Summersode 9: The Woman That Lives Alone on the Mountain
Nynyiramachabelli, the woman that lives alone on the Mountain, is a Rwandan word used to describe gorilla conservationist Dian Fossey on her grave in Rwanda. It was the name given to her by Rwandan’s who lived near her in the Virugan Mountains of Rwanda. In 1963, Fossey first arrived on the continent of Africa. It would soon after become her permanent home until her murdered body was found in the early morning hours of December 27, 1985.
Listen to Part 1 of The Woman That Lives Alone on the Mountain, as we discuss what drew Fossey to Africa and her work with the gorillas she loved, the horrendous way she dealt with some poachers, and her death. Then we explore a fascinating family tree which helps us understand her more, but also delves into the troubled relationship she had with her parents as well as another tragic murder in her family.
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Summersode 9: The Woman That Lives Alone on the Mountain, Part 1
Just months before here death.
Source: The Fresno Bee, 26 Jul 1985
Dian in the jungle.
Source: Sunday Telegraph, 2 Oct 1988
Source: Star-Tribune, 24 may 1981
Before she worked with gorillas, Fossey was an occupational therapist in Louisville, Kentucky.
Source: The Courier Journal, 23 Feb 1958
A photo taken of Fossey at work just before her first trip to Africa.
Source: The Courier Journal, 18 Aug 1963
Dian Fossey
Source: Daily Independent Journal, 14 Nov 1968
Finding photos of Fossey’s immediate family members was nearly impossible but I did locate this photo of her step-father Richard Calvert Price (center).
Source: The Times (CA), 28 Feb 1967
The result of the challenge to Dian Fossey’s alleged hand-written will.
Source: The Ithaca Journal, 15 Jan 1988
A portion of the ship manifest that indicated George Fossey worked for the U.S. Naval Civil Service in 1952.
The story covering George E. Fossey’s trout farm.
Source: San Anselmo Herald, 30 Oct 1941
The account of John F. “Blackie” Rozell’s arrest after making threats against the family of his wife Mabel Coral Kidd, aunt of Dian Fossey and sister of Dian’s mother Hazel.
Source: The Fresno Morning Republican, 25 Jun 1924
The murder of John F. “Blackie” Rozell
Source: The Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan 1933
Paul Kidd was the uncle of Dian Fossey on her mother’s side.
Source: The Fresno Morning Republican, 13 Jul 1913
A newspaper story covering the fall of Paul Kidd, Dian’s maternal uncle.
Source: The Fresno Morning Republican, 28 Aug 1913
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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Recommended Reading
Gorillas in the Mist by Dr. Dian Fossey
A Forest in the Clouds by John Fowler
”It’s Time to Stop Lionizing Dian Fossey as a Conservation Hero”, blog post by Michelle A. Rodrigues
SOURCES
“Remembering Dian Fossey’s Grave Site”, blog post by Dr. Shirley McGreal
”American Found Guilty in Absentia of Rwanda Killing of Gorilla Expert Fossey”, Los Angeles Times
“Rwandan murder conviction haunts Oklahoma scientist Gorilla expert claims innocence, but struggles back home persist” by Susan Parrott, The Oklahoman
”Giants of the Jungle” by Tunku Varadarajan, Wall Street Journal
A Brief History of the Alpine Dam
Great Migration (of Arkansas)
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.