John Wallace (Haida) facts for kids

Chief John Wallace was a very talented artist from the Haida people. He was known as a master carver, especially of totem poles. Totem poles are tall, carved wooden monuments that tell stories or represent important family history. John Wallace lived in Alaska and helped keep the art of Haida carving alive.

Chief John Wallace: Master Haida Carver

John Wallace was a famous Haida artist who created amazing totem poles. In 1931, a part of the United States government, called the US Department of the Interior, asked him to carve two special totem poles. These poles were 8 feet tall, and their names were "The Raven" and "The Chief's Daughter." Today, you can see these beautiful carvings in the Interior Museum. John Wallace also worked at the Hydaburg Totem Park in Alaska, which is part of a huge forest called the Tongass National Forest.

Restoring Totem Poles in Hydaburg

In the 1930s, many old totem poles were brought to Hydaburg. There were 21 poles in total. Two government groups, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the US Forest Service, helped with this project. Out of these 21 poles, five were carefully fixed and made new again.

Between 1939 and 1942, the CCC and the US Forest Service asked carvers to make copies of 16 other poles. John Wallace was put in charge of this important work. He led the effort to create new versions of these historic poles.

Sharing Haida Culture at the Golden Gate Exposition

In 1939, John Wallace was called "the last of the Professional Haida totem-carvers." He was hired to show his amazing pole carving skills at a big event called the Golden Gate International Exposition. This fair took place on Treasure Island. It was a chance for many people to see his traditional art.

A Legacy of Art and Teaching

John Wallace learned how to carve from his father, Dwight Wallace (Haida). For a time, John Wallace stopped carving because of difficult times and other pressures. However, he started carving again later in his life. This was possible because government programs gave him financial help. This support also gave Wallace the chance to share his knowledge and carving methods with younger carvers. He taught them the important skills and traditions of Haida art.

One of John Wallace's totem poles can be found in Seattle. It is located at the Lake Washington Ship Canal Waterside Trail.