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Samson Occom and the Christian Indians of New England (The Iroquois and Their Neighbors)

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Samson Occom And The Christian Indians Of New England is a classic scholarly biography written at turn of the century by a Congregational minister. This reissued paperback is introduced by Margaret Connell Szasz, professor of history at University of New Mexico and author of Indian Education in American Colonies 1607-1783, and editor of Between Indian and White Worlds: The Cultural Broker. She correctly categorizes Love's biography of Samson Occom as "fin de siecle, a work of its time," and she describes Occom as an intellectual giant, a "cultural intermediary (who) strode across the cultures of his time and place (p.xv)."

Both Mohegan and Christian, Occom dazzled Euramerican contemporaries with his intellectual sermons, calm demeanor, and impassioned requests for educational support for Indian students. Crucially instrumental to the founding of Dartmouth College, which was to be "Fro the education and instruction of Youth of the Indian Tribes in this Land in reading, writing, and all parts of Learning which shall appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and christianizing children of pagans as well as in all liberal Arts and Sciences; and also for English Youth and any Others," he nevertheless became disillusioned when his fundraising efforts were used by his partner Mr. Wheelock to be subverted for a college that served English rather than Indian students. This was to be but one of many betrayals in the life of Samson Occom.

Szasz concludes that Love, in his biography of Samson Occom "in some instances...belied his times by demonstrating a degree of understanding about Occom's world view that moved beyond mainstream attitudes toward American Indians (p. xxv)." The biography contains a valuable impetus to contrast to the present day ethnographic biographer who would theoretically present Occam more from a native viewpoint for analysis. An example would be Occam's conflicted role in 18th century Modegan society. In this and other areas, Love's Samson Occom highlights further truths to be mined for. It is a mirror of our Western emergence from Eurocentrism.

There is much to be gained from further study of Samson Occom. One additional resource suggested is The Sprit Of The New England Tribes (1986) by William Simmons. The search for cultural continuity is a valuable theme for today's ethno-historian/biographer. Samson Occom And The Christian Indians Of New England is a challenge and a piece of the puzzle that remains tantalizingly uncompleted. May it teach us to examine, question, or perhaps recraft entirely our cultural assumptions today as well.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

The information in this book coupled with the History of the Indians of Connecticut by John W. De Forest will give the scholar a well-rounded look at our Native American ancestors and their trials in early colonial New England. Love touches on the many facets of history glossed over by other early historians. He adds details of the Puritan program for taming the children of the forest, and the native people's attempt to adapt to the conquerer's heavy handed sense of morality, after the Pequot War. Rev. Samson Occom was a product of the religious fervor brought to New England a century before.