Isabel Meadows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabel Meadows
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Isabel Meadows in her 40s, circa 1890
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| Born | July 7, 1846 |
| Died | May 22, 1939 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | Rumsen Ohlone |
| Known for | Last fluent speaker of the Rumsen Ohlone language |
Isabel Meadows (born July 7, 1846 – died 1939) was an important Ohlone woman. She was the very last person who could speak the Rumsen Ohlone language fluently. This language was spoken by her people, the Ohlone, in California. Isabel worked with scientists from the Smithsonian Institution for many years. She helped them record and understand her culture and language. Her efforts are very important for anyone studying the Ohlone languages, especially Rumsen.
Isabel's Family and Roots
Isabel Meadows was born in Carmel Valley, California. Her father was James Meadows, an American from England. Her mother was Maria Loretta Onesimo, a Rumsen Native American. Maria Loretta was one of the last Rumsen Ohlone people.
Isabel's great-grandmother, Lupecina Francesa Unegte, was baptized at the Mission San Carlos Borromeo. This happened in 1792. At that time, about 800 Native Americans lived near the mission.
Isabel is famous for being the last fluent speaker of the Rumsen Ohlone language. This language was once common along the Central Coast of California. It was spoken before the Spanish arrived in the area. Isabel Meadows passed away in Washington D.C. on May 22, 1939. She was 92 years old. Her body was brought back to Carmel for a special service. She had one brother, Thomas Meadows, who lived in Monterey.
Working with the Smithsonian
When Isabel was older, she worked closely with a scientist named J. P. Harrington. He was an ethnologist from the Smithsonian Institution. An ethnologist studies different cultures and peoples. Isabel shared her knowledge of her tribe's culture and languages. She shared stories from the Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur areas of California.
When Isabel was in her eighties, she traveled with Harrington to Washington D.C. She lived there for five years to continue their important work. Harrington was focused on recording languages and cultures that were disappearing. He paid Isabel for her interviews. Isabel often added her own stories to their work. She believed these stories helped show her culture and tribal memory better.
