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Betty David

1938 – 2007

Native American fashion designer

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About Betty David

Lived 1938 – 2007 (aged 68–69). Betty David was an artist and fashion designer.

Betty David (1938 – August 31, 2007) was a Native American fashion designer renowned for her handmade coats and leather goods.

David was born in Nespelem, Washington; she attended the University of Oregon and Marylhurst College. She was enrolled as a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wellpinit, Washington. She first began selling her hand-sewn coats decorated with painted designs in, in David's own words, "Northwest Coast Indian style," at the Santa Fe Art Market.

Her work was acquired by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum in Evanston, Illinois and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

David described her designs as bridging the divide between nature and abstraction: "'I'm inspired by animals and parts of animals, but I'm not trying to make critters. They're abstract ... It's a new totem pole look.'"

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Important facts

Born
1938, Nespelem
Birth century
Nationality
Spokane people
Education
Marylhurst University, University of Oregon

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Betty David's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Betty David?

native American fashion designer

When was Betty David born?

Betty David was born in 1938 in Nespelem.

When did Betty David die?

Betty David died on 31 August 2007.

What was Betty David's occupation?

Betty David was an artist and fashion designer.

What nationality was Betty David?

Betty David's recorded nationality: Spokane people.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Betty David

· Wikidata: Q98398253

· DBpedia: Betty David

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Betty David. https://biography.guide/betty-david/

MLA: "Betty David." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/betty-david/.

Chicago: "Betty David." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/betty-david/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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