National Anthropological Archives
J.N.B. Hewitt photographs of Iroquois people on the Six Nations Reservation, circa 1897-circa 1937
Hewitt, J. N. B. (John Napoleon Brinton), 1859-1937
NAA.PhotoLot.155
Archival Resource Key
307 Photographs
2 document boxes
silver gelatin
305 Negatives (photographic)
3 negative boxes
nitrate
circa 1897-circa 1937
Photographs documenting Iroquois people made circa 1897-circa 1937 on and near the Six Nations Reserve by J.N.B. Hewitt, linguist with the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology.
English
.
Biographical note
J.N.B. (John Napoleon Brinton) Hewitt (December 6, 1859-October 14, 1937) was a linguist and ethnographer who specialized in Iroquoian and other Native American languages. Born on the Tuscarora Reservation near Lewiston, New York, his mother was of Tuscarora, French, Oneida, and Scottish descent. His father's heritage was English and Scottish, but he was raised in a Tuscarora family. Hewitt spoke English growing up, but when he left the reservation to attend schools in Wilson and Lockport, he learned to speak the Tuscarora language from other students. Hewitt grew up planning to become a physician, like his father. However, the course of Hewitt's interests changed when, in 1880, he was hired by Erminnie A. Smith of the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of Ethnology (now the Bureau of American Ethnology) as an assistant ethnologist tasked with collecting myths among the Iroquoian tribes of New York. He continued this work from 1880-1884, and then was briefly employed by the Jersey City Railways Co. (1884-1885) and Adams Express Co. (1885-1886). Upon Smith's death in 1886, Hewitt returned to the BAE to continue her work, remaining employed there until his death.
Over the course of his career, Hewitt became the leading authority on the organization of the Iroquois League and the ceremonials, customs, and usages of the tribes composing it. He acquired an intimate knowledge of the languages of the League, including a speaking knowledge of Mohawk and Onondaga, and also became acquainted with several Algonquian dialects. On February 28, 1914, in recognition of his services in preserving for posterity a knowledge of the history and ethnology of the Iroquoian people of New York state, he was awarded the Cornplanter medal for Iroquois Research.
Additionally, he was a founder of the American Anthropological Association and an active member of the Anthropological Society of Washington and the American Museum of Natural History, serving as both treasurer (1912-1926) and president (1932-1934) of the latter. Hewitt also contributed over one hundred articles for the
Handbook of American Indians (Bulletin 30) and published the two volume Iroquoian Cosmology (1903 and 1928).
Arrangement note
For Photo Lot 155 Hewitt's original arrangement and numbering has been maintained. The order of the photographs does not follow the chronology that they were taken; for instance there are often several photographs of an individual that were clearly made in different years. The original negatives also represent a variety of film and camera types.
The arrangement and numbering for MS 4596, established at an unknown time, was maintained.
Scope and Contents note
Hewitt's photos primarily depict Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga, Tuscarora, Oneida, and Tutelo peoples. There are also a few images of Iroquois houses and other structures, Hewitt's mask collection, and Onondaga Chief John Buck and family, Seneca Chief John Arthur Gibson and family, Cayuga Chief James Jamieson and family, and Cayuga-Seneca Chief Simeon Gibson. Most of the photographs were taken during several trips between 1897 and 1937, on and near the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario (Oshweken, Deseronto, and Brantsford), and New York (Niagara Falls, Nedrow, and Syracuse).
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot 155, J.N.B. Hewitt photographs of Iroquois people on the Six Nations Reservation, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Existence and Location of Originals
There is probably one nitrate negative that belongs to this collection stored at the Library of Congress cold vault in box 6207.
Custodial History note
Previous to processing in 2011, Hewitt's negatives and prints were stored variously over the years. Some of the prints were assigned manuscript number 4596 and were filed in Photo Lot 24. The prints matching the original negatives in "Negative Books" I-IV (now called Photo Lot 155) were filed under "Iroquois" in the "Reference Print Files" in the NAA reading room.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Processing Information
All prints and negatives, formerly disassociated from each other, were reunited in 2011. The photographs forming MS 4596 were relocated to this collection from Photo Lot 24 and the prints matching Hewitt's original negatives filed in "Negative Books" I-IV were removed from the Reference Print Files. Polyester copy negatives were made for the original nitrate negatives at some point in the past. The collection was processed by Gina Rappaport, 2011.
