Mary Tate Engels's account of the lives of the Cousins is a valuable addition to the literature of Western Americana and an astute insight into the rich and complex Navajo culture."—Tony Hillerman Only a few crumbling structures remain of the once thriving community of families who lived at the Wide Ruins Trading Post. Only the stories of Bill and Jean Cousins, their photos and letters, remain to validate the history of a corner of the Navajo Indian Reservation in the early twentieth century. And theirs is a unique history. The couple spent a lifetime in the Indian trading business at Cousins Brothers Post, Thunderbird Post, Borrego Post, Wide Ruins Post, then Cousins Indian Jewelry and Jean's All Indian Pawn Shop in Gallup. In the 1930s and 1940s they managed the Wide Ruins Post, known to the Navajos as Kin-Teel, or "wide house." They aided in the development of the Wide Ruins rug, encouraging the area Navajo weavers to use entirely vegetal dyes to re-create in their rugs the glorious natural colors of the desert. But more importantly, Jean and Bill Cousins were part of the beginning of a new era of relations between the Native Americans of this remote area and the Anglos. They helped to forge a basis for commerce—and for mutual respect. Working with both Zuñis and Navajos to market handmade items for modern trade, the Cousinses became both their advisers and their friends.
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YA-The Cousinses, Indian traders in the 1930s and `40s, offer their personal accounts of the past experiences of Native Americans and other ethnic groups living in the desert of the Southwest. Their stories deal with the harsh life of both the traders and the Native Americans with whom they dealt. The editor guides the flow of the Cousinses' words, making the reading effortless and enjoyable, and capturing the intimate feel of these once-oral stories. The chapters include background information as well as personal narratives. Coupled with their intriguing tales, the narratives include the many challenges and failures the Cousinses faced. Teens should enjoy the adventures, memorable personalities, and episodes of humor. Good primary-source material.-Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book about Wide Ruins trading post,
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This review is from: Tales from Wide Ruins: Jean and Bill Cousins, Traders (Hardcover)
This is an extremely good book about Wide Ruins Trading Post in the late 1930's and 40's. I have read other books about this trading post, but this book covers the Cousins' experiences throughout their lives with other trading posts too and their relationship with the Navajo Indians in the Southwest.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tales From Wide Ruins,
By Ruth C. Hobbs (Gallup, N.M. United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tales from Wide Ruins: Jean and Bill Cousins, Traders (Hardcover)
A wonderful and tender love story. A true accounting of the life of an Indian Trader on the Navajo Reservation and surrounding communities. Great history of the famous "Wide Ruins" rugs and how they came into being. A fast & easy read, well worth the price.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
We can only imagine what really inspired Cordelia Lunce-ford to leave her family and security in Oklahoma and head west searching for a better life for herself and her child. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wide Ruins, Chin Lee, New Mexico, Bill Cousins, Bill Lippincott, Aunt Lois, Sallie Lippincott, Canyon de Chelly, John Kirk, God's Little Acre, Charles Cousins, Fort Defiance, Hart Hardware, World War, Borrego Pass, Borrego Post, Carl Hine, Joe Toddy, Roy Gaddy, Beatien Yazz, Crip Chee, Jimmy Toddy, Lorenzo Hubbell, Two Gray Hills, Uncle John New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
We can only imagine what really inspired Cordelia Lunce-ford to leave her family and security in Oklahoma and head west searching for a better life for herself and her child. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wide Ruins, Chin Lee, New Mexico, Bill Cousins, Bill Lippincott, Aunt Lois, Sallie Lippincott, Canyon de Chelly, John Kirk, God's Little Acre, Charles Cousins, Fort Defiance, Hart Hardware, World War, Borrego Pass, Borrego Post, Carl Hine, Joe Toddy, Roy Gaddy, Beatien Yazz, Crip Chee, Jimmy Toddy, Lorenzo Hubbell, Two Gray Hills, Uncle John New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 11
books:
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1
book
cites this book:
- The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths (Civilization of the American Indian Series) by John Adair on page 163, and page 198
- Indian Traders by Frank McNitt on page 2, and Back Matter
- Arizona Memories by Anne Hodges Morgan in Back Matter
- One Hundred Years of Navajo Rugs by Marian E. Rodee in Back Matter
- The Cherokee Strip by Marquis James on page 3
See all 11 books this book cites
- Feathers Brush My Heart: True Stories of Mothers Connecting with Their Daughters After Death by Sinclair Browning on page 214
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