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Museum Minute: July 1919 Cradle Board

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The Salish tribes in western Montana, Idaho and Washington made cradle boards to celebrate newborns. It’s a utilitarian object because it is used as a baby carrier, but they were made for the celebration of the baby. As such, many cradle boards were decorated. 

Hunter Old Elk, the curatorial assistant of the Plains Indian Museum, said there is one particular cradle board in the museum’s collection that always stood out to her. 

“There is an inscription beaded into the backboard of the cradle, and it says July 1919,” said Old Elk. 

Cradleboard, Salish, Plateau 1919. Wood, tanned hide, muslin, glass beads, cowrie shells, abalone shells, mother of pearl, brass Simplot Collection, Gift of J.R. Simplot; NA.111.57
100 years ago, July 1919 was memorialized on this child’s cradleboard. The cradle with its distinctive floral design and date of July 1919, was probably made for a parade or other special occasion such as childbirth. During the reservation era of the late 1800s and early 1900s, women created special clothing, horse equipment, and accoutrements for Fourth of July parades and tribal celebrations. Cradleboard, Salish, Plateau 1919. Wood, tanned hide, muslin, glass beads, cowrie shells, abalone shells, mother of pearl, brass Simplot Collection, Gift of J.R. Simplot; NA.111.57

The cradle is decorated in the Plateau style with floral beads and fringe. Old Elk said when she came across it she wanted to make sure to remember to put it on display for the summer of 2019. 

“[I’m] not sure if [it was for a] celebration of child or recording the significance of July 1919,” said Old Elk.  “But that’s the really exciting part that 100 years later we can still try to figure out the mystery of why this artist created this piece and who they were celebrating.” 

Museum Minute was a series co-produced with Wyoming Public Media (WPM).

About Kamila Kudelska

Kamila Kudelska was the multimedia journalist for the Center and for Wyoming Public Media. In that role she told the hidden stories of all five museums and reported on the news of northwest Wyoming. Kamila has worked as a public radio reporter in California, Poland and New York. She enjoys skiing (both downhill and crosscountry) and loves to read. Since has since taken on a larger role with Wyoming Pubic Media.

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