Louis Shotridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Situwuka Shotridge
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| Stoowukháa | |
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Shotridge in Tlingit ceremonial dress, c. 1912
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| Born | April 15, 1883 |
| Died | August 6, 1937 (aged 54) |
| Occupation | Anthropologist |
| Employer | University of Pennsylvania Museum |
Louis Situwuka Shotridge was a very important person who helped us learn a lot about the Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska. He was born in 1883 and passed away in 1937. His Tlingit name was Stoowukháa, which means "Astute One" – someone who is very smart and observant. He was an expert on his own culture and worked as an art collector and assistant in anthropology.
Growing Up in Alaska
Louis Shotridge was born in 1883 in Klukwan, Alaska. This village is close to what is now Haines. His parents were George Shotridge and Kudeit.sáakw.
In the Tlingit culture, family lines are traced through the mother. This is called a matrilineal system. Louis belonged to his mother's family group, the Kaagwaantaan clan. This clan was part of the Eagle moiety, which is like a larger family division.
Louis was named after a missionary in Haines, Louis Paul. The name Shotridge comes from his grandfather, Chief "Tschartitsch." This name was later spelled as Shaadbaxhícht in the Tlingit language.
Marriage and Early Work
Louis went to school at the Haines mission. There he met Florence Dennis, whose Tlingit name was Kaatkwaaxsnéi. They were married in a traditional Tlingit arranged marriage. Florence was a member of the Lukaax.ádi clan.
Florence became a very skilled weaver. She made beautiful baskets and special Chilkat blankets. In 1905, she showed her weaving skills at a big event in Portland, Oregon, called the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.
Louis went with Florence to Portland. They showed and sold Tlingit items from Klukwan. They sold 49 items to George Byron Gordon, who worked for the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia. This led to a long career for the Shotridges. They became collectors of cultural items and helped share Tlingit culture with others.
Working in Anthropology
In 1912, Louis and Florence visited Philadelphia. They met important scientists who study human cultures, called anthropologists. They worked with Frank Speck and Edward Sapir, sharing their knowledge and Tlingit objects.
In 1914, the Shotridges met another famous anthropologist, Franz Boas, in New York. They helped him record the Tlingit language and music. Boas even invited Louis to his discussions with other anthropologists at Columbia University.
Starting in 1915, Louis Shotridge worked for 17 years as an Assistant Curator at the University Museum. This was a big step, as he was the first Native American from the Northwest Coast to work for a museum in such a role.
Louis was also active in the Alaska Native Brotherhood. This group worked to support and protect the rights of Native Alaskans. He even served as its Grand President.
Florence passed away in 1917 due to illness. She was buried in Chilkoot, Alaska.
Louis married again in 1919 to Elizabeth Cook, a Tlingit woman. They had three children together: Louis Jr., Richard, and Lillian. Elizabeth also passed away in 1928 due to illness. Later, in the early 1930s, Louis married Mary Kasakan, another Tlingit woman. They had two more children.
Louis Shotridge passed away on August 6, 1937, after an accident. He left behind a great legacy of cultural knowledge and understanding.
Images for kids
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Shotridge in Tlingit ceremonial dress, c. 1912