Most of the image identifications came from previous inventories. The inventory for "Negative Vol. I" states:
"The captions in this list were compiled from captions found on the backs of original prints in the handwriting of J.N.B. Hewitt and of Mae W. Tucker, his secretary; from the list of captions in Miss Tucker's writing at the front of each book of negatives; and occassionally from captions published in the Smithsonian Institution Explorations and Field Work. The margins of the negatives were also checked for written information, but only one of two instances of this were found."
The collection was partially processed by Gina Rappaport in 2011 and completed and encoded by Eden Orelove in 2016.
Description note
Identifications for "Negative Books" II-IV come largely from typed lists in the old BAE photograph catalog. Identifications for photographs previously in MS4596 come primarily from captions written on the negatives.
Collection and image descriptions provided in this finding aid were compiled using the best available sources of information. Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material (i.e. documents, publications, and websites), and subject matter experts. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, it is understood that errors may reveal themselves following review by other subject experts, and new information is welcome.
Publication Note
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1926
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1929
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1930
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1932
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1936
Iroquois [Six Nations/Grand River (Brantford, Ontario)]
Sioux
Onondaga
Wampum
Photographs
Trade, gifts and other exchanges -- Wampum
Wampum -- Iroquois
Seneca
Indians of North America -- Southern states
Indians of North America -- Great Plains
Tuscarora
Cayuga
Dakota Indians
Mohawk
Iroquois
Tutelo
Oneida
Jamieson, James Mrs
Buck, John, Chief
Jamieson
Buck, Joshua
General, Myrtle
Hill, George
Jamieson, Clara Miss
Buck, Susan
Sandy, William
Sandy, William Mrs
General, Mrs.
Hill, Simon
Buck, Emeline
Gibson, Simeon, 1889-1943
Abram, Charles, Chief
"Portrait of old John Buck - Onondaga"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.1
Profile view of man
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.2
"Jamieson - Mohawk Cayuga"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.3-4
"Mrs. James Jamieson Jr. and youngest"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.5
"John Buck (31 years old) Sioux Onondaga and part Tutelo. 'Bout the best informed rooster there is over here this devil is."
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.6-7
"James Jamieson's children (5 + 7)"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.8
"Wm Sandy and wife. Mrs. S. = Onondaga-Tutelo"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
3596.9
"Mrs. General"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.10-11
Beaded wampum belts and pipe
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.12
Group of seven men displaying beaded wampum belts and pipe
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.13-14
Man sitting in chair holding what is possibly a beaded shash
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.15
Boy standing behind chair
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.16
"Mohawk child Myrtle General"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.17
"George Hill - drowned 1897 age 23."
Archival Resource Key
1897
1
1
4596.18
"Miss Clara Jamieson - Mohawk-Cayuga"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.19-20
"Susan Buck - Keeper of Wampum belts. Onondaga-Tutelo"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.21
"Emeline Buck - Onondaga Tutelo"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596
"Simon Hill - Mohawk-Seneca (about 60)"
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.23-24
Girl
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.25
Woman holding baby girl
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.27-28
Old woman, seated
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.29
Old man, seated
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.3
Man standing beside house
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.31
Woman standing in clearing, trees behind
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.32
General
No negative
Group of four women, child and two men by a fence
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.33
General
No negative
Man standing by fence
Archival Resource Key
1
1
4596.34
General
No negative
Mohawk-Onondaga man Seth Newhouse "at age 63"
Archival Resource Key
1897
1
2
I.1
General
No negative
Seth Newhouse's wife and children
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.2
Two girls
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.3
Cayuga Chief James Jamieson wearing wampum
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.4-6b
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1932, p. 82
Julia Jamieson, wife of Chief James Jamieson
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.7-8
Possibly Joe General
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.9a-b
General
No negative for 9b
William Sandy "Full blood Cayuga, age 50" (left); "Great medicine man and silversmith age 73" (right)
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.10
General
No negative
William Loft and grandchildren
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.11
General
No negative
Mohawk man William Loft "of Deseronto [Ontario]"
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.12
General
No negative
William Loft's house in Brantsford, Ontario
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.13
Tutelo-Onondaga man Joshua Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.14-16
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1926, p. 238
Onondaga-Mohawk girl Edna Gibson
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.17
Seneca Chief John Arthur Gibson
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.18
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1932, p. 238
Wife of Seneca Chief John Arthur Gibson
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.19-20
John Hardy Gibson and children
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.21-26
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1930, p. 202
Wife of Peter Garlowe, "mother of six"
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.27
General
No negative
J.N.B. Hewitt sitting at desk
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.28
General
The image has a faint double exposure.
