1913
Fern
2008
Fern J. Hansen
March 9, 1913 — June 6, 2008
"In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people call the journey the 'Trail of Tears' because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4, 000 of the 15, 000 Cherokees died." PBS report.
Fern Hansen's great grandfather was one of those Indians. Fern was born March 9, 1913 in Talihina, Oklahoma. Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee; her mother part Choctaw. She spent her first five years on her grandparents' farm. Contrary to popular notions, the Cherokee's excelled at ranching and had their own system of hospitals, roads and schools. Before the expulsion from their lands, they had adopted white men's ways. They left behind homes and ranches, not tepees.
Fern's mother and grandmother were stern task masters and the "whip switch was always in the corner of the room." Without running water and modem amenities, children were expected to carry their share of the farm work. Fern's artistic talent, which she denies, ("I learned it. It is not a gift.") developed under her mother s insistence that she practice drawing and learn perspective.
When Fern turned six, she moved from the farm to Tuscahoma Indian Girls School where her mother was employed. Under her mother's fierce eye she continued studying art and the domestic sciences as was befitting a young woman. After graduation from Kidd-Key School, founded to serve the children of ranchers, and two years of college, Fern taught at the Ardmore Indian School at Wheeler. In her early twenties by now, and somewhat restless, an event occurred which sent Fern off into a different direction. "A neighbor man pushed me into a corner at a dance and tried to kiss me. I decided it was time to leave. I took off for Dallas with two and a half dollars in my pocket." It was a daring move for a naive young Indian woman but turned out to be fortuitous in the long run.
Fern found a place to live near Baylor University when it was still located in Dallas. She approached Mr. Waters ("Bless his heart!') at the Art Department who hired her to do medical illustrations, which demanded absolute accuracy and precision, something her mother had taught her well. Fern ate at a boarding house that regularly served about thirty people for dinner. Among the group was a young medical student, Robert Hansen, whom she married. He was drafted soon after and Fern moved to Berkeley where she worked at Abbot Laboratories on an assembly line producing medicines for the war effort for twenty-five cents an hour.
The University Art Department was a few blocks away from her tiny apartment with a pull down bed and she immediately signed up for art classes. She says of the experience: "It made my life, really and truly. It made my art career." The instructor gave each student a broad brush and fifteen minutes to complete a painting. "It took me a long time to loosen up, but I still had to do perspective accurately."
Taking classes at the Hollywood Senior Center motivated Fern to get her paintings finished." Her favorite subject for watercolors was fanciful dragons, some with a little cowboy riding on its back, "Nobody can criticize me because they don't know what a dragon looks like." A caption near the little cowboy says: "We are going to the purple hills to play with the dragons."
Written by Helen Cheek
Fern passed away on June 6, 2008 at the age of 95 and is survived by her children: R. Chris Hansen, Guy J. Hansen, Fred M. Hansen, Stevan L. Hansen, and Sue Esther Galloway.
Fern Hansen's great grandfather was one of those Indians. Fern was born March 9, 1913 in Talihina, Oklahoma. Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee; her mother part Choctaw. She spent her first five years on her grandparents' farm. Contrary to popular notions, the Cherokee's excelled at ranching and had their own system of hospitals, roads and schools. Before the expulsion from their lands, they had adopted white men's ways. They left behind homes and ranches, not tepees.
Fern's mother and grandmother were stern task masters and the "whip switch was always in the corner of the room." Without running water and modem amenities, children were expected to carry their share of the farm work. Fern's artistic talent, which she denies, ("I learned it. It is not a gift.") developed under her mother s insistence that she practice drawing and learn perspective.
When Fern turned six, she moved from the farm to Tuscahoma Indian Girls School where her mother was employed. Under her mother's fierce eye she continued studying art and the domestic sciences as was befitting a young woman. After graduation from Kidd-Key School, founded to serve the children of ranchers, and two years of college, Fern taught at the Ardmore Indian School at Wheeler. In her early twenties by now, and somewhat restless, an event occurred which sent Fern off into a different direction. "A neighbor man pushed me into a corner at a dance and tried to kiss me. I decided it was time to leave. I took off for Dallas with two and a half dollars in my pocket." It was a daring move for a naive young Indian woman but turned out to be fortuitous in the long run.
Fern found a place to live near Baylor University when it was still located in Dallas. She approached Mr. Waters ("Bless his heart!') at the Art Department who hired her to do medical illustrations, which demanded absolute accuracy and precision, something her mother had taught her well. Fern ate at a boarding house that regularly served about thirty people for dinner. Among the group was a young medical student, Robert Hansen, whom she married. He was drafted soon after and Fern moved to Berkeley where she worked at Abbot Laboratories on an assembly line producing medicines for the war effort for twenty-five cents an hour.
The University Art Department was a few blocks away from her tiny apartment with a pull down bed and she immediately signed up for art classes. She says of the experience: "It made my life, really and truly. It made my art career." The instructor gave each student a broad brush and fifteen minutes to complete a painting. "It took me a long time to loosen up, but I still had to do perspective accurately."
Taking classes at the Hollywood Senior Center motivated Fern to get her paintings finished." Her favorite subject for watercolors was fanciful dragons, some with a little cowboy riding on its back, "Nobody can criticize me because they don't know what a dragon looks like." A caption near the little cowboy says: "We are going to the purple hills to play with the dragons."
Written by Helen Cheek
Fern passed away on June 6, 2008 at the age of 95 and is survived by her children: R. Chris Hansen, Guy J. Hansen, Fred M. Hansen, Stevan L. Hansen, and Sue Esther Galloway.
Memorial Service
Rose City Funeral Home
5625 Northeast Fremont Street
Portland
,
OR
US
97213-1754
Sunday, June 15, 2008, 2:30 PM
Reception
Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home
5625 Northeast Fremont Street
Portland
,
OR
US
97213
Sunday, June 15, 2008, 3:30 PM
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