1. A brief summary of the seminar. Include any highlights for you – new information, a particularly useful exercise, a favorite moment. Be sure to identify the main historical themes and the core documents presented in the seminar.


We began by listening to Tom present some interesting information about how 19th century historians wrote on the disappearing indian. At times it was difficult to believe these were historical writings and not works of literature. The overlying theme of these writings was that the vanishing indian was a regretable necessity to the expansion and promotion of democracy and civilization. It was emphasized that while the disappearance of the natives was inevitable it did not allow for the mistreatment or murder of this group. The readings provided a foundation for what would later become manifest destiny and the fate of western indians was questioned. The question of how the indian vanished when they continued to live among those writing of their disappearance provides an interesting discussion topic to have with students.





After the break we looked at visual representations of Niagra Falls in an attempt to analyze how the indians became symbolic of nature whereas Europeans symbolized civilization and growth. The gradual movement of the indians to the edges of the art and ultimately eliminated all together continued the idea of the disappearing indian. The last picture showing a native family on the Pacific coast looking toward a setting sun presented the ultimate message of there being no place in a civilized America for the "noble savage." In addition we looked at literature romanticing the illicit unions of native warriors with white women during the early colonial times. It was through this literature that a European society could lay "legitimate" claim as the inheritors of America by being descendents of the early noble native cultures.





The afternoon session I found particularly interesting when we viewed the books put together by McKenney. The images were very powerful and the idea that someone could both be rationalizing the idea that natives were responsible for their own disappearance while at the same time expressing sympathy toward their plight seemed to bring together 2 important aspects of the day. In a way it tied together those bemoaning the vanishing indian through prose with those justifying their disappearance such as J.Q. Adams.



2. What questions did the seminar raise for you and how will you follow-up on those questions? Will you need to do further research – and if so, how will you approach that research and what sources are available to you?

I think the ultimate question is whether white American society was even aware of the paradox they presented with their writings on the disappearing indian while continuing everyday interactions with these very same indians. Had they so disassociated the "modern" indian society of eastern U.S. with the romanticized myth of a noble race that they truly did not accept these people as being native. Or did they ignore the continued existance of native peoples in their writings from a sense of justifying the seizing of their lands and wealth and indoctrinating a system that would then be applied to the western tribes.





3. How would you use this material in the classroom? If you do not currently teach this material, pretend that you do (you may be teaching it at some point in your career!).

I definitely would introduce the "disappearing indian" writings and information in discussions and analysis of the indian removal period and why it had such acceptance. At the same time I would like to present some information on the dissenting voices. Again a common theme would be "what is indian" and how does that relate to the paradox being presented. In addition this information would be great to raise the question on the reliability of historical sources.

4. How does the material presented in the seminar deepen your understanding of the relationship between representation and reality in the history of New England natives?


This session continued to deepen my understanding of the disconnect between the physical existance of native peoples and the perception of what is indian by the white society. It also ties back to the idea of what the ultimate agenda of a historical document is and how an understanding of the true purpose and audience is important when analyzing the information it provides.