H. Clark Brown: naturalist and interpreter of indian life

              H. CLARK BROWN
NATURALIST AND INTERPRETER OF INDIAN LIFE
AND
THE SUMMER TRIP PLAYERS OF THE BLACKHAWK AND SHABBONA TRIBES OF WOODCRAFT INDIANS

Figure


I am pleased in that your presentation of Shabbona, puts the American Indian to the American public in his true light, for he certainly was a true chlld of nature, and when you read up history, unbiased and unprejudiced, you can't help but come to the conclusion that he has been sinned against, as much as he has sinned.

—RICHARD HERRMANN, Owner of Herrmann Museum, Dubuque, Iowa

Address:
H. CLARK BROWN
138 HARRISON STREET
DEKALB, ILL.



INTRODUCTION
Born on the prairies, with an inherent love for his home-land and with the ability of interpretation which entertains and instructs, Mr. H. Clark Brown tells of his trips afield, weaving in stories of rare bird and plant finds, with a keen enthusiasm which audiences soon catch.  You tramp through Indiana Sand Dunes with him, you visit the historic places of our prairies and you soon have the contagious joy and pride in being a dweller in these great grasslands of the Middle West.  He has interpreted the spirit of the pioneer of 

BRAVE HAWK, a Sioux Friend Near an Aged Monarch of a Prairie Woodland

his region, in his verse and in his prose and his two grandmothers, both of whom were pioneers in the prairie regions have said that he has told the truth about the pioneer days.  He has the happy faculty of making you better contented with your homeland, and you begin to feel as Thoreau once said that every man should, that there is no place in all the world so wonderful as that bit of soil on which you stand and which you have grown to know and to love, You come back home with a restful and contented feeling and are more willing to acknowledge and to appreciate the beauty in your own home place.  He suggests the great impulse of civic pride because you learn to see and enjoy the wonders of the great out-of-doors about you.

During the past summer Mr. Brown's interest in Indian life took the form of an excursion through the prairies with a group of twelve high school boys.  As these boys travelled they visited the historical camp sites of Black Hawk and Shabbona, and they presented an original Indian drama, Shabbona, which was true to history and in costuming and songs and dances portrayed the true spirit of the Indian.  The Indian lecture recital which is presented by Mr. Brown and one of the most capable of the high school boys, includes Indian dances of rare beauty and interest, Indian songs in the original language in which they were written, and a fund of material about the American Indian which has been secured through full blooded Indians who have been anxious that the white men should know more of their people.  The dances in all cases are genuine, having been taught by Indians who thought it worth while to preserve the traditions and sacred ceremonies of their race.  The whole presentation of the Indian theme is done with a nobility and dignity such as the theme demands.  The entertainment is unique and elevating.  It gives one the best of a noble race.  Both Mr. Brownn and his assistant appear in full Indian costume for the recital.  That includes full eagle feather war bonnet, old deer skin scout coat and many other articles which are rare to-day.



LECTURES

1
The Possibilities of a Prairie Park—(Illustrated)
Sketches taken at random through our Prairie region with accounts of the interests of those places.  Literary shrines of our Middle West, and the strange tree and rock eccentricities of Nature are both included.

2
A Land of Contrasts and Challenges, (The Indiana Sand Dunes) (Illustrated)
Around the year in Duneland.  Filled with vibrant, eager accounts of excursions to this wonderland.  You will want to go, certainly.

3
In the Footsteps of Black Hawk and Shabbona (Illustrated or not)
Historic accounts of the lives of these famous cheiftains, with pictures of the places where they camped, tramped and contended, as those places appear today.  Stories of personal visits to the famous places of the Black Hawk War.

4
Life of Shabbona (Illustrated)
As Portrayed in the Drama, Shabbona
Pictures taken from the drama produced by the Black Hawk Tribe of Woodcrafters, at Geneva, are shown as the dramitic story of the life accompanies the pictures.  Historically correct.

5
Educational Play of the Child (Illustrated)
A topic of vital interest to mothers, for the question often arises as to how children can best spend their play time.  The examples shown here were taken from actual miniature towns which children had formed, from Indian councils which they held, and from other forms of educational fun.



Grandson of the Famous CHIEF SHABBONA



PEMESEE, Assistant and Dancer




LECTURE RECITAL
THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
The nobility of the American Indian is here shown in songs, in dances, in legend, and in actual life.  His artistry is illustrated by actual Indian costumes, beaded saddle blanket, etc., which are on
 exhibition, The assistant, Pemesee, a high school boy of Geneva, Illinois, will actually dance the old Indian Cloud Dance, the Ghost Dance, the War Dance, etc.



