Maggie Black Cat

Maggie was a Sioux (Oglala Lakota) woman

Biography
Maggie was born c. 1882 in South Dakota according to the 1910 census taken in the White Clay District, centered around the border town of Whiteclay, Nebraska. (IN WHITECLAY, NEBRASKA, ABOUT SEVEN BEERS ARE SOLD EVERY MINUTE.) The exact location would determine whether her birthplace was South Dakota or Nebraska.

She was admitted to the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians on May 17, 1930*, and diagnosed with dementia praecox (today: schizophrenia) and feebleminded, revised in 1910 to manic-depressive psychosis (today: bipolar disorder), her husband having died on May 6, 1929.

Maggie was transferred to the Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Washington DC on December 22, 1933, when the Canton Asylum was closed. She appears to have died at St. Elisabeth after April 1, 1963, and was returned home to be buried at Red Cloud Cemetery, Pine Ridge, Oglala Lakota County (known as Shannon County until May 2015), South Dakota.

Her profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

• The Book Vanished in Hiawatha by Carla Joinson apparently has a printing error indicating admission in 1903 instead of 1930. Asylum records do not show her residence at the asylum until the 1930 female asylum census.

Research Notes
-Whiteclay, NB: Whiteclay, Nebraska. 12 people. Four liquor stores. More than 42 million cans of beer sold in the last 10 years. It fuels alcoholism that affects nearly every family on a reservation where alcohol is illegal. Here, in the most impoverished county in the United States, it spurs domestic violence, murder, suicide, and birth defects that are unprecedented almost anywhere else in the country.
See: Herrera-Schlichting, Rebekka, et al. Nebraska’s Shameful Legacy. The Wounds of Whiteclay, Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communication, 2017, http://www.woundsofwhiteclay.com/_home.html.
-Maggie was a widow and head of household on April 26, 1930
-In 1922 daughter Sallie was away at school BHS, she would have been 20 years old
-DO NOT confuse with a second John Black Cat b. 1886 who married Bessie b. 1900
-1940 census from Saint Elizabeth Hospital, enumeration shows age 62 = 1878 DOB, birthplace South Dakota, residence April 1 1935 Pine Ridge, Shannon County, South Dakota with statement that implies she was at a "private or nonemergency Govt. location for work, engaged in home housework (place of residence may differ from mail address)? Conclusion: The census was enumerated in Washington DC, place of usual residence was Shannon County.
-In Harry Hummer ltr. dated August 4, 1910, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Table 7 Form of mental disease of those admitted since (the) opening of Asylum DOES NOT INCLUDE the name Maggie Black Cat, nor does the 1911 annual asylum census, nor do the asylum censuses of 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929. She does show up as a resident at the Canton Asylum in the 1930 asylum census, line 6. Conclusion: The admission date shown in the Carla Joinson book Vanished in Hiawatha has a typo, interchanging 03 for 30; Maggie Black Cat was admitted to the Canton Asylum on May 17, 1930, NOT May 17, 1903. This conclusion is supported by all the other documents that show her at home with her husband raising a family AND Canton documents that show her as a patient inmate from 1930 to 1933.
-The United States Census, 1920 calls her Margaret. Mother and Father were born in South Dakota
-Maggie Black Cat's burial location is unconfirmed at this time. After her death at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, DC, she seems to have been returned to her family and interred in the Red Cloud Cemetery (named for Sioux chief Red Cloud) in Pine Ridge, Oglala Lakota County (known as Shannon County until May 2015), South Dakota. It was in Shannon County that she grew up and raised her family so this would make sense, although I've found no records except FaG, which also infers that her maiden name was "Red Sack", although I've found no documents which support the use of that name.
-The only evidence Maggie was related to Red Sack is the name carved on her headstone...however, the following is a brief bio of the Red Sack family whom one can see is tied to the White Clay District of the Pine Ridge Reservation, the same geographical area from which Maggie comes:

"The nationality of (?) Red Sack was Oglala Lakota Sioux.1,2,3,5,4 Also known as (?) Ojuha Sa.2,3,4,5 Also known as (?) Oye Luta.1 (?) Red Sack was born in 1839.1,3,4,5 He married (?) Holy Old Woman circa 1874.1,2,3,4,5 (?) was listed as the "Head of the Household" on the US Indian Census Rolls at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Melt, Shannon Co., South Dakota, USA, on July 1, 1890.1 (?) was listed as the "Head of the Household" on the US Indian Census Rolls at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, White Clay District, Shannon Co., South Dakota, USA, on July 1, 1892.2 (?) was listed as the "Head of the Household" on the US Indian Census Rolls at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, White Clay District, Shannon Co., South Dakota, USA, on July 1, 1894.3 (?) was listed as the "Head of the Household" on the US Indian Census Rolls at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, White Clay District, Shannon Co., South Dakota, USA, on June 30, 1895.4 (?) was listed as the "Head of the Household" on the US Indian Census Rolls at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Wakpamini District, Shannon Co., South Dakota, USA, on June 30, 1896.5
Children of (?) Red Sack and (?) Holy Old Woman
Sallie Red Sack b. 18753,4,5
(?) Walk With White Cow b. 1877
(?) Her Red Horse b. 1883
(?) Make Road b. 1888"
__________
Source

