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
"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
"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
"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://penobscotculture.org/34-historic-preservation/tribal-members/88-joseph-nicolar
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)
