Jane Cannon Steward
Sub-Series
Identifier: IV
Scope and Contents
Jane Cannon Steward (1908-1988) was the second oldest child of Joseph J. Cannon. This box is mostly correspondence between Jane, her father, and her stepmother, Ramona Wilcox Cannon. As seen in the early correspondence of Wayne Cannon, the correspondence from approximately 1915-1917 are from Joseph J. Cannon while he is in Colombia and traveling around the world on business. These letters tell Jane to be a good little girl, help her mother, practice her violin and "be a gentle lady and not like a rough neck." During the Depression, Jane quits college to work as her father's secretary for the Cannon Supply Company. There are a few letters detailing this experience; one in particular mentions Joseph J. Cannon having his salary cut by about 20% with no hope or sign that the future will be better. When the canning business failed, Jane attends school in San Francisco and in 1933, she meets and marries anthropologist Julian Steward. In 1935, Julian receives a job working for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC where he directed the Institute for Social Anthropology. The new family moved to Langley, Virginia. During this time, Julian wrote the highly influential seven volume Handbook of the South American Indians.
While living in Langley, Virginia, Jane had two children. Garriott Cannon was born in 1936 and Michael Cannon was born in 1939. She also developed and opened a cooperative nursery school, the second in the nation. In 1938, Jane, Julian and Garriott went to Ecuador on a field excursion. In 1946, the family moved to New York City because Julian became a professor at Colombia University. In 1952, Julian accepted a graduate Research Professorship at the University of Illinois, was awarded the prestigious Viking Medal from the American Anthropological Association, and was elected to the National Academy of the Sciences. In 1956, Jane and Julian spent a year in Kyoto, Japan where Julian directed the American Studies Seminar. After their stay in Japan, they traveled around the world. In the late 1960s, Julian's physical health began to deteriorate and Jane transcribed, edited and published Julian's final books, Evolution and Ecology: Essays on Social Transformation. Jane did influential work with Head Start, the Child Abuse Center, and the Suicide and Crisis Center. She died of two minor strokes in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988.
While living in Langley, Virginia, Jane had two children. Garriott Cannon was born in 1936 and Michael Cannon was born in 1939. She also developed and opened a cooperative nursery school, the second in the nation. In 1938, Jane, Julian and Garriott went to Ecuador on a field excursion. In 1946, the family moved to New York City because Julian became a professor at Colombia University. In 1952, Julian accepted a graduate Research Professorship at the University of Illinois, was awarded the prestigious Viking Medal from the American Anthropological Association, and was elected to the National Academy of the Sciences. In 1956, Jane and Julian spent a year in Kyoto, Japan where Julian directed the American Studies Seminar. After their stay in Japan, they traveled around the world. In the late 1960s, Julian's physical health began to deteriorate and Jane transcribed, edited and published Julian's final books, Evolution and Ecology: Essays on Social Transformation. Jane did influential work with Head Start, the Child Abuse Center, and the Suicide and Crisis Center. She died of two minor strokes in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988.
Dates
- 1863-1994
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Extent
From the Collection: 34 Linear Feet (67 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Cannon, Ramona Wilcox, 1887-1978 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu