"Gladys Tantaquidgeon, renowned Mohegan medicine woman, died early this month at the age of 106, leaving a wonderful cultural legacy as well as pleasant memories. Born June 15, 1899, daughter of Harriet Fielding and John Tantaquidgeon, she was a direct descendant of the forceful sachem Uncas who figures so prominently in the early history of Pequot Plantation.

Gladys and her brother Harold were instrumental in preserving Mohegan history. I first met them on a visit to the little museum which they founded with their father in 1931. The oldest Indian-owned and operated museum in the country, it is still open in the summer. Located in a small building behind their home, it was a godsend to elementary school teachers, especially those who were studying Indian culture. There was no better way to teach that part of the curriculum than to take a field trip to the Tantaquidgeon museum. There the children got a lasting lesson, and one that was shared with parents who had volunteered to drive the group as well."

Get the Story:
Carol W. Kimball: Gladys Tantaquidgeon Made, Preserved History (The New London Day 11/21)
pwday

Relevant Links:
Mohegan Tribe - http://www.mohegan.nsn.us

Related Stories:
Tantaquidgeon, Mohegan matriarch, laid to rest (11/07)
Editorial: Tantaquidgeon kept history in Tupperware (11/4)
Editorial: Tantaquidgeon kept Mohegan culture alive (11/3)
Tantaquidgeon, oldest Mohegan, dies at 106 (11/2)