Gibson, Simeon, 1889-1943

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Simeon Gibson was a farmer and translator whose knowledge of the history, language, customs, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples of the Six Nations of the Grand River (Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora) informed and contributed to numerous anthropological and ethnographic studies and publications.

Simeon Gibson was born on August 1, 1889 to John Arthur Gibson (1849 or 1850-1912), a Seneca Nation Chief, and Mary Skye, of Cayuga heritage. He spoke numerous languages including Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Mohawk, Tuscarora, and English. Simeon and his brother John Hardy Gibson both worked with ethnologists who travelled to the Six Nations area to do research and fieldwork. Simeon worked directly with William N. Fenton, J.N.B. Hewitt, and Alexander Goldenweiser, among others, doing fieldwork and translating texts, including his father’s stories. Periodically, he was also commissioned to obtain Indigenous objects and artifacts for museums in Canada and the United States.

Gibson married twice and had at least five children. He served in the Canadian Army during World War I. Gibson died in December 1943, most likely due to drowning.

Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abrams, Yendi person
associatedWith Bartlett, Charles person
associatedWith Bear Child, Lewis person
associatedWith Buck, Joshua person
associatedWith Bull Child, George person
associatedWith Butler, Sadie person
associatedWith Concha, Eliseo person
associatedWith Cornplanter, Jesse J. person
associatedWith Curry, Ed person
associatedWith Dowdy, Herb person
associatedWith Elm, Ray person
associatedWith Fairchild, Louis person
associatedWith Fenton, Douglas B. person
associatedWith Fenton, William N., (William Nelson), 1908-2005 person
associatedWith Fenton, William N., (William Nelson), 1908-2005 person
associatedWith Gaus, Dorothy Shipley, 1928- person
childOf Gibson, John Arthur, 1849-1912 person
associatedWith Hecote, Ellen person
associatedWith Hewitt, J. N. B. (John Napoleon Brinton), 1859-1937 person
associatedWith Jacob, John Ely person
associatedWith Jimerson, Avery person
associatedWith Jimerson, Danny person
associatedWith Jimerson, Lester person
associatedWith Johnny John, Amos person
associatedWith Johnny John, Chauncey person
associatedWith Johnny John, Richard person
associatedWith John, Richard person
associatedWith Johns, Albert person
associatedWith Johnson, Danny person
associatedWith Jones, Albert person
associatedWith Kurath, Gertrude Prokosch person
associatedWith Lang, Tom person
associatedWith Lewis, Tom person
associatedWith Logan, Joseph person
associatedWith Preston, Jack person
associatedWith Redeye, Nelson person
associatedWith Running Crane, Geneva person
associatedWith Running Crane, John person
associatedWith Schenadoah, Rodney person
associatedWith Smith, George person
associatedWith Smoke, Percy person
associatedWith Speck, Frank Gouldsmith, 1881-1950 person
associatedWith Stevens, Fannie person
associatedWith Sundown, Roland person
associatedWith War Bow person
associatedWith War Bowl person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Six Nations of the Grand River (Ontario, Canada)
Allegheny County PA US
Ontario 08 CA
Klamath Reservation OR US
Subject
Buffalo dance
Indigenous knowledge
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Occupation
Farmers
Translator
Activity

Person

Birth 1889-08-01

Death 1943-12

Iroquoian languages,

English

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Ark ID: w61h19h4

SNAC ID: 84285650