Calamity Jane

When one thinks about the Wild West, cowboys and frontiersmen come to mind, along with
shoot-outs and old saloons. Many characters and icons have come out of the Wild West Era
in America. One specific woman from that time became an icon and early example of gender
fluidity: Calamity Jane. Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Cannary on May 1, 1852 in
Princeton, Missouri. When Jane and her family moved to Montana in 1865, she began to fall
in love with the act of hunting animals on the journey to Montana. Her mother died in 1866
and the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, but tragedy struck again: her father died the
same year. Jane was only twelve and had to provide for her and her siblings. As she grew up,
she grew into a tall woman with a masculine build. She took on a male persona to make a
living for her and her siblings since most places would not hire women.

In 1870, Jane fully embraced dressing like a male when she joined General George
Armstrong Custer's army as a scout. While a scout, she wore a male uniform and began
dressing like a male in her personal life. She
traveled with the army for the next few years
where she became one of the best shots and
one of the most reckless riders. It was during
this span when she earned her moniker
"Calamity Jane" but the accounts tend to
differ.

An Old West legend says that Jane rescued a

wounded army captain during a fight
between hostiles. The captain went on to
name her "Calamity Jane" because she came
out unharmed after rescuing him. However,
some say that Jane herself made up this
story to impress a man she loved, Wild Bill
Hickok. Other accounts claim she earned the
name due to being unharmed after rescuing
an army captain following a battle between a
group of Native American people. Another
rumor stated that she earned her nickname
during her time as a prostitute.

From 1874 to 1876, Jane was ordered to

travel around with the army troop. She
Calamity Jane in masculine clothing traveled to different forts, such as Fort
Custer and Fort Russell. At these areas,
she and the other troops were ordered to protect settlers and miners from the Sioux tribe.
After traveling with the other troops to the Big Horn River near Wyoming, Jane fell ill and was
hospitalized for two weeks. When she recovered, she went swimming with the other troops,
only for her gender to be discovered. Thus, the army sent her away.

Not much is known about Jane's personal life during her years of travel. Some say she had
affairs with many infamous criminals during the Wild West years. However, some affairs
have been debunked. It has also been speculated that Jane was married and had a child.
Around 1885, Jane was allegedly married to a man named Burke and had their child, a
daughter, in 1887. Despite there being some accounts of Jane being seen with a young girl in
the late 1880s and early 1890s, a marriage license and birth certificate do not exist.

So who was Calamity Jane? Calamity Jane was a frontierswoman who joined a male
occupation to make a living for her family during the Wild West Era. She quickly realized that
she enjoyed a more masculine lifestyle. It did help that she was not an average looking
woman, nor did she live an average life. Because of her family's travels and parents' deaths,
a life in the Old West was thrust upon her. Due to her stature and employment to provide
for her family, Jane became an early example of gender fluidity. She was a woman, but used
her height and clothes to appear as a man to care for her siblings. Although not much is
known about Jane's personal life, she stands out by breaking some of the gender norms,
especially in a male-dominated Old West.

Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok

Jane headed towards Fort Laramie again and this time she met Wild Bill Hickok while he
was traveling to Deadwood, South Dakota. The two hit it off immediately after drinking
heavily and sharing exaggerated life stories. Jane became quickly enamored with Hickok,
joined the wagon train to Deadwood, and arrived in June of 1876. Jane remained in
Deadwood and nursed its residents stricken by the smallpox epidemic. She also remained
extremely enamored with Hickok.

Wild Bill Hickok was killed on August 2, 1876 while he was sitting at a gambling table in the
Nuttall & Mann's 66 Saloon in Deadwood. He was shot in the back of the head by Jack
McCall while holding a pair of aces. A pair of aces became known as a " dead man's hand."
Hickok's funeral was held the following day with a large crowd and funeral procession. Jane
insisted that a proper grave be built in honor of the man she loved. So, a large enclosure was
built around his burial plot. It was encircled by a three-foot fence with a small American flag
in front of the tombstone in honor of his service in the war.

Jane was heartbroken over Hickok's death. She attempted to get her own revenge against
McCall. She found him at a butcher shop after he killed Hickok and threatened him with a
meat cleaver because she had left her weapons at home. She captured him and had him
taken to a log cabin, but McCall escaped.

