Peggy Tiger facts for kids

Margaret Lois "Peggy" Tiger (February 14, 1943 – February 18, 2017) was a Cherokee author and art gallery owner from Oklahoma. She was married to the famous painter Jerome Tiger. After he passed away, Peggy worked hard to keep his art and memory alive. She even wrote one of the first books about Jerome Tiger's life and paintings. Peggy was also the mother of Dana Tiger, who is a well-known Cherokee artist and activist for women's rights.

Early Life and Education

Peggy Tiger was born in 1943. She grew up in Muskogee and Eufaula, Oklahoma. Peggy shared in an interview that she wasn't very interested in art at first. That changed when she met Jerome Tiger. She married him when she was eighteen years old.

Peggy and Jerome had three children: Dana, Lisa, and Christopher. Jerome passed away when Christopher was just two weeks old. After Jerome's death, Peggy adopted three more children. She also helped many other young people. Peggy continued her studies at Bacone College. She later earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Northeastern State University.

Career and Business Ventures

After her husband's death, Peggy wanted to share his art with more people. She teamed up with her cousin, Molly Babcock. They worked with Bob Lengacher to make special prints of Jerome's paintings. In 1969, Peggy and Molly started the Jerome Tiger Art Company. Molly traveled to promote the art prints. Peggy managed the office, took orders, and shared information about Jerome's work.

Writing a Book

Peggy and Molly also worked together on a book. It was called The Life and Art of Jerome Tiger: War to Peace, Death to Life. This book was published in 1980. It told the story of Jerome Tiger's life. It also showed many of his beautiful artworks.

Tiger Art Gallery

Later, Peggy opened the Tiger Art Gallery. It started as a business selling T-shirts. These T-shirts featured designs by Johnny Tiger, Jerome's brother. The gallery soon became a family business. Today, it shows art by Johnny Tiger. It also features works by Peggy and Jerome's children, Dana and Chris. Dana's children, Christie and Lisan, also have their art there.

Community Involvement

Starting in 2004, Peggy worked for the Cherokee Nation. She was a researcher and writer for them. Peggy was also very active in her community. She was a representative for "Positively Native" in Tulsa. This group helps raise awareness about health issues. Her daughter Lisa is a well-known motivational speaker and community activist.

Passing Away

Peggy Tiger passed away in Muskogee, Oklahoma on February 18, 2017.