Mary Yee

Mary Joachina Yee
Born
Mary Joachina Ygnacio Rowe

1897
Near Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Died1965 (aged 67–68)
NationalityChumash, United States
Other namesMary J. Rowe[1]
OccupationLinguist
Known forLast first-language speaker of the Barbareño language
ChildrenValentina Yee, Josie Yee, John Yee, Angela Yee, and Ernestine Ygnacio-De Soto
ParentLucretia García (mother)
RelativesLuisa Ygnacio (grandmother)

Mary Joachina Yee (née Mary Joachina Ygnacio Rowe; 1897–1965)[2][3] was a Barbareño Chumash linguist. She was the last first-language speaker of the Barbareño language, a member of the Chumashan languages that were once spoken in southern California by the Chumash people.

  1. ^ "John P. Harrington and two of his principal Barbareno Chumash consultants at the site of their former adobe home, Indian Orchard, Goleta: 1931 ; left to right: Mary J. Yee (nee Rowe), holding her son John Yee, Lucrecia Garcia (nee Ygnacio), John Harrington holding Angela Yee". Online Archive of California (OAC). Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Grant, Campbell (1978). "Chumash: Introduction". In Heizer, Robert F. (ed.). Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 8: California. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 505–508. ISBN 978-0-16-004574-5.
  3. ^ "Yee, Mary J., 1897-". LC Name Authority File (LCNAF). Library of Congress. March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2024.