Origins & Early Life

Louisa Keyser, or Dat So La Lee (c. 1829 - December 6, 1925) was a celebrated Native American basket weaver. A member of the Washoe people in northwestern Nevada, her basketry came to national prominence during the Arts and Crafts movement and the "basket craze" of the early 20th century. Many museums of art and anthropology preserve and display her baskets, such as the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Dat So La Lee was a nom d'art. There are several theories about the derivation of this name. One theory is that Dat So La Lee comes from the Washoe phrase Dats'ai-lo-lee meaning "Big Hips". Another, is that the name came from an employer with whom she worked. Her art dealers, the Cohns, described her birth name as being Dabuda, meaning "Young Willow".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Dat So La Lee met her future art dealers Amy and Abram Cohn around 1895. She was most likely hired by the couple as a laundress. They recognized the quality of Dat So La Lee's weaving and, wanting to enter the curio trade in Native American...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Charles Bourseul — Contemporary (Born in 1829) (1829): French inventor, pioneer of the 'make and break' telephone decades before Bell.
• Dominique-Vincent Ramel-Nogaret — Contemporary (Died in 1829) (1829): French lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Finance under the Directory.
• Geronimo — Contemporary (Born in 1829) (1829): Notorious Apache warrior leader of the Bedonkohe band, resisting U.S. expansion.
• Albert Bandura — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Prominent South African politician and long-serving ANC leader.
• Alfred F. Young — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• Afonso I of Portugal — Shared historical date (12-06 · Died) (1185): The first King of Portugal, founder of the independent Portuguese Kingdom.
• Alicia Machado — Shared historical date (12-06 · Born) (1976): Venezuelan-American star known for beauty pageants, acting, and singing.
• Humphry Davy — Historical peer (Died in 1829) (1829): Pioneering chemist who established electrochemistry and isolated key elements.
• Ignacio Zaragoza — Historical peer (Born in 1829) (1829): Mexican military officer famed for the victory at Puebla against French forces.
• 1829 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1829
• 1925 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1925
• December 6 (12-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 6