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Jennie
Snooks
Died:
December 1, 1970
Age:
80 years
Beowawe, Eureka
County, Nevada
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Willows growing
along the Humboldt River near Beowawe. |
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USGS
Topographic Map of Beowawe
(1986) USGS
Aerial Photograph of Beowawe (1994)
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The making of this page
has brought me enlightenment. I
took the following three photos of an abandoned home in Beowawe,
NV on February
17, 2002 (it is now late August). At the time I knew nothing of
this very humble residence. Recently, while reading about Shoshone Indian willow basket making (see references
below) I was surprised to see this same cabin and shed in an article by Edna B. Patterson about Mary Hall.
Edna Patterson's photos were taken in July, 1953. At the time it
was the home of Jennie Snooks, daughter of Mary Hall (photo below). Jennie Snooks was Shoshone
Indian. She made beautiful,
traditional, willow baskets and deer skin articles. Her art was learned from
her mother Mary Hall - also known for her baskets. Edna's photos
(included below) were
captioned: "The shed at Beowawe in July, 1953 where author
Edna Patterson saw Jennie Snooks peeling and splitting willows for
basketry material. The basket maker's lips were bloody and her
fingers raw from working with the willows."
| Click on photos to see original high clarity digital
photographs
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Photo from Northeastern Nevada Historical Society
Quarterly, Fall 1985 "MARY HALL", Western Shoshone
Basketmaker, by Edna B. Patterson. |
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August 25, 2002
photo of above shed. The home of Jennie is now abandoned.
There is a 1992 calendar hanging on the wall of the cabin. |
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Willow baskets
made by Jennie Snooks
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Photos from Northeastern Nevada Historical Society
Quarterly, Fall 1985 "MARY HALL", Western Shoshone
Basketmaker, by Edna B. Patterson, available in limited quantities
from the Northeastern Nevada
Museum. The article contains many other photos and an
excellent text about Mary Hall, her four daughters and three
sons. |
| Now that you have seen the
humble conditions in which Jennie Snooks lived and the wonderful baskets
she created there. When you combine it with the knowledge that
the temperature in the shed in July was probably in the 90s and
Jennie may have been making a basket to sell at the Elko County Fair
in September - let me relate this story told in Edna's article.
"One
of the last baskets she [Jennie Snooks] sold was a culmination of her
skills. It was 66 inches in circumference and covered with a
13-inch, fitted, horsehair lid. It has two horsehair side
handles and is decorated with the same blue- and rose-dyed willow as
her other baskets. In the 1960's money was not as available as it is in
1985. She asked $85 for her creation. The basket was not
sold.
As
she was packing up to take the basket home disappointment was written
on her face and, while of a stoic nature, there was moisture in her
eyes. Quickly, someone purchased her basket and Jennie
smiled. It is a treasure of native art.
Jennie
was a large, beautiful woman of talent and dignity. She died December
1, 1970, age 80 years ... . She was buried in her homeland at the
Beowawe cemetery."
When you see
her home and walk the ground she walked you begin to understand how
much that $85 really was to her and you gain insight on how much she
did to earn it. You are also reminded that great beauty can be
created in the most humble conditions. As for the willows
at the beginning of this page - I could almost picture Jennie,
walking along, looking at these willows. Selecting the most
perfect ones with which to make her baskets. I have
learned much from Jennie Snooks. Not only about baskets but her
life has provided insight. I have left much unwritten here - as
it should be. |
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Mary Hall, Beowawe, Nevada and her
basket. Date not known
NENM Photo 9-71 |
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| Obituaries
Jennie
Snooks
left:
Eureka Sentinel 12/12/70
right:
Elko Free Press 12/2/70 |
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Jennie
Snooks Gravesite
One
on left with wreath |
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Eva
D. Piffero
Elko
Free Press 12/17/92
Jennie
Snooks' Sister |
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Sophia
D. Dann
left:
Elko Free Press 3-1-71
right:
Eureka Sentinel 3/6/71
Jennie
Snooks' Sister
Sophia Dann is
mother to Mary and Carrie Dann. They are well known in
Northeastern Nevada for opposing the United States government in
support of the Western Shoshone tribal lands. |
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Gravesite of Sophia D. Dann, Dewey
is to the right and James is behind |
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References:
Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly, Fall 1985
"MARY HALL", Western Shoshone Basketmaker, by Edna B. Patterson,
available in limited quantities from the Northeastern
Nevada Museum.
Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly, Spring
1995 "BASKETRY OF THE WESTERN SHOSHONE AND NORTHERN PAIUTE INDIANS",
by Larry Dalrymple, available in limited quantities from the Northeastern
Nevada Museum.
Obituaries obtained with the help of Cheryl Carpenter at the
Northeastern
Nevada Museum.
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Additional Information: Northeastern
Nevada Museum
NENM Photos are courtesy of the Northeastern Nevada Museum
© 2002 - Elko Rose Garden Association
Recent Photos by Dan Turner , 2/17/02 and 8/25/02
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