Helen Hunt Jackson  

 

Picture from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/ 96/Helen_Hunt_Jackson_cph.3a51133.jpg

Helen Hunt Jackson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830. Her father was a Language Professor at the Amherst University. Her mother died when she was 14 and her father at 17. Helen was raised mostly by her aunt, Martha Hooker. In 1852, Helen married Edward B. Hunt. Hunt was an army engineer.  They had two sons before Hunt died in 1863. Her first son died at eleven months, and her second died in 1865.

Helen began writing after the death of her family. At first, she wrote essays, short stories, and poems. In 1870, she published her first book, Verses.

In 1875, Helen married William S. Jackson and moved to Colorado.

In 1879, Helen Hunt Jackson began to fight for the rights of Native Americans. She believed they were being mistreated and wanted to inform the United States of their conditions. To help spread her cause, she wrote A Century of Dishonor, which she is best known for. After the book was published, she sent every member of Congress a copy to try to inspire them to help the Natives.

Helen's efforts were noticed and she became an Interior Agent for the U.S. Commission of Indian Affairs. She published a 56 page report on the condition of the Native Americans in California. The US Senate reacted and drafted a bill on the Indian's behalf, but the House of Representitives did not pass it.

Picture from http://www.yosemite. ca.us/library/bits_of_tr avel_at_home/images/helen_ hunt_jackson.jpg

In 1884, she published her second novel,  Ramona. It told the story of an Indian orphan and her husband in Southern California. The book was a success and was considered the Uncle+Toms+Cabin for Native Americans. Happy with the book's success, she wrote letters to President Grover Cleveland trying to convince him to read her two novels.

Helen Hunt Jackson died in 1885 of cancer in San Francisco.

Helen is remember for her efforts through her novels, which are still selling today. She dedicated the last years of her life to helping Indians in hopes that they do not end up like Sitting Bull or Chief Joseph.

Sources:

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"Helen Hunt Jackson." Biography Channel. 25 Mar 2008 <http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9351123>.

 

"Helen Hunt Jackson Biography." Colorado College Tutt Library. 03 April 2008 <http://www.coloradocollege.edu/library/SpecialCollections/Manuscript/HHJbio.html>.

 

"Helen Hunt Jackson." Wikipedia. 4 April 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Hunt_Jackson>.

 

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Page created by:  Luke K.

Avon High School, Avon, Indiana

Date created: 3-26-08

 

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