Lottie Queen Stamper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lottie Queen Stamper
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Lottie Stamper in 1948
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Lottie Queen
January 4, 1907 Soco, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | 1987 |
| Nationality | Eastern Band Cherokee, American |
| Occupation | Basket maker |
| Years active | 1937–1966 (Teacher) |
| Spouse(s) | Bill Stamper |
| Parent(s) | Levi and Mary Queen |
| Awards | Honorary lifetime membership in the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild (1952) |
Lottie Queen Stamper (born January 4, 1907 – died 1987) was a talented basket maker and teacher from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She helped keep the art of Cherokee basket weaving alive.
Lottie's Early Life and Learning
Lottie Queen was born in 1907 in a place called the Qualla Boundary. This area is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Lottie was a member of this group. Her parents were Levi and Mary Queen.
Lottie's mother, Mary Queen, taught all her children how to weave baskets. The family made beautiful baskets from white oak wood. They sold these handmade baskets to earn extra money to help with their farming.
Her Career as a Basket Weaver and Teacher
After Lottie married into the Stamper family, she learned even more about basket weaving. The Stamper family had many skilled weavers. Lottie learned how to use rivercane and natural dyes in her baskets.
Lottie Queen Stamper became a teacher of basket weaving. She taught Cherokee students and adults for almost 30 years. She taught from 1937 to 1966. Some of her famous students included her niece Eva Wolfe and a weaver named Rowena Bradley.
Lottie also learned and taught a special and rare weaving method. This was called the double-weave basket technique. This technique makes a basket with two layers.
Stamper was a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. In 1952, she was the first Native American to win the guild's lifetime achievement award. This award honored her amazing work and dedication. In 1959, she also received a lifetime achievement award from the Department of the Interior's Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
Her Lasting Legacy
Lottie Queen Stamper passed away in 1987 when she was 80 years old. Her beautiful baskets and the baskets made by her students have been shown in many exhibitions.
For example, her work was part of "Transformations: Cherokee Baskets in the 20th Century." This exhibition was held at the Mountain Heritage Center in 2006. Her baskets were also shown in "The Story of North Carolina" at the North Carolina Museum of History in 2011. Lottie's work continues to inspire new generations of weavers.
