Daisy Taugelchee (c. 1909 – September 8, 1990) was a Navajo weaver. The Denver Art Museum declared Taugelchee as "widely considered the most talented Navajo weaver and spinner who ever lived".^[1] In 2004 one of her rugs was featured on a United States Postal Service stamp.

Various dates are given for Taugelchee's birth, including 1909,^[2] circa 1910,^[3] 1911,^[4] and circa 1920.^[5] In her obituary, her birth date was given as April 4, 1909.^[6] She was born on the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona.^[5]

Taugelchee's paternal grandmother was an accomplished weaver known as Sagebrush Hill Woman, herself one of the best of the early Toadlena/Two Grey Hills weavers.^[4] Taugelchee's sister was also a well-regarded weaver.^[7] Taugelchee's mother died in childbirth when she was six years old, and her father died when she was eleven.^[4] In her youth, Daisy was known as Little Man's Daughter (Hastiin Yazhi Bitsi) and was given the name Daisy Marion Yazzie when she went to school.^[4] She attended Albuquerque Indian School for a few years and Phoenix Indian School for another two years.^[4]

In her twenties, she married a man named Chee Taugelchee.^[4] They had three children, Chee Jr., Chester, and Janie Norris.^[7]

She stopped weaving in her later years, but continued assisting the weaving projects of her daughter-in-law, Priscilla Taugelchee.^[8] Taugelchee died September 8, 1990, in Farmington, New Mexico.^[6]

Taugelchee's style is reflective of the Two Grey Hills style, named for the Two Grey Hills trading post in northwestern New Mexico.^[3] Like other weavers in this style, Taugelchee's works are characterized by intricate geometric designs woven with very finely handspun, primarily undyed wool.^[3] She and other master weavers attained a yarn count of 140 threads per inch.^[9] The designs often feature complex stepped or serrated diamond of several layers, enclosed in a border or multiple borders.^[4] The sheep in the area grow wool in a variety of tan, gray, brown, and gold colors; usually only black wool is enhanced with dye.^[4]

She was reputedly the highest paid weaver in the world in the 1950s.^[10] Her works were the most expensive rugs in the trade and she sometimes received thousands of dollars for a single tapestry.^[4] Taugelchee had a close relationship with Charles Herring, the owner of the Two Grey Hills trading post, who encouraged weavers to push themselves artistically.^[4]

Taugelchee regularly won first and grand prizes (best in show) at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.^[11] For forty years, she won consistently at the show, including taking both first and grand prizes in 1946.^[4] Her fine weaving ability led to several new classifications being instituted at the ceremonial.^[4]

Taugelchee taught many weavers her craft, as well as inspiring others with her skill and artistic vision.^[4] She also demonstrated her technique and lectured throughout the United States.^[8]

One of Taugelchee's tapestries was featured by the United States Postal Service on a 37 cent stamp in 2004 as part of a set titled "Art of the American Indian."^[12] The work featured on the stamp was acquired by the Denver Art Museum in 1948; the rug required six miles of yarn to make and was one of Taugelchee's most difficult pieces.^[1]