Penahwenonmi (Helping Another) made this "calendar string" to act as a daily calendar and record personal events in her life. This string itself was made by hand from wild hemp and wrapped with a buckskin strap to keep the calendar bundle together. In size, the oblong ball/calendar bundle is 23 cm x 15 cm.
The earliest dates in the calendar are buried at the center of the calendar bundle. Notably, tied knots and small trade beads of differing colors were used to represent significant days of the week or the person's life. Evidence suggest days are represented by knots, Sundays by a small white bead, and moons by a larger bead. Deaths of fellow Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) members are marked by red beads while the death of Penahwenonmi's (Helping Another's) husband, Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior húusus 'ewyíin (Wounded Head), is represented by a wampum bead. Additionally, new lengths of string for the calendar were smoothly spliced, as needed. Records indicate that Penahwenonmi (Helping Another) did not miss a single knot or bead for the years it was in use as it was marked every day between 1882 and 1937. Penahwenonmi (Helping Another) passed away in 1938.
Notably, calendar strings were only made by Native American women, including Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) women, as a way of recording their life histories and important events in their lives. Evidence suggests this calendar string was given to McWhorter on Christmas 1937.
