Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, United States, North America
Accession Date:
24 Jan 1974
Notes:
From card: "Deep skull-cap shaped, made of triangular sections of red wool strouding, each one outlined in opaque white glass beads and having spaced floral designs in several shades of green and clear glass beads. The beads are excessively small, more so than the usual "seed" beads. Thread sewn. On top is a fully beaded rectangular tassel in white, blue and green. Inside are the remains of a paper lining through which the beads were sewn. This was part of a full costume (location unknown) made by Ch. [Charles] Bawgam's daughter for James Munger Kelly, donor's grandfather. Some beading damaged and few moth holes." Letter from donor in accession file indicates: "I think this hat was given to my grandfather, James Munger Kelley, (approximate date - 1849) by Charlie Bawgam, son of Chief Shawano of the Chippewas at or near Marquette, Mighican [sic]. ..."
A six-paneled domed beaded hat or cap.
"Charlie Bawgam" is presumably the man named Charles (Charley) Kaw-baw-gam/Kawbawgam (1799 - 1902). Charles Kawbawgam (Nawaquay-geezhik, "NoonDay") and his father (Charles Makadoaqua or Muk-kud-day-wuk-kwud, "Black Cloud") appear in early treaties as secondary chiefs. Charles Kawbawgam's stepfather was Shawano Kewainze (or Ka-ga-qua-dung), the last head chief at Sault Ste. Marie ("the Soo"). (Source: Rebecca J. Mead. "The Kawbawgam Cases: Native Claims and the Discovery of Iron in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan." Michigan Historical Review 40, no. 2 (2014): 1-31. doi:10.5342/michhistrevi.40.2.0001.)