Born October 14, 1830

Amherst, Massachusetts

Died August 12, 1885

San Francisco, California

Writer and activist for Native American rights

Helen Hunt Jackson. Library of Congress.

"Oh, write of me, not 'Died in bitter pains,' But 'Emigrated to another star!'"

Most widely remembered as an activist for Native American rights, Helen Hunt Jackson also wrote poetry, essays, novels, and children's stories. She used her writing talent to publicize the mistreatment of Native Americans, particularly the Mission Indians of Southern California. This dedication to Indian reform earned her a place in American history.

A Life of Tragedy

Helen Hunt Jackson was born Helen Maria Fiske in Amherst, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1830. Her parents were Nathan Welby Fiske, a professor and minister, and Deborah Vinal, a writer. The Fiske household was religious and scholarly, and undoubtedly, Helen's later career was influenced by her parents' intellectual interests. One of...