|
Part of the American
History & Genealogy Project |
Matila Coxe Stevenson 1849 ~ 1916
Matila Coxe Stevenson
Is a woman of whom the American woman
can be proud. Her work among the Indians and her book on that
subject is considered one of the most remarkable books of today
written by a woman. Daughter of Alexander H. Evans and Maria
Coxe Evans, and was born in St. Augustine, Texas, but her
parents moved to Washington in her infancy. She is a cousin of
Robley D. Evans, U.S.N., familiarly known as "Fighting Bob."
She married James Stevenson April 18,
1872, who was then an assistant to Professor Hayden, the first
chief of the Geological Survey. Mrs. Stevenson accompanied her
husband in his work of exploration in the Rocky Mountains,
studying under him and receiving special instruction from him.
She accompanied him on the first expedition which went to Zuni
New Mexico, in 1879, for the Bureau of Ethnology, and assisted
him in the wonderful collection of implements, ceramics, and
ceremonial objects which were procured for the United National
Museum.
She was placed on the staff of the
Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution after the
death of her husband in 1889. She returned to Zuni and made a
study of the mythology, philosophy, sociology, and vocabulary of
these Indians, making a special study of their ceremonies,
traditions, and customs.
She explored the cave and cliff ruins of
New Mexico, visiting and living for some time among each of the
Pueblo tribes of New Mexico. She and her husband were received
into the secret organizations of these peoples. She spent from
1904 to 1910 studying the Taos and Tewa Indians, giving her
special attention to their religion, symbolism, philosophy, and
sociology; also to the edible plants of the Zunis, and their
preparation of cotton and wool for the loom.
She was selected to be one of the jury
on the Anthropological Exposition at the Chicago Exposition in
1893. Is a member of the Anthropological Society, and is the
author of "Zuni and Zunians," "The Religious Life
of the Zuni Child," "The Sia," "The Zuni
Indians," "Esoteric Articles and Ceremonies," etc.
Until recently Mrs. Stevenson made her home in Washington, but
she has now established for herself a home in New Mexico, where
she spends her summers and continues her research work for the
government.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
|