Katharina Buczek
“I name you Calamity Jane, the heroine of the plains,” he said.
However, a second theory is a bit less dramatic and claims that the name “Jane” was simply a common nickname given to Wild West women. And, since her life was filled with calamity– or disaster– people began to call her “Calamity Jane.”
No matter how the nickname truly came about, though, it really stuck throughout Martha Jane’s life.
The Pioneer Woman’s Soft Side
And despite the name “Calamity Jane” earning her a hardened reputation as a female outlaw, the famed woman was also known for her altruistic personality.
In 1895, the Black Hills Daily Times of South Dakota even described Calamity as a friend to all.
“She has always been known for her friendliness, generosity, and happy cordial manner. It did not matter to her whether a person was rich or poor, white or black, or what their circumstances were,” the paper began.
“Calamity Jane was just the same to all. Her purse was always open to help a hungry fellow, and she was one of the first to proffer her help in cases of sickness, accidents, or any distress.”
She even reportedly helped care for eight gold miners who contracted smallpox in 1878.
Calamity Jane’s Legacy
In the modern day, Calamity Jane has been revered for her talents and triumphs as “a talented pioneer in a man’s world.”
