Josephine M. Workman better known by her stage name, Princess Mona
Darkfeather (January 13, 1882 â€" September 3, 1977) was an American
actress who starred in Native American and Western dramas. During the
silent era of motion pictures, from 1911 to 1917, she appeared in 102
movies. She is best known for her role as Prairie Flower in The
Vanishing Tribe (1914).Her career began in 1909 when she replied to a
local newspaper advertisement placed by producer/director Thomas
Ince's Bison Motion Pictures. During a time when studios rarely hired
Native Americans, the movie studio was looking for an actress with the
physical attributes to portray an American Indian and who was
physically capable of doing stunts and riding horses. While she had
never acted before, Workman fit the appearance that Ince wanted. She
apparently embellished her riding skills, as she did not have any, but
nevertheless quickly learned horsemanship. Given the stage name Mona
Darkfeather (and later "Princess" Mona Darkfeather), she was cast in
her first starring role as an Indian maiden named Owanee in the 1911
movie Owanee's Great Love.She was born Josephine M. Workman in Boyle
Heights, California, and baptized at the Plaza Church, Los Angeles,
when she was four months old, the daughter of Joseph Manuel Workman
(1833â€"1901) and Josephine Mary Belt (1851â€"1937). Her siblings were
Mary Cristina Workman (1870â€"1963); Agnes Elizabeth Workman
(1872â€"1957); Marie Lucile "Lucy" Workman (1875â€"1944); William
Joseph Workman (1877â€"1956); George D. Workman (1879â€"1903); and
Nellie Workman (1886â€"1888).Her grandparents were William Workman
(1799-1876), a native of England, and Nicolasa Urioste (1802-1892),
who hailed from the (specifically Taos Pueblo) of New Mexico.
According to the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, her
paternal grandmother Nicolasa was of Taos Pueblo descent. Her mother
was of Scottish and Chilean descent. Darkfeather claimed Spanish
ancestry as well. She was a member of the prominent pioneer Workman
family of Los Angeles. In 1870, her grandfather, William Workman
(1799â€"1876), deeded 814 acres (3.29 km2) of land, a portion of the
Rancho La Puente, to his son, Joseph M. Workman. Through this deed,
the land would go to Joseph's children upon his death.
Darkfeather (January 13, 1882 â€" September 3, 1977) was an American
actress who starred in Native American and Western dramas. During the
silent era of motion pictures, from 1911 to 1917, she appeared in 102
movies. She is best known for her role as Prairie Flower in The
Vanishing Tribe (1914).Her career began in 1909 when she replied to a
local newspaper advertisement placed by producer/director Thomas
Ince's Bison Motion Pictures. During a time when studios rarely hired
Native Americans, the movie studio was looking for an actress with the
physical attributes to portray an American Indian and who was
physically capable of doing stunts and riding horses. While she had
never acted before, Workman fit the appearance that Ince wanted. She
apparently embellished her riding skills, as she did not have any, but
nevertheless quickly learned horsemanship. Given the stage name Mona
Darkfeather (and later "Princess" Mona Darkfeather), she was cast in
her first starring role as an Indian maiden named Owanee in the 1911
movie Owanee's Great Love.She was born Josephine M. Workman in Boyle
Heights, California, and baptized at the Plaza Church, Los Angeles,
when she was four months old, the daughter of Joseph Manuel Workman
(1833â€"1901) and Josephine Mary Belt (1851â€"1937). Her siblings were
Mary Cristina Workman (1870â€"1963); Agnes Elizabeth Workman
(1872â€"1957); Marie Lucile "Lucy" Workman (1875â€"1944); William
Joseph Workman (1877â€"1956); George D. Workman (1879â€"1903); and
Nellie Workman (1886â€"1888).Her grandparents were William Workman
(1799-1876), a native of England, and Nicolasa Urioste (1802-1892),
who hailed from the (specifically Taos Pueblo) of New Mexico.
According to the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, her
paternal grandmother Nicolasa was of Taos Pueblo descent. Her mother
was of Scottish and Chilean descent. Darkfeather claimed Spanish
ancestry as well. She was a member of the prominent pioneer Workman
family of Los Angeles. In 1870, her grandfather, William Workman
(1799â€"1876), deeded 814 acres (3.29 km2) of land, a portion of the
Rancho La Puente, to his son, Joseph M. Workman. Through this deed,
the land would go to Joseph's children upon his death.
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