Jeanne L'Strange Cappel

Jeanne L'Strange Cappel (May 10, 1873 – September 27, 1949), also known as Jennie Strange Rolson, Wa-be-no O-pee-chee, and Wabena Opechee, was an American writer, educator, and clubwoman, author of Chippewa Tales (1928).

Jeanne L'Strange Cappel
An older woman in profile, wearing a turban-style hat and glasses
Jeanne S. Cappel, from a 1926 newspaper
Born
Jeanne Marie Strange

May 10, 1873
Dundas, Minnesota
DiedSeptember 27, 1949
Los Angeles, California
Other namesWa-be-no O-pee-chee, Wabena Opechee, Jennie Strange Rolson
Occupation(s)Writer, teacher, playground director, clubwoman
Notable workChippewa Tales (1930)

Early life

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Jeanne Marie Strange was born in Dundas, Minnesota, the daughter of Edward Strange (1842–1908) and Laura (or Lauraette) Sargent Strange (1846–1937).[1] She was described as being a member of the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people,[2][3] and recalled a Chippewa grandmother in her presentations.[4] She graduated from the University of Southern California.[5][6]

Career

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Cappel was a physical education teacher and playground director in Los Angeles.[7] She wrote two volumes of Chippewa Tales (1928, 1930), retellings of traditional stories,[8] and The Mother You Gave Me (1941), a novel, with Beatrice Phillips Cole.[9] She was a founding member[10][11] and president of the American Indian Woman's History and Art Club,[12][13][14] and wrote, directed, and acted in a play, Out of the Past, performed by the club in 1933.[15] The club required active members to have Indian ancestry.[16]

Cappel gave lectures on American Indian lore to community groups and at a Campfire Girls camp,[17] sometimes in costume,[18][19][20] and sometimes with her son to accompany her.[21] "The Indian tales deal so much with things in nature," she explained of her work. "They not only give a practical suggestion that is real education for the child mind, but they also afford the imagination a delightful impetus."[22]

Cappel was also active with the Dickens Fellowship,[23][24] and the Los Angeles branch of the National League of American Pen Women.[25][26] She was reported to be "the first woman of her ancestry to become a Daughter of the American Revolution".[27]

Personal life

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Jennie Strange married Richard O. Rolson in 1891; they had a son, Robert Earl Rolson (1893–1986), and moved to California, where they divorced. She married Albert Cappel in 1916, in Los Angeles.[28] He died in 1937. She lived in Laguna Beach in her later years,[29] and died in 1949, aged 76 years, in Los Angeles. Her gravesite is in Inglewood Park Cemetery.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Mrs. Lauraetta Strange". The Redondo Reflex. 1937-04-09. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ McClintock, Ruth (1929-02-22). "Women's Club News". Los Angeles Evening Express. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Indian Program Delights Drama Group in Club". The Los Angeles Times. 1929-02-24. p. 38. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Wild Flowers Are Topic For Meeting". Santa Ana Register. 1939-03-21. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Indian Music, Lore Reviewed". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1934-05-12. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Indian Legends Will be Told at Luncheon of Claremont Women". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1932-01-25. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Obituary for Jeanne S. Cappel (Aged 76)". The Los Angeles Times. 1949-09-30. p. 19. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (June 1928). Catalog of Copyright Entries. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 563.
  9. ^ "Untitled brief item". Monrovia News-Post. 1941-05-15. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Indian Women Unite in Club". The Los Angeles Times. 1927-03-20. p. 75. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Lindsey, Estelle Lawton (1928-04-16). "American Indian Woman's Club Will Give Kindness to Animals Program Tonight". Los Angeles Evening Express. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Tells Reader about Indian Book". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1928-12-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Indian Club to Have New Official Group". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1932-06-24. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Indian Heads of Clubs Send Xmas Greeting". Ukiah Republican Press. 1946-12-25. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Indian Art Club to Give Pageant". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1933-04-26. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Indian Club Names Leaders". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1930-07-18. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Girls' Camp Near Sea is Held Ideal". The Pasadena Post. 1928-07-09. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Interesting News of Clubs and Clubwomen". San Bernardino Sun. November 15, 1940. p. 18. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  19. ^ "D.A.R." The Los Angeles Times. 1933-04-02. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Indian Lore Theme for Civic Club". Monrovia News-Post. 1943-01-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Indian Woman Tells Legends to C.A.R." The Highland Park News-Herald. 1934-02-08. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Price, Gertrude M. (1926-06-07). "Save Indian Legends for Child". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Dickens Fellowship to Hold Meeting". Daily News. October 6, 1944. p. 28. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  24. ^ "Dickens Club to Meet". Daily News. p. 22. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  25. ^ "Penwomen Set Contest". The Los Angeles Times. 1935-08-06. p. 34. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Early Birds". The Los Angeles Times. 1942-04-29. p. 38. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Gaviota Chapter Meets". The Long Beach Sun. 1932-01-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Quietly Married". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1916-07-05. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Untitled brief item". Santa Ana Register. 1939-03-25. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-08-19 – via Newspapers.com.