Ida Johnson edited the Halaquah Times, the publication of the literary society at the Seneca Indian School in the early 1870s. She was assisted by her associate Julia Robitaille (Wyandot). Only two undated handwritten issues are known to exist. Johnson was also the first “editress” of the Hallaquah. She attended Earlham College in 1883 and later became a teacher in the Indian Service.
Arizona Jackson and Lula Walker founded the Hallaquah with Ida Johnson and were associate editors for the first three issues; all three young women assumed the editorship in the March–April 1880 issue. A brief profile of Arizona Jackson is in the Letters section of this book. Although there is little biographical information known about Lula Walker, I do know that she was born in Kansas and was an older sister of Bertrand N. O. Walker. (Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center; Earlham College Bulletin, August 1916, 93; Littlefield and Parins, American Indian, 143–45)
We desire and intend that the Hallaquah shall represent the spirit of our school, and always speak in behalf of its interest. Supported directly by the Hallaquah Society, it yet is intended to be a true exponent of the Seneca, Shawnee and Wyandotte Industrial Boarding School, and a news letter to the neighboring people as well as for the pupils.
We do not aspire after “literary honors,” but we expect—“to shine in our corner,—you, in yours.” Interesting extracts from letters relating to our, and other Mission work will be inserted at different times. News relating to the different Missions and neighborhood will be the prime feature of this paper, and any “locals” relating to the same will be gratefully received and acknowledged.
Everything in “getting out” a paper is new to us. We never before attempted to write an editorial for printed paper or to set up a line of type, and we never before expected to make so much “pi” in so short a time and do it so easily.
We pray you—“Don’t view us with a critic’s eye but pass our imperfections by.”
We are very much encouraged by the interest manifested in our little paper, by our friends far and near. Our exchange list is headed by the Olathe Gazette; and we have read in other papers the kind words with which it has been received. So much encouraged are we that we are induced to publish another number, hoping it will meet with as much favor if not more, than the first issue.
We publish a written number every Thursday evening. A portion of which is read at intervals, during the exercises of the literary society, and is found to be one of the best means of securing and maintaining an interest among the pupils and those who attend from the outside.
With the Matrons’ help we have set up all the type for this issue and we now hope to be able before long to do all the work ourselves. News-paper making isn’t play, and then it is not at all pleasant after we have done the best we can and the type are all distributed to find someone who tells us, “Why didn’t you do this way, or that way it would have been so much better.”
But then we have some very good friends who have told us that the last paper was better than the first one and that shall help us to try to do our best on this one.
Send us a few subscriptions; we want to buy some new type, rules, ink, and paper.
Our little “STAR” is still shining in its corner as bright as ever though it was a little late making its appearance before the public this month. The reason it is so late is that two of the Editors were absent; also we were late getting moved into our new Office; and now we are moved a little further from the Matron we will have more of the work to do ourselves, which of course will do us more good than harm: we are getting along so well without very much help this month that we expect to try to do all of the work alone for the next issue.
After this issue of the Hallaquah, there will be but one more number of this volume. We had thought that every number we had published, that the next one would be easier, but each time we find new difficulties to overcome and as two of the Editors are away this time, there is more work for one to do than usual, and that is somewhat mixed up with tonic powders, quinine, and about fifty girls to look after.