In her youth, Florence Nicolar (1885-1960) spent her summers with her family along the Kennebunk River making baskets and performing for tourists. Later, she was an activist for the rights of Indigenous people. With her sister Lucy, she demanded the right to vote for their people, which was granted to the Penobscots by the state of Maine in 1955.

"Penobscot and Passamaquoddy families from Indian Island in the Penobscot River, occupied land on both sides of Ocean Avenue at Cape Arundel every summer for almost 50 years. The Rancos settled first near Picnic Rocks in 1878. The Mitchells set up camp on Emery Point the following year. Both families later camped at the mouth of the Kennebunk River along with the Shays, the Neptunes, and the Nicolas, who first came in the summer of 1882. At first, they lived in tents but as time went on they built more permanent wooden structures. They made a good living making and selling sweetgrass baskets for the tourists. Louis Francis and Joseph Ranco, both Old Town Penobscot Indians, made birch bark canoes every summer near Government Wharf. Ranco is credited for making the first canvas canoe and patenting several canoe improvements over the years. Thanks to Joseph Ranco, Kennebunkport was considered a canoe-making center in the early-1900s. 'Indian Village' was torn down by landowner John Peabody in 1936." Kennebunkport Historical Society Facebook post for Indigenous Peoples Day 2019

"In the summer, along with many other Penobscots from Indian Island, the Nicolars joined the seasonal migration to the Maine coast. With them on the train, they brought the baskets they'd made during the winter, as well as fresh supplies. Different families selected different resort communities. Florence's returned each year to Kennebunkport in southern Maine. There they set up a stand, selling baskets and making new ones. To attract more tourists, Lizzie encouraged Florence and Lucy to sing and dance. Dressed in traditional Indian outfits, they entertained potential customers. Lucy especially enjoyed this. Around August 1, when their baskets sold out, the Nicolars returned to Indian Island." - Florence Nicolar Shay - Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate

"Every summer, her family traveled to the resort town of Kennebunkport to sell baskets. Lucy and her sister performed in Indian dress for the tourists ... [Later] she returned to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation [where] Lucy and her sister Florence campaigned to improve life for their people on the reservation. The sisters raised the educational standards for Penobscot children by gaining access to the public schools. And they persuaded the state to build a bridge to the island. Lucy and Florence also demanded the right to vote for their people. When the state extended suffrage to the Penobscots in 1955, Lucy Nicolar cast the first ballot." - Native American History Facebook post - 11/1/23

"In 1924, during President Coolidge's administration, an act was passed by Congress conferring citizenship upon all Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States. My husband and I and our family lived in Connecticut from 1923 to 1930. During the presidential election of 1928, we registered as citizens of the United States and voted as such with no questions asked as to our right. After we returned to Maine, we, with my sister, went to the registration board of Old Town, Maine, to register as citizens in our home town, but we were met with a distinct refusal, as an obsolete law of the State of Maine forbids the registration and voting by Indians, and in that law we are classed with criminals, paupers, and morons." - History of the Penobscot Tribe

"After the United States entered World War II - and Maine Indians were still denied suffrage - Florence added this protest to the 1942 re-issue of her booklet [History of the Penobscot Trive]: 'I have four sons and I feel the government has not the right to draft my boys without giving us the right to vote ... We are a segregated, alienated people and many of us are beginning to feel the weight of the heel that is crushing us to nothingness ...' - Florence Nicolar Shay - Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate

"When the United States entered World War II, Florence and Leo [her husband Leo Shay] joined the war effort at Boston's Charlestown Naval Shipyard. She worked in the office, and he built boats. Their four sons were drafted - although they still did not have the right to vote. Charles, the second to the youngest, served as a combat medic. He landed on Omaha Beach and crossed the Rhine into Germany, where he was taken prisoner-of-war. While Florence was very patriotic and felt proud of her family's sacrifices, the political irony was not lost on her. In the fall of 1945, when Charles came home on furlough, the family took the ferry to Old Town and again tried to vote in a small local election. It must have been an impressive sight: Florence and Leo, Pauline, Lucy and Bruce, joined by other family members. At the head of the line stood Charles Nicolar Shay: highly decorated combat veteran, former POW, in his dress uniform, studded with medals. Yet they were turned away. 'Idiots don't have any right to vote in this state,' election workers told them. Eight years later, however, in 1953, they finally won: Maine's Indians gained the right to vote without changing their tax status. - Florence Nicolar Shay - Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate

"Florence Nicolar Shay was an outspoken advocate for Penobscot tribal rights. She testified on tribal topics before the state legislature and in 1942 published 'History of the Penobscot Tribe of Indians.' She was the subject of a 2006 book, 'Florence Nicolar Shay: Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate.'" - Maine Memory Network

"Lucy and her sister Florence campaigned to improve life for their people on the reservation. Their land stretched along the Penobscot River from Indian Island near Old Town to East Millinocket. The sisters raised the educational standards for Penobscot children by gaining access to the public schools. And they persuaded the state to build a bridge to the island. Lucy and Florence also demanded the right to vote for their people. When the state extended suffrage to the Penobscots in 1955, Lucy Nicolar cast the first ballot." - New England Historical Society

In 1930, Florence and her husband Leo set up a summer shop in Lincolnville, Maine, and continued to do so for 30 years. - Maine Memory Network

Additional information is provided in "Florence Nicolar Shay - Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate."

Bibliography:

Indigenous Peoples Day 2019 post - Sharon Cummins for the Kennebunkport Historical Society - 10/14/19

Post on Lucy Nicolar on the "Native American History" Facebook page - 11/1/23 - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0322QuP6rH8P9cSCxVSamJaYFqVcJH7BQUNxPYZMEqnLtW2HA76kTAZCMQJqo6SCjl&id=100089592708765

Joseph Nicolar and his Daughters - by Charles Norman Shay - as presented at the University of Maine September 25th, 2006 - https://www.penobscotnation.org/joseph-nicolar-and-his-daughters/

Wikipedia article on Lucy Nicolar Poolaw - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Nicolar_Poolaw

Lucy Nicolar Goes Far From a Maine Indian Reservation - And Then Returns - New England Historical Society - https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/lucy-nicolar-uplifts-people/

Princess Watahwaso: Bright Star of the Penobscot - Bunny McBride (2002) - Charles Norman Shay, publisher

Maine Memory Network - Penobscot basket makers, Lincolnville, ca. 1940 - https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/99274

Florence Nicolar Shay - Penobscot Basketmaker and Tribal Advocate - by Kate Kennedy (2006)

History of the Penobscot Tribe - by Florence Nicolar Shay (1933)

Genealogical detail at https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/G3KP-KDY