
to more of an academic tone, Alice Fletcher became a dedicated public servant
by documenting life with the Sioux tribe in the Nebraska and South Dakota
regions. The most important information
her documentation provides is the impact of westward expansion by the United
States on the Sioux people. One dominate social norm during the Antebellum Era
of expansion was that Native culture’s needed to conform to the “American” way
of life. (Smithsonian Museum of Natural
History-Foreward Alice Fletcher ) It is important to note here that this same
ideology was held by the early colonists almost a hundred years prior. To put this in perspective, typically
speaking a generation of people lasts about every 20 to 25 years. Therefore, 4 to 5 generations had past and
the “Doctrine of Discovery” was still very much tied to the social and
political atmosphere of the American public.
“In contrast, Native American societies were considered to be primitive
relics of man’s ancient past, and therefore in danger of extinction. Alice
Fletcher subscribed to this theory, and although many of her comments may seem
nothing short of absurd to our late-20th-century sensibilities, her writings
reflect the attitudes regarding the movement of history and social evolution
prevalent in her day. With attention to
Alice Fletcher’s writings, it was her immersion into Native culture that
influenced her impulse to document.
Furthermore, as researchers we can immerse ourselves into her
perspective lens to gain a better understanding of history.
In order to
provide an example of her work and how we can obtain a sense of history here is
a quote from one of her journal entries dated September 21st,1881. “As we sat eating our dinner Wajapa said,
"I believe all the white men tell lies". He had been telling of the
old site and evidently his mind had traveled over the long years, and the many
changes to his people. I looked up as he spoke and found him looking at me with
a seriousness and concentration of gaze that I can never forget.” (Flecther) This is significant, because Wajapa is
referencing white men moving the Sioux people from their homeland to new
territory. “All Sioux groups had to
defend themselves from the brutal military actions by the U.S. Army. The most well known conflicts are the U.S.-
Dakota War of 1862, Red Cloud’s War, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Wounded
Knee Massacre.” (Treuer 162)
In closing, I wanted
to add that if anyone has chosen to use a Sioux voice for their project in this
course the journals of Alice Fletcher would be an excellent primary source for
perspective of history. By reading her
accounts and briefly reading over the Sioux history it really brings everything
together.
“Omaha earth lodge. Photo Lot 24, BAE 4558 Inv. 01598600”
(Fieldwork
Diary: September 21st, 1881 Pictures -Smithsonian National Museum of Natural
History)
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