Charles Edwin Dagenett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Edwin Dagenett
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 17, 1873 |
| Died | March 16, 1941 |
| Known for | Founder of the Society of American Indians |
| Spouse(s) | Esther Miller, Cornelia Louise Skidmore |
Charles Edwin Dagenett (born September 17, 1873 – died March 16, 1941) was an important leader for Native American rights. He helped start the Society of American Indians, which was the first national group run by and for Native Americans. This group worked to improve life for Indigenous people.
Charles Dagenett was also a high-ranking Native American official. He worked in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for many years. The BIA is a U.S. government agency that deals with Native American tribes. Charles was a member of the Peoria Nation.
Early Life and Family
Charles Edwin Dagenett was born in 1873 in Kansas. His parents were Edward R. and Elizabeth (Shaw) Dagenett. He had seven brothers and sisters. When he was about nine years old, his family moved to Oklahoma.
His grandfather, Christmas Dagenet, was also an important person. He worked as an agent for the Peoria Reservation in Oklahoma. He also helped the U.S. government with a treaty signed in 1818.
Later in life, Charles married Esther Miller. She was a classmate from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. He later married Cornelia Louise Skidmore in 1916. Charles and Cornelia had two sons, Charles Phillip and Robert Henry. Charles Dagenett passed away in Oklahoma in 1941 when he was 67 years old.
Education and Career
Charles E. Dagenett began his education at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1887. This was a special school for Native American students. He graduated from Carlisle in 1891. While there, he was the editor of the school's newspaper, The Red Man.
After Carlisle, Charles continued his studies. He attended Dickinson College. He also graduated from Eastman Business College in New York.
With his education, Charles Dagenett started an important career. He became the Supervisor of Indian Employment. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He is known for creating an office to help Native Americans find jobs. Thanks to his efforts, thousands of Native Americans found work in big projects and companies.
Working for Native American Rights
The Society of American Indians was a very important group. It was active from 1911 to 1923. This was the first national organization for Native American rights. It was unique because it was run by and for Indigenous Americans. About 50 Indigenous leaders started the group. They wanted to solve problems that Native people faced. These problems included healthcare, education, and civil rights.
Charles Dagenett was one of six Native American thinkers who founded this group in 1911. They first called it the American Indian Association. Charles was chosen to lead a temporary committee. Later, he became the official chairman. In October 1911, he decided to become the Secretary-Treasurer instead.
Some members of the Society of American Indians worried about Charles's role. This was because he also worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Many Native Americans did not trust the BIA. They saw it as a symbol of outside control. Some felt that Native people working for the BIA might not be truly independent. However, Charles continued to work hard for the Society. In 1913, he was elected as the second vice president of the group.