On August 3rd, during his trial, McCall claimed he shot Wild Bill Hickok in revenge for killing
his brother. McCall maintained zero remorse. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.
However, the trial held in Deadwood was found to have no legal basis because Deadwood
was located on ''Indian Territory.'' McCall was arrested on August 29, 1876 in Wyoming and
charged with murder. He stood trial in South Dakota and was found guilty in 1877 where he
was hanged for Hickok's murder.

Calamity Jane's Death

Jane remained in Deadwood for a year following Wild Bill's murder. Afterwards, she began
traveling all over the western part of America. While heavily drunk, she told her exaggerated
tales to anyone that would listen. Her stories became slightly popular and her fame began to
grow in the Wild West. Jane joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1895 and she
performed her sharpshooting skills while riding a horse. As a member of this group, she
traveled the Midwest and brought a commercialized version of the Wild West to new
audiences. Jane continued to drink while on tour and would sell her heavily exaggerated
autobiography for pennies to fans.

Around 1900, her rough life began to catch up with her. Calamity Jane died of inflammation
from her heavy drinking habits and pneumonia at the age of 51 on August 2, 1903 near
Deadwood. Jane always insisted she wanted to be buried next to Hickok at Mount Moriah
Cemetery in South Dakota. Knowing that Hickok did not have any romantic interest in Jane,
everyone decided to pull one last laugh on Hickok and honor Jane's wish. Now Hickok would
have to spend the rest of eternity with Calamity Jane.

Calamity Jane became a legend as a character in the Old West. Calamity Jane drank hard,
lived large, and exemplified gender fluidity. Her contributions to the Wild West Era will live
on forever.

Lesson Summary
Calamity Jane was a legendary character during the Wild West era in America. She became
well known for her masculine stature and dress which led her to be an early example of
gender fluidity. After her parents died, Jane had to provide for her siblings at the age of 12.
So, she used her
stature to her
advantage and
dressed as a man to
obtain jobs. She went
on to join General
George Armstrong
Custer's army to
protect and defend
miners while moving
Native American
people who lived in
parts of Arizona onto
reservations. She
traveled across the
West with the army for
years before she
met Wild Bill Hickok.
The moment Jane met
Calamity Jane in feminine clothing Hickok, she instantly
became obsessed.
They drank heavily
together and shared exaggerated stories. Instead of continuing her travels, she followed
Hickok to Deadwood, South Dakota. Despite Jane being in love with him, Hickok did not love
her back.

Wild Bill Hickok was murdered on August 2, 1876 while playing poker. He was shot in the
back of the head by Jack McCall. Jane attempted to get revenge for Hickok's murder, but
McCall was caught by authorities and executed. After Hickok's death, Jane remained in
Deadwood for a year before traveling around the West. She drank heavily and told
exaggerated and fabricated stories about her life. In 1895, Calamity Jane joined Buffalo Bill's
Wild West Show and showcased her gun skills while riding a horse. Jane died of
inflammation from drinking and pneumonia on August 2, 1903 at the age of 51. Calamity
Jane's legacy of being a tough woman who introduced gender fluidity to the Old West lives
on.

What was Calamity Jane's birth name?

A
Margaret Jane Carter
B
Martha Jane Cannary
C
Mary Jane Carnaby
2/5
Why did Calamity Jane dress like a man?
A
To impress Wild Bill Hickok
B
To join the army as a scout
C
To make a living for her and her siblings
3/5
How did Calamity Jane earn her nickname?
A
Earning it as a prostitute
B
Being unharmed after rescuing Wild Bill Hickok
C
Rescuing an army captain unharmed after a battle
4/5
What happened to Calamity Jane when her true gender was discovered?
A
She was celebrated by her fellow troops
B
 She was promoted to a higher rank
C
She was sent away by the army
5/5
How did Calamity Jane die?
A
Inflammation from heavy drinking habits and pneumonia
B
In a horse riding accident
C
From a gunshot wound
1/5
Why did Calamity Jane dress like a man?
A
To obtain jobs that were typically not available to women
2/5
What were some of the challenges Calamity Jane faced as a woman in the Old West?
A
Limited job opportunities and societal expectations of women
3/5
What impact did Calamity Jane have on gender norms in the Old West?
A
She challenged traditional gender roles by openly embracing masculine identity and
lifestyle
4/5
How did Calamity Jane's relationship with Wild Bill Hickok affect her life and choices?
A
She became infatuated with Hickok and followed him to Deadwood, South Dakota
5/5
Why did Calamity Jane join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show?
A
To monetize her fame and showcase her skills as a sharpshooter