Who was Thomasina Jordan?

Thomasina Jordan

Any, and everyone, in Virginia has heard of Ms. Thomasina Jordan, but who exactly was she?

Let’s talk about Mrs. Thomasina Jordan…may she rest in peace!

Known as Red Hawk Woman, she:

“…was an American Indian activist who became the first American Indian to serve in the United States Electoral College in 1988.

Jordan received bachelor's and master's degrees in fine arts at Bishop Lee College in Boston. She studied at Harvard University, received an educational doctorate from The Catholic University of America, and attended the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York City. She later resided in Alexandria, Virginia, where she was a member of the Alexandria Republican City Committee.

Jordan was appointed Chairperson of the Virginia Council on Indians by Governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore.

She also founded the American Indian Cultural Exchange, served on the Board of Directors of Save the Children and the National Rehabilitation Hospital, was president of Chapter I of the Capital Speakers Club, and was a recipient of the Medal of Honor of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

According to a resolution passed by the Virginia General Assembly honoring her life, "Thomasina Jordan was instrumental throughout the years in bringing Indian issues to the forefront in the General Assembly, including legislation to correct birth certificates to identify Native Americans as such, allow animal parts and feathers to be used in religious regalia, and memorialize the United States Congress to grant historic federal recognition to Virginia’s state-recognized tribes.

Congress first considered a recognition bill, as championed by Jordan and others, in 2000. Six Virginia tribes eventually gained federal recognition in 2018 under an act bearing her name, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017.” Wikipedia

Now that we have gotten her Wikipedia references out of the way, let’s discuss her connections to Virginia Indians. There was hardly a Virginia Indian Powwow occurring in the 1980’s and 1990’s that Ms. Jordan didn’t attend. At these powwows, she befriended, advocated for, mentored, and became the confidante for many tribal leaders, enrolled members, scholars, and politicians. She advised and networked with Chiefs and legislators to further the cause of the, then, state-recognized tribes. You would see her with her bronzed skin, raven-black hair, and signature hat, at almost every powwow in the Commonwealth. She even had an album out in 1984 called “Eastern American Indian Legends” (Catalog Number ZM-644921, Recorded Publications Company). She was respected, idolized, and revered by some, if not most, but not all.

At these very powwows, Ms. Jordan would approach non-enrolled members, and descendants, most who appeared to have obvious African admixture (usually they were unenrolled for the same reason) and questioned them, asking them why they were even present at the powwow. If any had any avowed ties to any tribe, even outside of Virginia, she would say she never heard of such ‘a black person who was Native descended’ and claimed that ‘we will never accept you’ and would openly and publicly question the legitimacy of the claim. Now, whether those who idolized her realized what she was doing and turned the other way, or secretly felt the same way that she did, we will never know, but there seems to have been a denial or lack of acknowledgement about her behavior. Or maybe they just didn’t view this behavior as problematic.

Unfortunately for her, eastern Virginia was full of transplants, largely due to the military presence, and one of those she ridiculed was a New England Native American, who promptly asked around home about her. The Mashpee Wampanoag claimed they didn’t know who she was, and she certainly wasn’t enrolled, as did the Pequot tribes, and the Long Island tribes. The Narragansetts didn’t know who she was either. Then a rumor started…. she wasn’t Native at all.

Ms. Jordan would question people and let them know that they did not belong at the powwow, but as soon as she walked away another unenrolled Native would walk up and share that Thomasina wasn’t Native at all…she was of Russian descent and Jewish and, besides, who was she to gatekeep. But it was just a rumor…or was it??

Just who was Thomasina Jordan??? Where did she come from?? What tribe did she come from? Who were her people?

We found that Ms. Jordan was somewhat of a chameleon, who used multiple names throughout her life:

Apr 1943: Name listed as EVE CLAIRE SCHWARTZ SANGER;

Aug 1949: Name listed as EVE CLAIR SHERRY;

Aug 1950: Name listed as THOMASINA EVELYN COZZI;

Feb 1972: Name listed as THOMASINA EVE JORDAN;

26 Jan 1979: Name listed as THOMASINA E JORDAN;

13 Apr 1988: Name listed as THOMASINA ELIZABETH JORDAN

We also examined the biographical information she provided to Social Security when she applied before 1951 in Massachusetts:

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Record details

Name: Eve Claire Schwartz Sanger

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birth Date: 25 Sep 1929

Birthplace: Boston Suffolk, Massachusetts

Death Date: 23 May 1999

Father: Stephen E St Clair

Mother: Arianne M Sanborn

Using the information gleaned from her Social Security application we attempted to answer our questions. Here’s what we found:

Eve Clair Schwartz was born September 25, 1929, to Samuel Schwartz, and the former Harriette Libby. She was one of at least four children. Her father was born in Annopol, Russia (now Poland), about 1897. Her mother, Harriette Libby was born in Massachusetts around 1905 to Joseph Libbey (originally Lifschitz) and Eva Claire, both Russian born. We find this quite interesting, as Thomasina claimed to have been raised by her ‘Native’ grandparents. However, both sets of grandparents were Russian, and she was, in fact, named after her maternal grandmother. Her parents married in August 1928, with Eve born 13 months later, lessening the chances that she had been a child from one of the parent’s previous relationships. She was enumerated with her parents and siblings in Revere, Mass on the 1930 and 1940 census. She was also named in her mother’s obituary in the Boston Globe on September 28, 1957. Lastly, she married more than once in the local area. Both sides of her family were also frequently mentioned in the area’s Jewish newspapers.

This information proves that, even before 1951, Eve (Thomasina) was a little less than truthful about her parentage. Even to a Federal agency, on official documents, she was untruthful. In fact, as the evidence shows Eve (Thomasina) was not Native American at all. Spray-tan, wig, and hat be damned. Now we wonder about her educational attributes…

We find this interesting, as those around her questioned the ancestry, authenticity, and finally the legitimacy, of Afro-Native claims to tribal affiliation, no one questioned Eve’s (Thomasina’s). This speaks volumes about who determines the boundaries of Native groups and indigenous identity, even though they don’t belong to them, or in them.

Although she advocated for Virginia Natives, she didn’t advocate for all of them, and in fact she reinforced damaging intra-tribal dynamics already in play. She policed the boundaries of Virginia indigeneity, protecting them from encroachment of those she felt ‘don’t belong’, all while representing herself as someone she wasn’t. We call this a ‘fraud’.

Eve, this is from and for all of the people you tried to erase. They know who they are…. but evidently you didn’t know who you were.

In closing, this is the comment left on Eve’s (Thomasina’s) Find-A-Grave page….

“I'll never understand why it was OK to fight for others but not your own family. You spent your time and energy helping others yet felt that your son and stepdaughter didn't deserve anything from you but lies and manipulation. I don't miss you at all.” Left on 3 Apr 2018

Ouch!