Catharine Brown (Cherokee teacher)

Catharine Brown (c. 1800 – July 8, 1823) was a Cherokee woman who became a prominent figure in the Christian missionary movement among the Cherokee Nation in the early 19th century. Born into a distinguished Cherokee family, she received a formal education at the Brainerd Mission School, established by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in present-day Tennessee.

Brown’s conversion to Christianity and subsequent dedication to religious education made her a significant bridge between the missionary community and the Cherokee people. She learned to read and write English quickly, becoming a teacher herself at the Brainerd Mission School. She also actively translated religious texts into the Cherokee language, aiming to make Christian scripture accessible to her people.

Brown’s life and work were documented in the widely circulated biography, Memoir of Catharine Brown, a Christian Indian of the Cherokee Nation, written by Rufus Anderson, a prominent leader within the ABCFM. This biography contributed significantly to the popular image of the “civilized” and “Christianized” Native American, a perspective that was frequently used to justify policies of assimilation and removal.

Catharine Brown’s influence, though cut short by her early death from tuberculosis, played a notable role in the cultural and religious landscape of the Cherokee Nation during a period of intense social and political upheaval. Her story remains a subject of scholarly interest, offering insights into the complex interactions between missionaries, Native Americans, and the U.S. government during the early 19th century.