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Lucy Telles (c.1885 - 1955) was a Paiute Native American born near Mono Lake, in Mono County California. Her American Indian name was Pa-ma-has which translates to meadows in the Paiute language.[1] Her parents were Louisa and Bridgeport Tom. Her maternal grandparents were Mono Lake Paiute Captain Sam and Yosemite Paiute Susie Sam. She lived with her family both in Yosemite Valley and at Mono Lake. She caught fish in the Valley to sell to hotelkeepers and played near Galen Clark's cabin. Lucy's first husband was a Paiute named Jack Parker, but after his death she married John Telles, a Mexican-American from Texas. John worked as a truck driver and laborer for the Curry Company and they lived in Yosemite Valley. Lucy was best known for her fine baskets. She has several baskets featured at the Yosemite National Park Indian museum. Lucy sold her baskets to Yosemite visitors. She won a prize of $100.00 for her baskets in 1924. Her most famous basket was the largest known to have been woven in Yosemite Valley. It sold for $250.00 in 1939. Lucy demonstrated basket making to park visitors from 1930 until her death in 1955. She was one of the most prolific California and Yosemite – Mono Lake Paiute basket makers.
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