Jeannette Henry Costo facts for kids

Jeannette Henry Costo (1908–2001) was an American activist, writer, editor, and journalist. She worked hard to share the true stories and history of Native American people. She helped start the American Indian Historical Society (AIHS) and a publishing company called Indian Historian Press.

Early Life and Career

Jeannette Henry was born on June 27, 1908. She identified herself as being from the Turtle clan of the Carolina Cherokee. When she was a teenager, she left home. As a young woman, she worked as a police reporter for the Detroit Free Press newspaper.

Fighting for Native American Rights

In the 1950s, Jeannette married Rupert Costo, who was a member of the Cahuilla tribe. Together, they started the American Indian Historical Society (AIHS) in 1962. This group was focused on Native American culture and activism. Their main office was called Chautauqua House in San Francisco, California.

The AIHS worked to correct wrong information about Native American history. It also aimed to give Native Americans a stronger voice. The organization closed in 1986. At that time, the Costos gave many of the organization's books to the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside). They also helped create a special program there for American Indian Studies.

In 1988, the Costos, who were both Roman Catholic, spoke out against the beatification of Christian missionary Junipero Serra. They believed that Serra's actions had harmed Native American communities. They wanted to make sure that the history of Native Americans was told accurately.

Sharing Stories Through Books

Jeannette and Rupert Costo also published several magazines. These included Wassaja and the Indian Historian. They also owned a publishing company called the Indian Historian Press. This company published about 59 different books.

Jeannette Henry Costo wrote a book called Textbooks and the American Indian. She also edited two other books: Indian Voices: The Native American Today and The American Indian Reader. She worked with Rupert Costo to write several books too. One important book they wrote together was The Missions of California: A Legacy of Genocide (1987). This book shared a different view of the California missions' history.

Later Years

Jeannette Henry Costo passed away on January 31, 2001. She died in San Francisco, California.