Jennie Ross Cobb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennie Ross Cobb
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| Born |
Jennie Fields Ross
December 26, 1881 |
| Died | January 19, 1959 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | American, Cherokee Nation |
| Education | self-taught |
| Known for | Native American photography |
Jennie Ross Cobb (1881–1959) was a talented photographer. She was the first known Native American woman photographer in the United States. Jennie was a member of the Cherokee Nation. She started taking pictures of her community in the late 1800s.
Her photos were very important. The Oklahoma Historical Society used them to restore a historic building. This building was called the Murrell Home. Today, the Murrell Home is a museum. Jennie was also a teacher and a florist. She later led the effort to restore the Murrell Home.
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Early Life and Photography
Jennie Fields Ross was born on December 26, 1881. Her birthplace was Tahlequah, in the Cherokee Nation. This area was then known as Indian Territory. Her parents were Fannie D. (Thornton) and Robert Bruce Ross.
Jennie was named after her grandmother, Jennie Fields. She was also a great-granddaughter of the famous Cherokee Chief John Ross. Her father worked for the Cherokee National Council. He also farmed on their family land near Park Hill.
Growing Up in Park Hill
As a teenager, Jennie spent a lot of time with her relatives. Many of them lived in Park Hill. Her family lived in a house called the "Hunter's Home." This house is now known as the Murrell Home. Jennie was an amateur photographer. She took many pictures of the house and the areas around it. She also photographed her school friends.
Jennie started taking photos around 1896. She continued until about 1903. She developed her pictures in a closet at the Murrell Home. Her images were special. They showed the Cherokee people in a new way. They were educated, fashionable, and proud of their culture. This was different from how Native Americans were often shown in photos back then.
Jennie went to school at the Cherokee Female Seminary. This school had been rebuilt in 1889. She likely graduated in 1900 or 1902.
Jennie's Career and Family Life
After finishing her own studies, Jennie became a teacher. She taught at the Cherokee school in Paw Paw. In 1905, she married Jesse Clifton "J. C." Cobb. They had one child, a daughter named Jenevieve, in 1906.
Life in Texas
In 1928, Jennie and her family moved to Arlington, Texas. By the early 1930s, Jennie started her own business. She ran a flower shop called the Flower Market. Her husband, J.C., was an engineer in the oil business.
After J.C. passed away in 1940, Jennie and Jenevieve worked together. They continued to run the flower shop. Jennie also helped with the rose garden in Arlington's Meadowbrook Park. She and Jenevieve worked with the Arlington Garden Club. They even helped the club win an award from Woman's Home Companion magazine.
Sadly, Jenevieve died on August 8, 1945. Jennie then took on the important job of raising her two grandchildren. Their names were Jennifer and Cliff Biggers.
Returning to Oklahoma
In 1952, Jennie left Arlington. She returned to Oklahoma to help restore the Murrell Home. This was the same house where she had grown up and developed her photos. She brought her old photographs with her. Her memories and pictures were very helpful.
Jennie worked with experts to restore the home. She made sure it looked accurate to how it was in the early 1900s. For example, she knew that a wrap-around porch was added later. So, it was not part of the original restoration. She also helped gather furniture and items from her family. Other Cherokee families also shared their artifacts. Jennie oversaw the opening of the museum.
Later Life and Lasting Impact
Jennie Ross Cobb passed away on January 19, 1959. She died from a heart attack at a hospital in Tahlequah. She was buried next to her husband and daughter. Their graves are in Rose Hill Cemetery in Arlington, Texas.
Her Legacy as a Photographer
Jennie Cobb is often recognized as a pioneer. She is considered the first, or one of the first, Native American women photographers in the United States. Her work is very important.
The Oklahoma Historical Society keeps a special collection of her photographs. This collection is called the Jennie Ross Cobb Collection. Her photos have been shown in many exhibitions. For example, they were part of the 1995 Photographers in Petticoats exhibition. This show was at the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City.
Her photos also toured the country in a show called Our People, Our Land, Our Images. This exhibition featured photos by Indigenous photographers. The University of Oklahoma Libraries also has many of her documents. These documents are about the Murrell Home restoration. They also include other items from the Ross family.
In 2020-21, the Cherokee National History Museum featured her work. Their exhibition was called “Through the Lens: The Photographic Legacy of Jennie Ross Cobb.” The museum noted that Jennie’s photos were "informal, casual and unguarded." They still connect with people today. Her images tell the story of a young Cherokee woman. She came from an important family. Her photos show the "golden days" before Oklahoma became a state.
See also
- Photography by indigenous peoples of the Americas
