What Jane Knew

Anishinaabe Stories and American Imperialism, 1815–1845

By Maureen Konkle | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

The children of an influential Ojibwe-Anglo family, Jane Johnston and her brother George were already accomplished writers when the Indian agent Henry Rowe Schoolcraft arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1822. Charged by Michigan’s territorial governor with collecting information on Anishinaabe people, he soon married Jane, “discovered” the family’s writings, and began soliciting them for traditional Anishinaabe stories. But what began as literary play became the setting for political struggle. Jane and her family wrote with attention to the beauty of Anishinaabe narratives and to their expression of an Anishinaabe world that continued to coexist with the American republic. But Schoolcraft appropriated the stories and published them as his own writing, seeking to control their meaning and to destroy their impact in service to the “civilizing” interests of the United States.

In this dramatic story, Maureen Konkle helps recover the literary achievements of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft and her kin, revealing as never before how their lives and work shed light on nineteenth-century struggles over the future of Indigenous people in the United States.

Editions of What Jane Knew

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469675381
Paperback
ISBN 9781469678436
EBook
ISBN 9781469675398
EBook
ISBN 9781469675404
EBook
ISBN 9798890887375
PDF
ISBN 9798890887368

Read an Excerpt

The children of an influential Ojibwe-Anglo family, Jane Johnston and her brother George were already accomplished writers when the Indian agent Henry Rowe Schoolcraft arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1822. Charged by Michigan’s territorial governor with collecting information on Anishinaabe people, he soon married Jane, “discovered” the family’s writings, and began soliciting them for traditional Anishinaabe stories. But what began as literary play became the setting for political struggle. Jane and her family wrote with attention to the beauty of Anishinaabe narratives and to their expression of an Anishinaabe world that continued to coexist with the American republic. But Schoolcraft appropriated the stories and published them as his own writing, seeking to control their meaning and to destroy their impact in service to the “civilizing” interests of the United States.

In this dramatic story, Maureen Konkle helps recover the literary achievements of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft and her kin, revealing as never before how their lives and work shed light on nineteenth-century struggles over the future of Indigenous people in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is What Jane Knew about?

The children of an influential Ojibwe-Anglo family, Jane Johnston and her brother George were already accomplished writers when the Indian agent Henry Rowe Schoolcraft arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1822. Charged by Michigan’s territorial governor with collecting information on Anishinaabe people, he soon married Jane, “discovered” the family’s writings, and began soliciting them for traditional Anishinaabe stories. But what began as literary play became the setting for political struggle. Jane and her family wrote with attention to the beauty of Anishinaabe narratives and to their expression of an Anishinaabe world that continued to coexist with the American republic. But Schoolcraft appropriated the stories and published them as his own writing, seeking to control their meaning and to destroy their impact in service to the “civilizing” interests of the United States.

In this dramatic story, Maureen Konkle helps recover the literary achievements of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft and her kin, revealing as never before how their lives and work shed light on nineteenth-century struggles over the future of Indigenous people in the United States.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in What Jane Knew?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity > Ethnic groups and multicultural studies > Indigenous peoples / Indigeneity

Where can I read a sample of What Jane Knew?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469675381

How long is What Jane Knew and how many pages does it have?

What Jane Knew has 442 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book What Jane Knew?

Maureen Konkle

Who is the Publisher of the book What Jane Knew?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

What Jane Knew is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469675381) and paperback(ISBN 9781469678436) and ebook(ISBN 9781469675398) and ebook(ISBN 9781469675404) and ebook(ISBN 9798890887375) and pdf(ISBN 9798890887368)

Where can I buy What Jane Knew online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy What Jane Knew?