Artifact of the Month: September 2019

Full Circle

By the age of 14, Emma Williams, a Tlingit woman born in Metlakatla, had lost both of her parents and was living with her sister and grandparents in Wrangell. From her grandmother, Emma learned how to do beadwork. After getting married, Emma and her husband settled in Ketchikan in 1924. Beading provided Emma with income and she made moccasins to sell locally. She was especially fond of making baby shoes and some were sold at downtown stores. Later in life, Emma would go on to teach moccasin-making classes for the Native Art Studies Program at the Totem Heritage Center. Emma gifted this pair of children's moccasins to Ketchikan Museums after one of her classes in the 1980s. The moccasins are made of hide with a flower design beaded onto a pink felt insert and trimmed with rabbit fur.

On their own, Emma's moccasins are a tangible reminder of her craft as well as her connection with the museums. Last year, an unexpected find in a new donation provided more context to their story. A relative of Williams' brought in a box of paperwork to see if anything was of interest for the collection. It was a treasure trove of papers related to her life, everything from property deeds to medical receipts. Emma was diligent about saving receipts and had kept two receipts from buying rabbit skins at The Trading Post in the 1960s. The receipts provide insight into Emma's process and the materials she used. Plus, we learn a little bit about the downtown business, including what was sold there and the cost of supplies.

Emma died on February 15, 1998, at age 99. Her moccasins are currently on display at the Totem Heritage Center.

Object credit:
KM 86.2.2.1 A&B (moccasins) and KM 2018.2.48 (receipt)