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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



For many years her knowledge of the Iroquois had been gleaned 

 solely from the manuscripts left by her father and from the League 

 of the Iroquois, the joint work of Lewis H. Morgan and General E. S. 

 Parker. With the insight of Indian character wmich these works 

 had given her, her actual experiences among the Indians themselves 

 fanned her interest into a passion. She admired their laws and 

 customs, she marveled at their wondrous national vitality, their 

 endurance, and she loved them. And they, finding her a friend, 

 loved her. 



Mrs Converse's untiring activity in behalf of her red friends wor> 

 their esteem and confidence. Her labors both at Washington and 



Mrs Converse at the time of her adoption 



at Albany, before the federal and state legislative bodies, at once 

 placed her conspicuously before the public as a friend of the Indians 

 and those who planned adverse legislation feared the forces she 

 was able to muster in opposition. The best men in private and 

 in public life were her friends and anxious to fight as she directed. 



