William Ralganal Benson facts for kids

William Ralganal Benson (1862-1937) was a talented basket maker from the Pomo people in California. He and his wife, Mary Knight Benson, were both amazing at making traditional baskets. Their beautiful work is now kept in many big museums.

William's Early Life

William Benson was born in 1862 at a place called Shaxai, which is now Buckingham Point. This area is near Clear Lake in California. His mother, Gepigul (also known as "Sally"), was from the Kuhlanapo and Habenapo Pomo groups. Her family had a history of being leaders.

William's father, Addison Benson, was one of the first white settlers in the area. He was friendly with his Pomo neighbors. When he married Gepigul, he learned the Eastern Pomo language. Because of this, William grew up speaking Eastern Pomo. He learned English and how to read and write later, as an adult.

William became a master of Pomo culture. He was especially good at basketry, making traditional clothing, and storytelling. Sherrie Smith-Ferri, who works at the Grace Hudson Museum, said William was "a totally phenomenal talent."

A Creative Partnership

William was already a skilled basket maker when he met and married Mary Knight (1877-1930). Mary was also an expert basket maker. Her mother, Sarah Knight, was a master basket maker too. Mary spoke Central Pomo.

William and Mary were part of the Pomo tribe. The Pomo are native people who traditionally lived in Northern California, above San Francisco. The couple lived most of their lives near Ukiah, California. William was an elder, a chief, and a historian for his tribe.

Together, William and Mary became very famous for their basket making.

Becoming Famous Basket Makers

The Bensons might have been the first California Native Americans to earn a living just by making and selling their baskets. For a long time, Pomo people had to work on farms and ranches. But in the 1880s, people started wanting to buy real, traditional baskets. This created a new way for the Bensons to support themselves.

Pomo men didn't usually make the very fine baskets that collectors wanted. But William learned to do this delicate work, which was mostly done by women. He was one of the few men who did. Mary also became incredibly skilled, focusing on making perfect baskets.

William and Mary were very successful. They traveled a lot and met many collectors and art dealers. In 1904, they showed their weaving skills at a big event called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis. They had their own display and wove a basket together that won the fair's top award.

Today, baskets made by William and Mary Benson are in major museums. These include the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian and the Field Museum of Natural History. Their baskets are known as some of the best ever made.