1918 – 2008

Marie Smith Jones

last speaker of the Eyak language (1918–2008)

linguist
Born
1918-05-14, Cordova
Died
2008-01-21
Birthplace state
Alaska

Biography

Marie Smith Jones was born in Cordova, Alaska in 1918 and worked as a linguist. She was the last surviving speaker of the Eyak language of Southcentral Alaska and was an honorary chief of the Eyak Nation. She died in 2008.

Occupation

Marie Smith Jones is recorded as a linguist, born in Alaska (1918–2008).

Connections to Alaska

Marie Smith Jones was born in Cordova, Alaska in 1918. Explore other notable figures from Alaska, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Cordova

Marie Smith Jones came from Cordova. A full Aubrey report on Cordova pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Alaska

Other historical figures born in Alaska, ranked by historical prominence.

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American writer
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Iñupiat explorer (1898–1983)

Frequently asked about Marie Smith Jones

Who was Marie Smith Jones?
Marie Smith Jones was last speaker of the Eyak language (1918–2008), born in Alaska (1918 – 2008).
When and where was Marie Smith Jones born?
Marie Smith Jones was born on 1918-05-14 in Cordova.
When did Marie Smith Jones die?
Marie died on 2008-01-21.
What was Marie Smith Jones known for?
Marie Smith Jones is recorded as a linguist.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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