Swan, James Gilchrist

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Biographical History

James Gilchrist Swan (1818-1900) was an early settler in Washington, working a wide variety of jobs, spending much of his life between Port Townsend and Neah Bay. Originally from Massachusetts, born on January 11, 1818, he moved to the Washington territory, eventually working as a translator for treat negotiations with local tribes, under Washington Governor Isaac Stevens. He also worked as a writer publishing works based on his time in western Washington. During the 1860's he worked as a teacher at the Makah Indian Reservation at Neah Bay, and produced illustrations (sketches and watercolors) of a variety of subjects (natural history and anthropology) that are housed at the Smithsonian Institution. He died on May 18, 1900.

Source

University Libraries, University of Washington. (June 14, 2006). Guide to the James Gilchrist Swan Papers, 1833-1909. Retrieved March 21, 2012 from http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/view?docId=SwanJames1703.xml

Birth Date

1818

Death Date

1900

Topic

  • Translators
  • Educators

Form/Genre

Personal name

Occupation

  • Translators
  • Teachers