Narcissa Chisholm Owen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Narcissa Chisholm Owen
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| Born |
Narcissa Clark Chisholm
October 3, 1831 Webbers Falls, Cherokee Nation, United States
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| Died | July 12, 1911 |
| Nationality | Cherokee, American |
| Known for | painting, fingerweaving, tapestry |
| Awards | Louisiana Purchase Exposition Medal |
Narcissa Chisholm Owen (born October 3, 1831 – died July 12, 1911) was an amazing Native American artist, writer, and teacher. She lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Narcissa was the daughter of Thomas Chisholm, a chief of the Old Settler Cherokee. She was also the wife of Robert L. Owen Sr., a senator from Virginia. Her son, Robert Latham Owen Jr., became a U.S. Senator.
Narcissa Owen is best known for her book, Memoirs, written in 1907. In this book, she shared stories about her own life. She also wrote about the history and culture of her Cherokee family.
Contents
Early Life and Cherokee Roots
Narcissa Clark Chisholm was born on October 3, 1831. She was born in a log cabin near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. This area was then called Arkansas Territory. Later, it became Indian Territory and then Oklahoma.
Her father was Thomas H. Chisholm (1790–1834), a Cherokee sub-chief. Her mother was Malinda Wharton (1803–1864), who was from Virginia. Narcissa was the youngest of four children. Her two brothers, Alfred and William, sadly died during the American Civil War.
Narcissa's grandparents were John D. Chisholm, who was Scottish, and Martha Holmes, who was Cherokee. She learned a lot about her Cherokee heritage from her family.
In the early 1800s, the U.S. government began moving Cherokee people. They were forced to move to land in Arkansas. This group was called the Old Settler Cherokees. Narcissa's family was part of this group. By 1819, many Cherokee people, including Narcissa's family, lived west of the Mississippi River.
In 1828, Narcissa's father, Thomas Chisholm, moved his family to Beattie's Prairie. This is near present-day Jay, Oklahoma. In 1834, he became a third chief. Narcissa wrote in her Memoirs that he was the last hereditary war chief.
Sadly, her father caught typhoid fever and died in 1834. Narcissa was only three years old. Her mother later married William Wilson, who became a judge.
In 1838, the U.S. government forced many Cherokee people to move. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. Narcissa saw Cherokee families camping on her mother's farm in January 1839. She wrote about how hard it was for people to travel in the cold. Many people got sick and died during this forced march.
Education and Family Life
After her father died, Narcissa Chisholm lived with different family members. Her older sister and brothers went to the Dwight Mission School. Narcissa attended a mission school around 1843.
In 1846, Narcissa moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. She lived with her older sister Jane and went to an academy there. She then moved to southern Indiana for more schooling. In 1848, she returned to Fort Smith. She attended Mrs. Sawyer's School in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Narcissa graduated in 1850 with a degree in music and art. She even taught music at the school for a year.
Later, she took a job teaching music in east Tennessee. While teaching, she met Robert L. Owen Sr. He was a civil engineer working on a railroad. They fell in love and married on October 4, 1853.
They moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. Robert Owen became the president of a railroad company there. Narcissa and Robert had two sons. William Otway Owen was born in 1854. Robert Latham Owen Jr. was born in 1856. Narcissa gave her sons Cherokee names, Caulunna and Oconosta. She was very proud of her Cherokee heritage.
A Life of Art and Advocacy
During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Narcissa's husband, Robert Owen, managed the railroad. This railroad was very important for the Southern states. Narcissa and other women helped by sewing uniforms for soldiers. They also helped in other ways.
Lynchburg was a major hospital center during the war. Robert Owen's brother, Dr. William Owen, ran many hospitals there. Lynchburg was never captured by the Union forces. Narcissa Owen later said she helped spread false rumors about the Southern army's strength. This helped keep the Union forces away.
After the war, Robert Owen left his job with the railroad. He then served a term in the Virginia Senate. He bought a farm near Norfolk, Virginia. Sadly, he died there unexpectedly. Narcissa was left to raise her young sons. She returned to teaching to earn money for her sons' college education.
Teaching and Art in Indian Territory
In 1880, Narcissa Owen moved to the Cherokee Nation. She taught music at the Cherokee Female Seminary. This was the first college for women west of the Mississippi River. Her younger son, Robert L. Owen Jr., had already moved to Oklahoma. He became a teacher and later a lawyer. He also became an Indian Agent for the government.
In 1895, Narcissa Owen, at 62 years old, stopped teaching. She wanted to spend her time on art. She also wanted to correct wrong ideas about Native Americans. She studied art at the Library of Congress and the Corcoran Gallery.
Narcissa painted landscapes, portraits, and small pictures using oil paints. She also did needlework, which was a traditional art form for women. Her self-portrait from 1896 shows her as a respected and wealthy woman of her time. She also showed tapestries at an exhibition. She believed all forms of art were important.
Her painting called "Thomas Jefferson and His Descendants" won a medal. This was at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. Her portraits showed six generations of Jefferson's family. Narcissa was interested in Thomas Jefferson because her family had a history with him. In 1808, her father, Thomas Chisholm, received a special medal from Jefferson. This medal was for his work to unite the Cherokee people. Narcissa later named her ranch "Monticello," after Jefferson's home.
In 1900, her son Robert L. Owen began a long legal fight. He worked to get money that was owed to the Cherokee people from an old treaty. He won the case, and the Cherokee received $5 million. This made him very well-known. In 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, he was elected as one of its first two U.S. Senators.
Life in Washington, D.C.
Narcissa Owen moved to Washington, D.C. to live with her son. She helped him as a hostess. She also continued her work to correct wrong ideas about Native Americans.
On October 3, 1907, Narcissa published her book, Memoirs. This book shared her life story. It also included traditional Cherokee stories and humor. Her book helped share Native American perspectives, just like other important books by Native American authors.
Death and Lasting Impact
Narcissa Owen passed away in Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 12, 1911. Her body was taken back to Lynchburg, Virginia. She was buried next to her husband in Spring Hill cemetery. Her son Robert was later buried there too.
Her former home, Point of Honor, is now a city museum. The Cherokee Female Seminary is now a university.
Her painting of Thomas Jefferson is now at the University of Virginia. Her painting of Sequoyah is owned by the Oklahoma Historical Society. This society also has her self-portrait from 1896 and her gold medal. Some of her other paintings are in the Oklahoma Museum of Art and the Gilcrease Museum.
See also
