Nampeyo’s Life Timeline

C. 1858
Nampeyo born, Tewa Village (Hano), First Mesa. Oldest of four children.
Mother is White Corn (Qӧtsaqa ̉ӧ), Tewa, Corn Clan, Hano (d. 1901-1909). Father is Qotsvema, Hopi, Snake Clan, Walpi, (d. 1897-1899).

1875
Thomas Keam opens trading post east of First Mesa, location called Peach Orchard Spring and later Keams Canyon.

c. 1878
Nampeyo marries Lesso, of Cedarwood clan, Walpi.

c. 1880
Anthropologist Alexander Stephen arrives at Keams Canyon. He is official Post Master when post office is established in 1883.

1880s
Beginning of manufacture of Sikyatki Revival Pottery. Thomas Keam encourages potters to make pottery with designs inspired by pottery recovered from nearby protohistoric (c. 1400-1600) sites. Nampeyo among the potters to participate in this revival.

1882
Railroad completed through Winslow.

c. 1884
First daughter Annie (Healing) born (d. 1968).

1886
First Hemenway Expedition to Southwest, headed by Frank Hamilton Cushing.

1887
School established at Keams Canyon for Hopi children.

1891-1892
Second Hemenway Expedition to Hopi, headed by Jesse Walter Fewkes.

1892
Fewkes purchases collection of over 3000 Hopi ceramic pieces from trader Keam for $10,000.

c. 1893
Son William Lesso born (d. 1935).

1893
Mennonite missionary H.R. Voth arrives at Hopi.

1895
Second daughter Nellie (Douma) born (d. 1978).

1899
Son Wesley Lesso born (d. 1985).

1900
Daughter Fannie born (d. 1987).

1900-1925
Photographer E.S. Curtis visits Hopi numerous times. Photographs Nampeyo, her mother and her daughter Nellie.

1901
Adam Clark Vroman, photographer for National Museum Gates exposition, comes to Hopi. Photographs Nampeyo, Lesso, Annie and Annie's daughter Rachel.

1902
Thomas Keam sells trading post to Lorenzo Hubbell, Sr., his son, Lorenzo Jr. manages it.

1905, 1907
Nampeyo demonstrates at "Hopi House" Grand Canyon.

1910
Nampeyo, Lesso, Nellie and Nellie's friend Ida Avayo, along with other Hopis and Navajos, go to Chicago United States Land and Irrigation Exposition so that Nampeyo can demonstrate her pottery-making techniques.

1942
Nampeyo dies at home of her son, Wesley and his wife Cecilia, in Polacca.