1910 Apr 21 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPXT-L2Y : Tue Oct 03 05:03:35 UTC 2023), Entry for John Black Cat and Maggie Black Cat, 1910, pg. 457/1005, line 25, census of the White Clay District, Pine Ridge Agency, Shannon County, South Dakota

1913 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLJ-LKYT : Wed Oct 04 20:01:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg. 28/808, line 933-937, census, Pine Ridge Reservation

1915 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQH-K48M : Fri Oct 06 21:12:40 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg.401/808, line 936-941, census of the Oglala Sioux Indians, Pine Ridge Agency, S. Dak.

1918 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FNV-5TT2 : Fri Oct 06 00:14:33 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1918, 37/698, line 929-934, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Agency, S.D.

1919 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2Y-GSVB : Wed Oct 04 03:13:10 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1919, pg. 279/698, line 931-936, census of the Oglala Sioux, PIne Ridge Agency, S.D.

1920 Mar 5 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J3-G1Z : Fri Dec 08 01:59:01 UTC 2023), Entry for John Black Cat and Margaret Black Cat, 1920, pg.
623/1140, line 33-38, noted as Margaret, census of Township 37 Range 46, Shannon County, So. Dakota

1921 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG27-SZDX : Thu Oct 05 17:23:24 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1921, pg. 25/738, line 511-515, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Agency, S.D.

1922 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WMKP-F7N2 : Thu Oct 05 05:44:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1922, pg. 240/738, line 652, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Agency, S. Dak.

1924 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7RY3-1HMM : Fri Oct 06 06:35:00 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg. 31/865, line 673-678, census of the Oglala Indians, Pine Ridge Agency, So. Dak.

1925 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGP5-6GNJ : Thu Oct 05 10:04:53 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg. 318/865, line 665-670, census of the Oglala Sioux Indians, Pine Ridge Agency, So. Dak.

1926 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTQ-NHYQ : Tue Oct 03 23:46:34 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg. 601/865, line 668-673, census of the Oglala Sioux Indians, Pine Ridge Agency, So. Dak.

1927 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKR-6DN4 : Thu Oct 05 11:17:26 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, pg. 30/601, line 658-661, census of the Oglala Sioux Indians, PIne Ridge Agency,

1928 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTH-M74T : Wed Oct 04 15:14:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1928, pg. 315/601, line 665-669, census of the Oglala Sioiux, Pine Ridge Agency, So. Dak.

1929 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:78YS-5S6Z : Thu Oct 05 13:52:42 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1929, pg. 61/655, line 665-669, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1930 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPS3-QWPG : Wed Oct 04 10:31:47 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1930, pg. 62/665, line 700, census of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1930 Apr 26 - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQVV-JZZ : Fri Oct 06 00:10:55 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat and David Black Cat, 1930, pg. 596/1041, line 59, census of Township 36 Range 45, Shannon County, South Dakota

1930 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=351

1931 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTF-1NMX : Tue Oct 03 15:47:09 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1931, pg. 68/700, line 692 annotated at Canton Hospital, census of the Pine Ridge REservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1931 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=371, line 5

1932 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W9HC-N6T2 : Thu Oct 05 19:32:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1932, pg. 65/685, line 703-705, census of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1932 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=391, line 4

1933 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTG-R5K1 : Fri Oct 06 01:01:30 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1933, pg. 66/689, line 706, census of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1933 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=428, line 5

1933 Dec 22 - Joinson, Carla. Vanished in Hiawatha: The Story of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians. University of Nebraska Press, 2016, pg. 345-347 Appendix C "Patients Transferred to St. Elizabeth"

1934 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FH7-45ZM : Fri Oct 06 05:03:35 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1934, pg. 68/700, line 730, Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1937 Jan 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP34-6Y4Q : Sat Oct 07 00:36:18 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1937, pg. 74/765, line 730 annotated St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington D.C., census of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge jurisdiction

1940 Apr 3 - "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K733-929 : Tue Nov 28 11:53:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Black Cat, 1940, pg. 89/987, line 1, Saint Elizabeth Hospital, Police Precinct 11, tract 96, Washington, District of Columbia

1950 Apr 1 - "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F7Q-21CK : Fri Oct 06 07:55:51 UTC 2023), Entry for Nellie J Bishop and Anapolos Bitting, April 1, 1950, pg. 25/244, line 10, age 69, "Inmate", census of St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington City, D.C.

1963 Jun 18 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152958873/maggie-black_cat: accessed 08 December 2023), memorial page for Maggie Red Sack Black Cat (1878–18 Jun 1963), Find a Grave Memorial ID 152958873, citing Red Cloud Cemetery, Pine Ridge, Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Patsy LaPointe (contributor 47847893).

Curator Note: I've found no documents that support the use of the maiden name Red Sack!, nor does FaG suggest a source.