Binding

The binding of this edition has a black leather spine with gold tooling and black leather on the corners of the book's cover. On the front cover itself is paper over board with a swirl-like effect in dark brown and pale yellow. However, the original colors might have faded. When new the binding would have been quite attractive. As can be seen in the photo above the leather is badly cracked and the condition of the book is quite fragile.

This edition was bound by the work of a hand-binder. Since machine binding did not take place until the 1890s. Also, given the more elaborate binding, with leather and gold tooling, it would have been a more expensive binding to buy. Another book observed recently from the same year, by popular writer Kate Douglas Wiggin, was bound in cloth. The difference between both volumes could be the result of one being sold for individual sale and the more costly one was sold to an institution. Given the background history (with the author's visit to the college), this might also have warranted buying a nicer volume.

Title page

The title page of the book has the title A CENTURY OF DISHONOR in bold text. Directly below this is the subtitle A SKETCH OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S DEALINGS WITH SOME OF THE INDIAN TRIBES in smaller, regular text. Following the title is the author"s name, Helen Jackson (H.H.). Immediately beneath this in much smaller text is a listing of some other works by the author, including her famous book Ramona. Also, on the title page is the following quote by Governor Horatio Seymour:

Every human being born upon our continent or who comes here from any quarter of the world, whether savage or civilized, can go to our courts for protection--except those who belong to the tribes who once owned this country. The cannibal from the islands of the Pacific, the worst criminals from Europe, Asia or Africa, can appeal to the law and courts for their rights of person and property--all, save our native Indians, who, above all, should be protected from wrong.

Seymour was a prominent Democratic politician and former governor of New York. He unsuccessfully ran for president against former President U.S. Grant.

Finally, towards the bottom of the title page is a notation stating the following:

New, Enlarged by the Addition of the Report on the Needs of the Mission Indians of California.

This is immediately followed by the place of publication (Boston), the publishers (Roberts Brothers), and the date of publication for this edition (1887).

Preface - Bishop Whipple

The preface to this edition is by Henry Benjamin Whipple, Bishop of Minnesota. He wrote the preface to the book on November 11, 1880 in New York. He was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian faith and was a lifelong champion of the underdog. Whipple was originally from New York, but settled in Minnesota. The last sentence in the Preface shows his commitment to social justice for all. With justice, personal rights, and the protection of law, the Gospel will do for our Red brothers what it has done for other races--give to them homes, manhood and freedom (Whipple, 1880).

There is an interesting anecdote related to his second wife, Evangeline Marrs Simpson. She was romantically involved before their marriage and after his death with, Rose Cleveland, the sister of President Grover Cleveland. She had served as his First Lady until his marriage.

Introduction - Julius Seelye

The introduction to this book was written by Julius Seelye on December 10, 1880 at Amherst College. He had many careers from politician, to missionary, to writer, as well as President of Amherst College. He clearly stated his position in the Introduction to the book. The great difficulty with the Indian problem is not with the Indian, but with the Government and people of the United States (Seelye, 1880).

Women authors - 19th Century America

There were a number of prominent women authors during the latter part of 19th century America. Some of these authors like Helen Hunt Jackson, Louisa May Alcott, Kate Douglas Wiggin and Frances Hodges Burnett were able to comfortably support themselves with their writing. With the exception of Burnett, they were all from or near the New England area of the country. In the cases of Alcott, Wiggin and Jackson they were champions of individuals who were disenfranchised in American society.

Their catalyst to write was driven by several factors including financial necessity, a creative outlet, and inspiration or support from a mentor, a friend or family. Also, several of these women authors had undergone either difficult circumstances or personal tragedy. Of course, a further impetus included their proximity or exposure to other writers and scholars.

Something that was quite beneficial in being published during this time period, as in most time periods, was having good connections. From a personal perspective Helen enjoyed interacting with other literary people. On a more practical note, she was adept at forming and maintaining important connections within this (literary) network (Phillips, p 108, 2003). In today's terms she was very proficient at networking. Not only did she have an acquaintance with the Alcotts, she was also on very good terms with other important writers and editors of the time.

Edward Bissell Hunt & her children

Edward Hunt was a young Army lieutenant when Helen met him at the governor's ball in August of 1851. They married just over a year later in October 1852. Their life together involved long periods of separation because of his military service. They began their life together at a boarding house in Washington, DC. It would have been an active life for her there with all the social events in the nation's capitol, especially for an officer's wife. A year after their marriage Murray Hunt, their oldest son was born. However, the following year was to be a difficult one for her. First of all, her grandfather (who was a surrogate parent following the death of both parents) died, then her son Murray died. He was not even a year old.

The following year Edward and Helen had a happy event with the birth of their second son, Warren Horsford Hunt. Rennie, as he was called by Helen, was her pride and joy.

Meanwhile, Edward was making a name for himself with his scientific endeavors. He was even a frequent contributor to the American Journal of Science. One of the trips they made together was to her old home town of Amherst in 1860. They attended a reception at Emily Dickinson's home. During the visit she and Emily became reacquainted, after being childhood friends. Years later Emily was to make the following comment about Edward, he had interested her more than any man she'd ever met (May, p 19, 1987).

A tumultuous time in American history was to take place in the coming year in 1861. It was the beginning of the Civil War. Once again, Edward left his family to fight in the war. After postings in Florida and Virginia he was ordered to New York. This was happy news for Helen as the family would be reunited again. His duties were to involve work on the development of a submarine gun at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. It was quite an honor to be selected because this was an innovative new weapon (the precursor of the future torpedo). While working on this new weapon a tragic accident occurred and several days later Helen's husband was dead. They had only been married for eleven years.

Helen's losses were not to end with the death of her husband. Less than two years later her dear son Rennie died. He was only nine years old. Her husband and two sons were all buried at West Point.

Given all the personal tragedies she had undergone in the East it is no wonder that Helen ended up making a new home for herself in the West. Her nomadic life was probably a result of all the moves she had made, both as a young orphan schoolgirl and as a military wife.

William Sharpless Jackson

Helen had come to Colorado in 1873-1874 for her health, not expecting to meet her future husband. William Jackson was a quiet, reserved man and as another guest at the Colorado Springs Hotel he intrigued Helen. William came from Pennsylvania and was brought up as a Quaker. In spite of the fact he had no formal education he was quite successful. When Helen met him in Colorado he was Vice President of a railroad and he owned a local bank.

Upon her arrival in Colorado she was not very impressed, but through William she was able to see the great beauty of her surroundings. Her health was improving greatly with the clean, crisp mountain air. Their romance proceeded and William finally asked her to marry him. It was not an easy decision for Helen. She had experienced great tragedy in her first marriage, there was an age difference of over five years, they had different backgrounds, and she was too old to have children. Finally, after much consideration she accepted his proposal and they were married in October 1875 (the same month as her first marriage).

Their marriage was not a conventional one. They had mutual respect and love for each other, but also spent a great deal of time apart. Helen continued her travels, visiting friends and family back East, traveling to California and elsewhere. William, in turn, was required to travel for business. Throughout their marriage he was supportive of her writing, something she was not able to really do in her first marriage.

Several years after Helen's death he married her niece, Helen Fiske Banfield in 1888 (Helen had told him that her niece would make a good wife for him). The younger Helen was a Vassar graduate and the daughter of Helen's sister. They had seven children together and a happy marriage. So, Helen's prophecy came to fruition.