Eliza Farnham

Definition

Eliza Farnham was a prominent 19th-century American author, social reformer, and advocate for the rights of Native Americans. She is particularly known for her role in the early movements advocating for the education and assimilation of Native American children through the boarding school system, emphasizing the need for cultural integration while also addressing the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Eliza Farnham served as the matron of a boarding school for Native American children in California, where she aimed to provide a nurturing environment while promoting education.
2. She authored several works, including books and articles, that highlighted both the potential of Native Americans and the moral obligation of society to assist them.
3. Farnham was an early advocate for women's rights, linking the struggles of women and Indigenous peoples in her writings.
4. Her perspectives on Native Americans were complex; while she supported education and reform, she also believed in cultural assimilation, which has been criticized for undermining Indigenous identities.
5. Eliza Farnham's contributions helped to spark broader conversations about Native American rights and reform during a time when such discussions were often marginalized.

Review Questions

• How did Eliza Farnham's views on education reflect the broader attitudes toward Native Americans during her time?
  • Eliza Farnham's views on education mirrored the prevailing attitudes of the 19th century, which often saw education as a means to assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American culture. Her role in advocating for boarding schools demonstrates her belief that education could uplift Indigenous peoples but also indicates a belief in their need to adopt white American values. This approach highlighted a paternalistic attitude that was common among reformers of her era, aiming for cultural integration rather than honoring Indigenous identities.
• Evaluate how Eliza Farnham's work contributed to both the education of Native American children and the critique of their treatment during her time.
  • Eliza Farnham's work played a dual role in both promoting education for Native American children and critiquing their treatment. By establishing a boarding school and advocating for better conditions, she highlighted the importance of education in improving lives. At the same time, her writings called attention to the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, advocating for social reforms that would address these issues. This critique, however, was often couched in terms that favored assimilation over preservation of Indigenous cultures.
• Analyze how Eliza Farnham's advocacy reflects the contradictions present in 19th-century reform movements regarding Native Americans.
  • Eliza Farnham's advocacy reveals significant contradictions within 19th-century reform movements concerning Native Americans. On one hand, she pushed for educational opportunities and rights that aimed to improve lives; on the other hand, her belief in cultural assimilation undermined Indigenous identities. This reflects a broader pattern within reform movements, where well-intentioned efforts often disregarded or diminished the value of Indigenous cultures. Her work encapsulates the tension between advocacy for rights and the imposition of external cultural norms that characterized many reform efforts of her time.

Related terms

Boarding Schools: Institutions established to educate Native American children, often aiming to assimilate them into Euro-American culture, frequently through harsh discipline and the suppression of Indigenous languages and traditions.

Cultural Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the practices and beliefs of another culture, often at the expense of their original identity.

Indian Reform Movement: A movement during the 19th century that aimed to address issues faced by Native Americans, promoting policies such as education and land allotment in an effort to assimilate Indigenous peoples into American society.