Jesse Cornplanter
Encyclopedia
Jesse J. Cornplanter was a Seneca
artist and author. His Seneca name was Hayonhwonhish. As an author he wrote Legends of the Longhouse, which records many Iroquois
traditional stories.
in New York
, and was the last direct descendent of Cornplanter
, the Seneca war chief during the American Revolutionary War
.
During World War I
, Cornplanter enlisted in the US Army in 1917 and served in Europe. He was wounded during the war and received the Purple Heart
.
Within his tribe, Cornplanter held many respected positions, including the ceremonial chief of the Long House
and the chief of New Town, a traditional village. He sang for the Great Feather Dancer and was head singers for many ceremonies.
commissioned Cornplanter to sketch scenes of contemporary Seneca life. This launched an eight-year collaboration between the two men. Forty-five of these drawings are in collection SC12845 at the New York State Library
.
Though only in his teens, Cornplanter was gaining recognition for his skillful portrayals of his tribe. He never received formal art training, but that did not hinder his success. Frederick Starr
commissioned Cornplanter to illustrate Iroquois Indian Games and Dances, a book depicting Iroquois life. In addition, Jesse Cornplanter illustrated The Code of Handsome Lake, a book authored by his father, Edward Cornplanter (Seneca name Sosondowah), and Arthur C. Parker. Cornplanter authored and illustrated his own book, Legends of the Longhouse published in 1938.
His paintings are considered to be in the Iroquois Realist Style, following in a painting tradition dating back to the 1820s work by Tuscarora
brothers, David
and Dennis Cusick
.
Although best known for his illustrations, Cornplanter was also a traditional wood carver and greatly influenced successive generations of Haudenosaunee artists.
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
artist and author. His Seneca name was Hayonhwonhish. As an author he wrote Legends of the Longhouse, which records many Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
traditional stories.
Personal
Jesse Cornplanter was born in 1889 on the Cattaraugus ReservationCattaraugus Reservation
Cattaraugus Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Seneca Indian Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy located in New York. As of the 2000 census, the Indian reservation had a total population of 2,412. Its total area is about 34.4 mi²...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and was the last direct descendent of Cornplanter
Cornplanter
Gaiänt'wakê was a Seneca war-chief. He was the son of a Seneca mother, Aliquipiso, and a Dutch father, Johannes Abeel. He also carried the name John Abeel after his fur trader father...
, the Seneca war chief during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Cornplanter enlisted in the US Army in 1917 and served in Europe. He was wounded during the war and received the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Within his tribe, Cornplanter held many respected positions, including the ceremonial chief of the Long House
Long house
A longhouse or long house is a type of long, proportionately narrow, single-room building built by peoples in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe and North America....
and the chief of New Town, a traditional village. He sang for the Great Feather Dancer and was head singers for many ceremonies.
Artwork
In 1901 the Seneca Director of the Rochester Museum, Arthur C. ParkerArthur C. Parker
Arthur Caswell Parker was an American archaeologist, historian, folklorist, museologist and noted authority on American Indian culture. Of Seneca and Scots-English descent, he was director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences from 1924 to 1945, when he developed its holdings and research...
commissioned Cornplanter to sketch scenes of contemporary Seneca life. This launched an eight-year collaboration between the two men. Forty-five of these drawings are in collection SC12845 at the New York State Library
New York State Library
The New York State Library is part of the New York State Education Department. The Library and its sister institutions, the New York State Museum and New York State Archives, are housed in the Cultural Education Center...
.
Though only in his teens, Cornplanter was gaining recognition for his skillful portrayals of his tribe. He never received formal art training, but that did not hinder his success. Frederick Starr
Frederick Starr
Frederick Starr , aka Ofuda Hakushi in Japan, was an American academic, anthropologist, and "populist educator" born at Auburn, New York.-Biography:...
commissioned Cornplanter to illustrate Iroquois Indian Games and Dances, a book depicting Iroquois life. In addition, Jesse Cornplanter illustrated The Code of Handsome Lake, a book authored by his father, Edward Cornplanter (Seneca name Sosondowah), and Arthur C. Parker. Cornplanter authored and illustrated his own book, Legends of the Longhouse published in 1938.
His paintings are considered to be in the Iroquois Realist Style, following in a painting tradition dating back to the 1820s work by Tuscarora
Tuscarora (tribe)
The Tuscarora are a Native American people of the Iroquoian-language family, with members in New York, Canada, and North Carolina...
brothers, David
David Cusick
David Cusick was Tuscarora artist and the author of David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations . This is an early account of Native American history and myth, written and published in English by an Indian.-Biography:David Cusick was born around 1780, probably on the Oneida...
and Dennis Cusick
Dennis Cusick
Dennis Cusick was a Tuscarora painter from New York and one of the founders of the Iroquois Realist Style of painting.-Biography:...
.
Although best known for his illustrations, Cornplanter was also a traditional wood carver and greatly influenced successive generations of Haudenosaunee artists.