Te Ata (actress) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Te Ata
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| Born |
Mary Frances Thompson
December 3, 1895 |
| Died | October 25, 1995 (aged 99) |
| Other names | Te Ata ("the morning") |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma College for Women |
| Occupation | Actress, Storyteller |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. George Clyde Fisher (1933–1949) |
| Parent(s) | T. B. Thompson Bertie (Freund) Thompson |
| Relatives |
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Mary Frances Thompson Fisher (born December 3, 1895 – died October 25, 1995) was an amazing actress and storyteller. She was a member of the Chickasaw Nation. Te Ata was famous for sharing traditional Native American stories.
She even performed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. Te Ata was honored in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1957. In 1987, she was named Oklahoma's first "State Treasure."
Contents
What Does Her Name Mean?
Te Ata's stage name, Te Ata, is said to come from the Māori language. In Māori, "te ata" means "the morning." However, Te Ata had no known connection to the Māori people.
Some Chickasaw speakers believe her name comes from "itti' hata." This old word means sycamore, birch, or cottonwood tree. They think she changed it to "Te Ata" to make it sound even better.
Te Ata's Early Life and Education
Te Ata was born Mary Frances Thompson in Emet. This area was part of the Chickasaw Nation back then. Her father, Thomas Benjamin Thompson, was Chickasaw. Her mother was Bertie (Freund) Thompson.
She started school in a small, one-room tribal school. After two years, she went to Bloomfield Academy. This was a boarding school for Chickasaw girls. There, she met Muriel Wright, a teacher who became a big inspiration for her. Te Ata finished high school in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She was the second-highest-ranking student in her class.
In 1915, Te Ata began college at the Oklahoma College for Women. This school is now called the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. She graduated in 1919. While in college, she helped in the theater department. This is where she first discovered her love for the stage.
Her Amazing Performance Career
Her theater teacher, Frances Dinsmore Davis, encouraged Te Ata. She suggested Te Ata use Native American stories for her final college performance. Te Ata performed songs and stories from different tribes. Her performance was very popular. She was asked to perform at the University of Oklahoma and other places.
After college, Te Ata joined a traveling show called Chautauqua. This tour allowed her to travel across the United States. It helped her become an even better performer. She later studied theater at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh.
Then, she moved to New York City. She acted in several Broadway plays. Her most famous role was Andromache in The Trojan Women. Eventually, she decided to focus on her one-woman shows. In these shows, she shared Native American songs and stories.
Performing for Presidents and Kings
Eleanor Roosevelt, whose husband was then governor of New York, invited Te Ata to perform. Te Ata performed at the governor's mansion. After Franklin D. Roosevelt became president, Te Ata performed at the White House. She performed for his first state dinner.
In 1939, Te Ata performed at Hyde Park. This was for the Roosevelts and their special guests. The guests were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. The King and Queen were so impressed, they invited Te Ata to perform in England.
Te Ata traveled all over the United States. She also visited many other countries. These included Denmark, Sweden, England, Peru, and Canada.
Her career lasted over 60 years. She gathered hundreds of stories from different tribes. In her shows, she told many tales. Some were "There Are Birds of Many Colors" and "The Creation of Mankind." She also told "How Death Came into the World" and "Baby Rattlesnake."
Te Ata's Personal Life
On September 28, 1933, Te Ata married Dr. George Clyde Fisher. They married in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Te Ata had many famous friends. These included First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and athlete Jim Thorpe.
Through her husband, she met other important people. These included Albert Einstein and Henry Ford. Te Ata was also the niece of Douglas H. Johnston. He was the last governor of the old Chickasaw Nation.
Te Ata passed away in Oklahoma City on October 26, 1995. Her family continues her legacy. Her niece, Helen TeAta Cole, was an Oklahoma state legislator. Helen's son, Tom Cole, is a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma.
Her Legacy and Honors
Te Ata's life and image have been shown in many books and magazines. In 1924, she was featured in McCall's magazine. She was part of their "Types of American Beauty" series.
She received several awards for her work. A lake in New York was named Lake Te Ata after her. In 1976, she was named Ladies' Home Journal Woman of the Year. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1957. In 1987, she was named Oklahoma's Official State Treasure. The Chickasaw Hall of Fame welcomed her in 1990.
A Chickasaw writer, JudyLee Oliva, wrote a play about Te Ata's life. It was called Te Ata. The play won an award in 2000. It was first performed in 2006. It was also shown at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2012.
In 2012, an actress played Te Ata in the movie Hyde Park on Hudson. The movie was about the 1939 visit of the King and Queen of England. In the film, Te Ata performs for them, just as she did in real life.
In 2014, the Chickasaw Nation started making a film about Te Ata. The movie, also called Te Ata, was released in 2017.
The Oklahoma Historical Society says her performances are saved. You can see them in a film called "God's Drum" (around 1971). There is also a video of her at a storytelling festival. Te Ata Fisher's work helped people appreciate Native traditions and the art of storytelling.
Her college, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, has honored her many times. In 1972, she was the first person in their Hall of Fame. In 2006, the college renamed its auditorium the "Te Ata Memorial Auditorium." In 2014, a statue of her was placed in the middle of the campus.
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Te Ata para niños