DRAMAS
SHABBONA,—an Indian drama in four acts.  The Summer Trip Players, eleven in number produce this dramatic story of the life of the famous Shabbona in a manner which is thoroughly inspiring and lofty.  A full evening entertainment, with songs and dances.

BLACK HAWK,—a dramatic portrayal of the life of Black Hawk.  Also done by the Summer Trip Players, Cast of eleven.  The nobility of this drama is one of its strongest points.



AS A NATURALIST
To the world of the naturalistic Periodicals Mr. Browm is known only as a naturalist.  He holds membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in both the Iowa and Illinois Academies of Science, the Wilson Ornithological Club, the lowa Conservation Association, and in numerous naturalistic organizations. He was one of the two founders of the Califor Naturalist Club, an organization founded for the study and production of prairie wild life.  These associations, however, with the friendships which they bring, are but the background of the great work which he feels is truly his.



AS A LEADER OF YOUTH
It is as a leader of the activities of boys and girls that some of his best work has been done, and it is here that he feels most at home.  Small clubs of boys and girls have been formed time and again under the leadership of H. Clark Brown, for the purpose of studying the great out-of-doors.  At one time it is a single class of small folk in his home town when he is supposed to be taking his vacation, that interests him.  Again, he was found leading large classes of people through the winter months, at Hull House, Chicago,

THE DREAM
[From the Young Man's Dance]
 telling those city children of the wonders of which they had never dreamed.  During one summer, the Geneva, Illinois, Woman's Club engaged his services and for eight weeks excursions afield were conducted for children of all ages, from the Kindergarten tots to those of the high school.  During the school year he is always found working with the school in activities which broaden the minds of the high school folk and which lead them toward a development of their individualities and interests.  For two years he was Head Guide of the Black Hawk Tribe of the Woodcraft League of America, and he is associated at the present time with the Shabbona Tribe at DeKalb.  He is a firm believer in the values of the Woodcraft League and it is of that, and a thousand and one other things that he tells in his lecture upon the Educational Play of the Child.



COMMENTS

Never have we heard poetry rendered so eloquently and effectively as that of the prologue to the play, 'Shabbona'.  The Woodcrafters came to us as ordinary boys, but we found them very extraordinary when they appeared in the various roles of the play-Approximately 1,000 people witnessed the two delightful entertainments give on the Linocln School grounds.—
Dubuque Daily.


All in the play was beautiful and educational to all.—
Charles City Daily Press, Charles City, Iowa.


The plays given by the Woodcrafters have been recognized as most unusual and because they are instructive as well as entertaining are attracting national interest.—
Aurora Beacon News, Aurora, Illinois.


The real way to play Indian games was shown the children and they were loath to leave at the close.—
Elgin News, Elgin, Ill.


The program rendered here by the Black Hawk Tribe of Woodcraft Indians was surely very high-class.  The youngsters in the neighborhood play the games and dance the dances which the Woodcrafters taught them, continually, and enjoy them so much.

—Mrs. T. W. Trader, Pres. Parent Teachers Ass'n—Lincoln School, Dubuque, Iowa.

The play 'Shabbona' is unique, and reflects great credit as to accuracy and originalty as well as literary merit on the part of Mr. Brown — The writer was born among Indians and has known them well all his life, and can bear witness to the fact that this play was, in perception and detail remarkably accurate and true to life.  The plot too, was one which appeals.  It is enobling in its character and surprised the large and appreciative audience which witnessed it.  It was, perhaps, the rarest, most interesting and inspiring play ever given in Charles City.

—Clement L. Webster, Charles City, Iowa.

Aug. 31, 1923

My Dear Mr. Brown:-

I want you to know my appreciation of what you are doing to widen the vision and correct and deepen the lives of those whom you touch in your work.  The dramatic work of the Summer Trip Players is very creditable but what pleases me most is their keen appreciation of what makes life most worth while.  The preparation of this Play has taken patience, devotion and high minded effort and that is what appeals to all who are interested in educational work.

The Black Hawk Tribe of Woodcraft Indians has a well-defined mission.  Loyal to the teachings of Fortitide, Beauty, Truth and Love, your Woodcraft Indians are not only reliable and faithful students but those who have the privilege of meeting them and seeing their dramas are persuaded that the best things are yet to be in the attainment of individual character and service, and in the making of a citizenship that shall be true and noble and of good report.

I congratulate you on what you have done for and with these boys.  You can take them anywhere and be assured that their presence and dramas will make the right kind of a 'hit'.

We need in all our schools and communities just the kind of leadership that has given Geneva, Illinois, its Black Hawk Tribe of Woodcraft Indians.

Very Sincerely,
Wilson Denny, Former Pastor First Congregational Church, Lake Geneva, Wis.

THE ARTCRAFT PRESS, DEKALB. ILL.