Patterns from the past : exploring gender and ethnicity through historical archaeology among fur trade families in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

• Main Author: McAleer, Carolyn Patricia
• Other Authors: Brauner, David R., Anthropology, Oregon State University. Graduate School
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: French Prairie (Or.) > Antiquities; French-Canadians > Oregon > French Prairie > Social life and customs > 19th century; Indians of North America > Oregon > French Prairie > 19th century; Fur traders' spouses > Oregon > French Prairie > Social life and customs > 19th century; Indian pottery > Oregon > French Prairie > 19th century; Fur traders > Oregon > French Prairie > Social life and customs > 19th century; Metis
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/0z708z59h

This thesis examines archaeological material in order to explore gender and ethnicity issues concerning fur trade era families from a settlement in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Ethnohistorical information consisting of traders journals and travelers observations, as well as documentation from the Hudson's Bay Company, Catholic church records, and genealogical information helped support and guide this research. By using historical information as well as archaeological material, this research attempted to interpret possible ethnic markers and gender relationships between husbands and wives among five fur trade era families. Families of mixed ethnicity, including French Canadian, Native, Metis and American, settled the valley after 1828 bringing with them objects and activities characteristic of their way of life. Retired fur trade trappers, of French Canadian and American decent, married either Metis or Native women. Of 53 identified families, four French Canadian/Native families have been chosen for this project, as well as one American settler, and his Native wife. Little is known about how these women interacted within their families or whether they maintained certain characteristics of their Native culture. It was hoped that these unique cultural dynamics might become evident through an analysis of the ceramic assemblages from these sites. Due to the extensive nature of the archaeological collections, and time constraints related to this thesis, only ceramics have been examined. Information concerning the cultural characteristics of these Native cultures was included along with family biographical information and a history of the fur trade culture. This background information was then examined in reference to the ceramic analysis. All data associated with ceramic characteristics was placed into an Excel file. The information was processed using frequency charts, and examined for the presence and/or absence of certain ceramics, specifically looking at variations in color and pattern. These data were then ...