Florence Harrie (1889–1981, Karuk)
Curated by Bradley Marshall, Florence's Great-Grandson
Florence Jacobs Harrie
c. 1906
Age 17
Phoenix, AZ
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Florence Jacobs Harrie (1889-1981) was born at Katimîin, the Karuk center of the universe. At the age of about 15 she was sent to the Federal Indian Boarding School in Phoenix, AZ.
For the next 12 years Florence resided in an unfamiliar desert environment, separated from her friends and family. Despite this, she maintained mostly happy memories and an enduring fondness for the Pre-WWI Arizona. |
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Lagoon Indian School, Phoenix, Arizona
Opened in 1891, the Lagoon Indian School in Phoenix was the only non-reservation Bureau of Indian Affairs-run school in Arizona. Students were brought from across Arizona, as well as from surrounding states to receive an industrial or domestic education and to assimilate into mainstream culture. |
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Florence returned to her ancestral territory after finishing at the Arizona boarding school. There she learned to gather sticks and weave from master weavers including Elizabeth Hickox.
Florence eventually made her income from weaving and selling baskets in markets and museum gift shops. |
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Pottery sculpture of Florence Harrie sitting in her chair weaving a basket, once sold in the gift shop of a museum that showcased her work. Around the sculpture is a turquoise and silver cross necklace that Florence wore nearly everyday. On the sculpture you can see her turquoise necklace. Florence fell in love with turquoise in Arizona and was always wearing a piece of turquoise jewelry.
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Left: Florence's weaving chair with her basketry cap and an example of an unfinished basket
Right (above): The last basket Florence wove, after her death the basket was finished into a medallion. If Florence had finished it it would have been a ceremonial cap |
Ceremonial Dress that dances today, made by the descendants of Florence Harrie.
Photo behind dress: Erma Marshall, Granddaughter of Florence, Teresa Cyr, Daughter of Erma and Great-Granddaughter of Florence, Cherish Cyr, Daughter of Teresa Cyr, Granddaughter of Erma, and Great-Great-Granddaughter of Florence.
In 2022, this photo accompanied the US Capital Christmas Tree to Washington DC which had been selected from Humboldt County.
Photo by Nelia Marshall, Photograph Studio in Old Town Eureka, Ca.
Photo behind dress: Erma Marshall, Granddaughter of Florence, Teresa Cyr, Daughter of Erma and Great-Granddaughter of Florence, Cherish Cyr, Daughter of Teresa Cyr, Granddaughter of Erma, and Great-Great-Granddaughter of Florence.
In 2022, this photo accompanied the US Capital Christmas Tree to Washington DC which had been selected from Humboldt County.
Photo by Nelia Marshall, Photograph Studio in Old Town Eureka, Ca.
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