How do you make history?
Electa Quinney was a Mohican educator and mentor who is known to many as Wisconsin’s first public school teacher. She taught both Native and non-Native students together, and led her community with generosity and a commitment to education for all. This telling of Electa’s story starts many years before her birth, when her ancestors were forced to leave their homelands in the East, and follows her to the area in Wisconsin that is now the present-day home of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians.
Meet Electa Quinney
Questions to Consider
Electa learned Native teachings from her family and community and also went away to learn subjects and skills from non-Native Quakers. How is what you learn at home or in your community similar to or different from what you learn in school?
The Mohican people were forced to leave their homes and community multiple times. Why? How did that impact them?
What about Electa’s career as a teacher in Wisconsin is special or unique? What details support your thinking?
Peek Into the Past
Electa Quinney
This is the only known photograph of Electa Quinney. It was taken when she was an older woman.
National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution (N20801).
Read On
Electa Quinney: Mohican Teacher and Mentor
Get the full story with this biography book. Click the image to open the book and start reading. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
David Boffa
Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund
Art Direction + Illustration
Hawlii Pichette
Ellie Nikoo
Script
Theresa Beaulieu
Bonney Hartley
David Boffa
Traditional Bead Artist
Reva Fuhrman
Vector Art
Brandon Ribordy
2D Animation
Ian Glodich
3D Animation
Lexie Wescott
Animation Voice Over
Lina Martin
Animation Score
Brent Michael Davids
Musicians
Brent Michael Davids
Bill Miller
Mark Church
Dr. Robert Shubinski
Audiobook Narration
Monique Tyndall
Audiobook Post Production
David Boffa
Kerman Eckes
Mia Forslund
Captioning
Vicki Way Kipp
Translation Services
Brock Schreiber
Christopher Harvey
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Marci Glaus
Megan Monday
Monique Tyndall
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Web Development
John Vieth
Tim Schneider
Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Levar Wheeler
Additional Production Support
Philip Ashby
Curt Sorensen
Zack Sieger
John Dachik
Executive Producer
Megan Monday
Animation Director
Philip Ashby
Chief Curiosity Officer
Alyssa Tsagong
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partner
Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians
Special Thanks
Monique Tyndall, Stockbridge-Munsee Cultural Affairs Director
Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council
Stockbridge-Munsee Historical Committee
Stockbridge-Munsee Language and Culture Committee
Yvette Malone
Rainer Posselt
Brock Schreiber
Kallie Kosc
Annie Paprocki
Karyn Saemann
Educator Cohort
Angela Bies
Waller Elementary School
Burlington, WI
SoHappy Davids
Pulaski Community School
Shawano, WI
Kate Erickson
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Cedarburg, WI
Taneka Golden
Jerstad Algerholm K-8 School
Racine, WI
Kristen Keyser
Indian Community School
West Allis, WI
Kerri Lintl
Merrimac Community School
Merrimac, WI
Jodi Mallak
Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District
Wittenberg, WI
Lori Mueller
Bowler School
Bowler, WI
Nicole Radcliffe
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI
Kate Van Haren
Pittsville Elementary
Pittsville, WI
Daphnie Westman
Lake Superior Elementary
Ashland, WI
Christine Yungwirth
School District of West De Pere
Green Bay, WI
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin