Belonging(s): “A close relationship among a group and personal or public effects

“Asco wequassinummis, neetompooag” (Hello my friends)!

Hello! And welcome to another installment of the From the Archives series where Collections and Archive Manager Anthony Belz shares some of the most interesting items found in the Tomaquag Museum Archive. In this installment, we will be discussing Red Wing (Mary E. Congdon 1896-1987) receiving her honorary doctorate from the University of Rhode Island, 50 years ago on June 1, 1975. The materials related to this even in the archive consist of newspaper clippings, Red Wing’s personal handwritten autobiographical notes, photographs, correspondence, her degree and Belongings from the collection including her hood and mortarboard.

Correspondence from University of Rhode Island President Frank Newman. Office of the President. University of Rhode Island. April 22, 1978. Red Wing Papers. Tomaquag Museum Archives.

My Doctorate. Red Wing Autobiographical Notes. Page 1. Red Wing Papers. Tomaquag Museum Archives.

My Doctorate

By Princess Red Wing

On April 1st, 1975 I received a letter saying that on June 1st at U.R.I. commencement they would like to confer on my the honorary title of Doctor of Humane Affairs.

It being April 1st, I thought perhaps it might be an April Fools letter. I could not grasp the idea of an honorary degree for me! So [I] ran over to the restaurant where Eleanor Dove was preparing vegetables for dinner trade. I said, “Eleanor, please read this letter. I’m not sure what it means or whether it is for me.”

She read and then looked at me with wide open eyes and mouth, “Why Redwing, the University of R.I. will honor you with the a degree of Dr. Of Humane Affairs on June 1st at their commencement. What an honor!

The whole crew, cook, waitresses, dishwasher all [stopped] to listen. Eleanor read the letter aloud. And I began to understand that a great honor was to be given to me at our own R.I. university. I had been to University of Michigan, S. Florida, Connecticut and others and never spoken at U.R.I. but felt more pleased to think my home state people recognized me.

In a few weeks a committee from state regent came to me to inform me of particulars. They had called ahead to make an appointment at my convenience. So I answered questions and we had luncheon and conversed. They got my measurements for cap and gown. And said directions for the day would be sent to me.

For days I was on the 9th cloud. I called Walter & Susan to tell them. They were happy about it. I told Walter I was to go to dinner with the three others who were receiving honorary degrees, at the University’s presidents house the night before and want him as my escort. He said, “Mother, I’ll be there; I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Newspapers soon wrote me up with the Governor of Rhode Island, Professor from Sweden University and prominent criminal lawyer who were receiving doctorates. We were pictures in papers. John Kouilbanis came up and took a dozen of more pictures of me in Indian clothes in several poses. The best ones were by the brook. These I had made into post cards, later. Write up on me was a whole column on - Governor a few paragraphs. And folks noticed it. I guess everybody in [the] state read it, for many sent me clippings. It was a thrilling few months.

The Chariho B.P.W. decided to choose me for their woman of the year and at their September meeting presented me with a silver tray, engraved. Girl Scouts of R.I. made me their heroin of the year at a big meeting in a hall at Rocky Point. I got a letter from Boston to attend a meeting of the Boston Indian Council as they want to honor me. They presented with a scroll and a beaded leather bag. The R.I. Writers guild asked me to a meeting in [the] Governor’s office. There I received a scroll from my historic writings and a scroll for my work with the R.I. Bicentennial Commission. A group came to interview me for the National Mother of the Year. But I did not make that. A R.I. group honored me with 3 other mothers at a big meeting at Trinity Church in Providence. Later in the fall after receiving my degree, a letter came from New York Com. of the Arts, saying for the betterment of humanity and I was one and invited to a dinner and reception in October at Savarmae Lake. Susan and Earl went with me. The Lieutenant Governor of Canada, the President of N.B.C. television, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, President of the NYC Arts Commission, anthropologists, historians and great artists were there. What a group of prominent and noted and famous people. I made a special white silk Indian dress and trimmed it in blue beads to go with my turquoise jewelry. We all had a lovely time. We were given a special linen handkerchief from Ireland. It is a work of art. Dorothy Yepez a member of the arts was _?__ she is of NYC and has an art gallery in Saranac Lake. She is a world traveler and a good friend and artist.

What a year and it was the Bicentennial year with meetings and programs of all sorts.