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Nidever's (George) Remembrance of the Lone Indian Woman of San Nicolas Island
MS.764
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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: George Nidever's Remembrance of the Lone Indian Woman of San Nicolas Island
Creator:
Murray, E. F.
Creator:
Nidever, George
Identifier/Call Number: MS.764
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1878-1915, undated
Abstract: A handwritten manuscript entitled "The Indian Woman of San Nicolas," which records the remembrances of George Nidever, as
recorded by E. F. Murray in Santa Barbara, California, 1878 November 4, and a handwritten note of biographical information
on Nidever.
Language of Material:
English
.
A handwritten manuscript entitled "The Indian Woman of San Nicolas," which records the remembrances of George Nidever, as
recorded by E. F. Murray in Santa Barbara, California, 1878 November 4. The file also contains a handwritten note signed "Bowers"
that states that Nidever was about 70 years old in 1915 and said that his father, Captain George Nidever, brought the lone
Indian woman from San Nicolas Island to Santa Barbara in 1854. A typed copy of Murray's manuscript is included.
George Nidever's Remembrance of the Lone Indian Woman of San Nicolas Island, 1878-1915, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.764.
Processed by Library staff before 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 December
5, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Accessioned into the Library in 1933. Source and date of gift unknown.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
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Juana Maria (died October 18, 1853), better known to history as the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island (her birth name is unknown),
was a Native American woman who was the last surviving member of her tribe, the Nicoleño. She lived alone on San Nicolas Island
from 1835 until her discovery in 1853.
In the fall of 1853, Carl Dittman discovered human footprints on the beach and pieces of seal blubber which had been left
out to dry. Further investigation led to the discovery of Juana Maria, who was living on the island in a crude hut partially
constructed of whale bones. Juana Maria was taken to the Santa Barbara Mission, but was unable to communicate with anyone.
The local Chumash Indians could not understand her, so the mission sent for a group of Tongva or Gabrieleño who had formerly
lived on Santa Catalina Island, but they were unsuccessful as well. Four words and two songs recorded from Juana Maria suggest
she spoke one of the Uto-Aztecan languages native to Southern California, but it is not clear to which branch it is related.
Juana Maria was reportedly fascinated and ecstatic upon arrival, marveling at the sight of horses, along with European clothing
and food. Just seven weeks after arriving on the mainland, Juana Maria died. Modern analysis suggests she contracted dysentery.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juana_Maria
George Nidever (also spelled Nidiver) (1802 December 20 – 1883 March 24) was an American mountain man, explorer, fur trapper,
memoirist and sailor. In the 1830s he became one of the first wave of American settlers to move to Mexican California, where
he made his living in fur trapping. In 1853, he led the expedition that rescued Juana Maria, the last member of the Nicoleño
people, from San Nicolas Island where she had been living alone for eighteen years. Toward the end of his life Nidever wrote
a memoir, "Life and Adventures of George Nidever."
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Manuscripts
Indian women -- California
Typescripts
San Nicolas Island (Calif.) -- History
Nicoleño Indians
Indians of North America -- California
Indians of North America -- California -- Antiquities
Juana Marie