Go-Wan-Go Mohawk
The following information and photos are courtesy of Joe Picciano

My father, who was a carpenter in Edgewater and North Bergen, apparently did some work for Go-Wan-Go after a flood (that is how I remember the story). In any case, she gave him some photos, original sheet music, and a poster for his work. My father died in 1994, and my mom now has the material. According to an old clipping restated below, Go-Wan-Go had written a musical that is now in my mom’s possession (28 pages - see photo below):

Go-Wan-Go Mohawk, the only American Indian actress on the stage. She is a descendent of Red Jacket and belongs to the “Six Nations”. Her father was Chief Ga-ne-gus, known to Americans as Dr. Allen Mohawk, a noted medicine man. Miss Mohawk was born at Gowanda, N.Y., on the Cattaraugus Reservation. She was educated at Pinesville, O, and speaks English fluently. She was taught when a child, woodcraft, horsemanship, the use of the rifle, the bow and arrow and lariat throwing. She is the star in “Wep-ton-No-Nah” (the Indian Mail Carrier) a Play from her own pen.

Below please find:

• A picture of the cover of the music
• A picture of the first page of the sheet music with the title “Wep-ton-No-Nah”
• A picture of her in formal cloth taken by Hudson & Company Art Photographers
• A picture of her with a single feather cap
• A great picture of her in full attire and shield with her foot on a saddle
• A picture of her holding two horses
• A picture of her on a horse
• A photo with Big Chief Wilhelm Benignus taken in May of 1919 at her “Wigwam”, Edgewater, NJ
• A picture of a 18 x 28 color poster by Moddy Bros., Birmingham. My mom brought this to the Antiques Road Show and was told it could be worth $1500 if repaired.

7/18/01

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