Theda Douglas Rushing

RUSHING, Theda Douglas died March 26, 2014. She was born August 27, 1915, to Melissa Cosar Douglas and James Andrew Douglas, on her mother's allotment west of Eufaula, Oklahoma. She was the granddaughter of Lucinda Lewis Cosar and George Cosar, Lighthorse and the great granddaughter of Polly Proctor Lewis and Jackson Lewis (Lahte Yahola), a survivor of the Trail of Tears, medicine man for the Mvskoke (Creek), and Lieutenant in the Civil War. Theda was preceded in death by her husband of 64-years, Jack Rushing; her parents; her sister Jerlena Douglas King; and her brothers, John, James, and Clarence Douglas. She is survived by her daughter, Bettie Rushing of Albuquerque; son, Jack Douglas and his wife Barbara of Audubon, Pennsylvania; grandson, Woodrow Robert Rushing of Albuquerque; grandson, Jack Douglas Rushing Jr., his wife Carol, and their children Grant, Audrey, and Miles, of Rockville, Maryland; and many nephews and nieces, their children, and grandchildren. A graduate of Haskell Institute, Theda accepted a Civil Service position at the Albuquerque Indian School, in 1937. She taught typing at the Albuquerque Indian School and performed secretarial work at both the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Indian Schools. In 1946, she resigned to make a home for her family and pursue her love of art. With God-given talent, she was proficient in many art forms. She designed and custom-made hundreds of dresses that incorporated Native American designs and used similar motifs to design notions for Oppenheimer of New York. Her first one-woman show was a full window display at the Palmer House in Chicago; followed by a month-long exhibit of a child's dress at the National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; and, later, juried exhibitions in many western states. In 1961, Theda returned to work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. That same year, she was commissioned by the University of New Mexico to execute the first 6' x 7' UNM seal, in felt fabric. The banner was used as a backdrop at official UNM functions until 1980, when the seal was redesigned. Theda executed the redesigned seal in felt, and the original banner was retired and displayed at Hodgin Hall on the UNM campus. Also, she created banners for the UNM School of Law and the UNM School of Medicine. In 1994, the UNM Regents presented her with a Meritorious Service Award. She was most proud of the assistance she provided to Felix S. Cohen, attorney and author of the "Handbook of American Indian Law", in the 1947 litigation that affirmed the right of Pueblo Indians to vote in State of New Mexico elections. Mr. Cohen, Miguel Trujillo, Principal of the Isleta Day School, and Theda completed this historic work on a table in her living room. Her papers were added to those of Mr. Cohen at Yale University. She retired in 1977, as secretary for the BIA Area Director in Albuquerque and began designing in clay and batik. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, and for 26-years she served as the State treasurer for the National League of American Pen Women. She enjoyed travelling and ballroom dancing with her husband, Jack. Services were held for the family at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. A memorial will be held at 11:00 a.m., May 17, 2014, at the University of New Mexico Alumni Memorial Chapel, Albuquerque, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, Theda requested contributions be made to the University of New Mexico Foundation for the Jack and Theda Rushing Baseball and Track Scholarship.