Full-Court Quest (review)

Full-Court Quest is not only the story of ten remarkable American Indian girls who would go on to win the 1904 women’s basketball World Championship but also profiles the development of basketball, the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, and the impact of off-reservation boarding school education efforts by the U.S. government. Despite the many layers involved in bringing together this history in one volume, one thing remains true. This is a story that needs to be told and the authors, Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, do just that, drawing upon many archival resources, including oral interviews, to craft an engaging story.

Fort Shaw Indian Boarding School near Great Falls, Montana, opened its doors in 1891 under the direction of William Winslow who had served as principal teacher and physician at the Chilocco boarding school in Oklahoma. When Winslow arrived on the former military grounds in Montana, he found the property in disarray and quickly began work constructing campus buildings, procuring supplies, and assembling a teaching staff. Then the real challenge began when Winslow turned his attention to recruiting students. The book goes into great detail documenting Winslow’s work in trying to encourage parents that this type of education is essential if Indian children were to survive in the white man’s world. But the distance between the school and the Indians’ homes was always a point of contention. Parents from tribal affiliations on reservations spanning not only Montana but also parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington ended up sending their children to Fort Shaw.

The education prescribed by Fort Shaw and many off-reservation boarding schools served the purpose of assimilating Indian children into the American lifestyle. Students would wear uniforms, speak English, and learn a variety of vocational offerings, such as industrial arts for the boys and domestic arts for the girls. Marching and keeping order were also highlighted, along with music and physical culture activities.

Basketball at Fort Shaw could not have come into play without Josephine Langley. Winslow offered a staff position to the young Indian woman, who grew up in the boarding school system. While working at Fort Shaw, she was noticed by a visiting Colonel Richard Pratt, head of the famed Carlisle boarding school. It was during her short tenure at Carlisle where Josie first witnessed a game of girls “basket ball” and was taken by the sport. Langley would eventually return to Fort Shaw after a brief illness and resume her staff position. She would introduce the sport to Fort Shaw girls, and she actively lobbied for equipment and uniforms, although Superintendent Winslow was not yet sold on budgeting funds toward this effort.

While Winslow would help build and establish a strong school and foster community support in the town of Great Falls, he would eventually step down and turn over the school’s reins to F. C. Campbell. Campbell was also impressed with basketball and saw great potential in the team Langley put together. Because Fort Shaw was years ahead of most schools in Montana as well as the rest of the country, girls’ basketball started increasing in popularity. Finally, the athletes of Fort Shaw were able to test their skills and abilities against opponents from around the state, losing a few early games, but winning a lot more in packed halls or outdoor courts. As the team started to gain more and more recognition, it began to tour the state and assist in recruiting trips. While basketball was always front and center, the girls would also highlight their other performance skills to crowds, mixing in concerts or oration either before or after contests.

In the book, the authors detail the lives of the players and those around them. The impact of being away from family also takes center stage, from dealing with the death of parents and siblings to coping with changes in family dynamics. For many of the girls, basketball was a grounding force that continued to foster an important sisterhood among team...