Charles Eastman and Elaine Goodale Eastman

Charles Eastman and Elaine Goodale Eastman

Julie Dobrow’s presentation on March 25 described the lives of Elaine Goodale, born in the Berkshires, and Charles Eastman (Ohíye S’a), born on a Sioux reservation; she discussed their marriage and eventual separation.

Elaine and Charles and their six children lived in three different houses in Amherst for 18 years, from 1903-1921. When they first arrived in Amherst, Elaine and Charles were already both well-known figures from their respective careers as authors, public speakers and reformers of Indian policy, as well as from their unusual interracial marriage which was frequently written about in the press of the day. But the early promise of their marriage dissolved during their time in Amherst, along with their union, itself, the victim of personal tragedies, professional failures and the ongoing tensions of a changing America.

The lecture is now online; you may view it here.

And next Friday, May 5, at noon, we will host the final History Bite of the season, as park ranger Susan Ashman shares her historical research into the provenance of a single Civil War rifle: Finding R H Weakley,
Charles Eastman in Amherst

Charles Eastman in Amherst

History Bites continues its live lecture format! Our next live lecture is scheduled for noon on Friday, March 25, in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library.

Elaine Goodale Eastman, her husband, Ohíye S’a, or Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman, and their six children, lived in three different houses in Amherst from 1903-1921. When they first arrived in Amherst, Elaine and Charles were already both well-known figures from their respective careers as authors, public speakers and reformers of Indian policy, as well as from their unusual interracial marriage which was frequently written about in the press of the day. But the early promise of their marriage dissolved during their time in Amherst, along with their union, itself, the victim of personal tragedies, professional failures and the ongoing tensions as 19th century America yielded to a 20th century where ideas about gender and race were rapidly changing.

Dr. Julie Dobrow returns to the Amherst Historical Society to talk about her upcoming book, Crossing Indian Country: From the Wounded Knee Massacre to the Unlikely marriage of Elaine Goodale and Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohíye S’a).

And in two weeks, on April 8, Bob Drinkwater will return to tell us more stories from the gravestones of the West Cemetery.

Native American Votes

Native American Votes

June 19–‘Juneteenth’–marks the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865,announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas. But when we think of important dates in June, we can also remember that on June 2, 1924, the Snyder Act was signed into law, grantingfull citizenship rights to Native Americans, many of whom had fought in World War I.  And even then, Native Americans were not always allowed to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Locally, when we think of Native Americans, remember that the Sioux author and activist Charles Eastman lived in Amherst for many years, starting in 1903. And the Amherst Historical Society is fortunate to have the video of a lecture by Dr Christine DeLucia about her book Memory Lands, describing the Native Americans’ ongoing struggle for recognition.

Stay well,
George Naughton