Oshweken Agricultural Society fairground building
Archival Resource Key
1
2
I.29
Wampum strings
Archival Resource Key
1
3
I.30
Chief James Jamieson's wampum
Archival Resource Key
1898
1
3
I.31-35
Six Nations Seneca Chief Asa Hill (left) and Cayuga Chief David Jack (right) with wampum
Archival Resource Key
Ca 1925
1
3
I.36-38
General
No negative for I.38
Cayuga-Seneca man Simeon Gibson in army uniform
Archival Resource Key
1915
1
3
I.39
Cayuga-Seneca Chief Simeon Gibson
Archival Resource Key
Ca 1930
1
3
I.40a-41
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1930, p. 203
Simeon Gibson and children, including Rosa (Rosie?), Vera, Anita, and sons. Rosie became "Mrs. Walter Bomberry"
Archival Resource Key
1
3
I.42-56
General
No print for I.48-49
Simeon Gibson and mother (wife of Chief John Arthur Gibson)
Archival Resource Key
1
3
I.57-58
General
No print for I.58
Chief John Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.59-63
Chief John and Esther (Hanna?) Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.64
Chief John Buck's log house on Six Nations Reservation
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.65
Children of John and Esther Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.66
Onondaga Chief David John with grandchild and Mohawk man Levi Bomberry
Archival Resource Key
1931
1
4
I.67-70
General
No print for I.68
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1931
Onondaga Chief David John with sons Peter (left) and Leman (right), and grandchild
Archival Resource Key
1931
1
4
I.71
Mohawk-Onondaga man Leman John with son
Archival Resource Key
1931
1
4
I.72
Chief John and Hanna (Esther?) Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.73
Esther Buck with J.N.B. and Mrs. Hewitt in front of log house
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.74-75
General
No negative for I.75
Esther Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.76
Isaac John Hill (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
4
I.78-79
General
No negative for I.78
Mohawk Chief A.G. Smith
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.80
Mohawk man John Henhawk with wife and baby
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.81-83
Mrs. George Green (Cayuga) of Oshweken and little girl, later "Mrs. Hardy Turkey, nee Johnson" (Cayuga)
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.84
Mohawk woman Beulah Martin
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.85
Mohawk man George Martin
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.86
Tuscarora man
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.87-88
Cayuga man "Thomas"
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.89
Man, "not Six Nations reserve"
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.90
Billy Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.91
Possibly Joshua Billy Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.92
Onondaga Chief Jesse Lewis, "half brother of Mrs. Peter Williams
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.93-95
Onondaga or Oneida man, possibly in New York
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.96
Onondaga woman Mrs. Henry, "half sister of Mrs. Peter Williams."
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.97
General
No negative
Tuscarora woman Mrs. A.G. Smith, "Hewitt's informant of 1937"
Archival Resource Key
1
5
I.99-100
Alexander and Mrs. Sherry, Oshweken (Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1929
1
6
II.1
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1929, p. 202
Seneca Chief Swoke
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.2-3
Onondaga cookhouse on Six Nations Reservation
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.4
Sour Springs long house, possibly Cayuga
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.5
Group photograph of Sour Springs Cayuga La Crosse team
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.6-7
Group photograph of Onondaga Royal Reds La Crosse team
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.8
Chiefswood Ferry sign
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.9
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1931
Onondaga woman Phoebe Lyons with young woman
Archival Resource Key
1
6
II.10-13
Onondaga woman with baby in cradleboard
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.14-17
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1926, p. 245
Onondaga family
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.18-19
Onondaga family
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.20-23
Cascades in river "near George Every's house," Onondaga reservation, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.24
Onondaga lo house in Onondaga Valley, Syracuse, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.25
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.26
Log house
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.27-29
Onondaga man
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.30-31
Onondaga man
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.32
Chief Emmet Lyons, "Native singer," Syracuse, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.33
General
No print
Alec Clute, Nedrow, New York ("Seneca of Tonawanda")
Archival Resource Key
1
7
II.34
Tuscarora women including Matilda Hill and daughter Norma, Sadie Johnson, Mary Patterson, Eunice Merick, Susan Jacobs, Norma Hill, and Sophronia Thompson selling beadwork at outdoor tables, Niagara Falls, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.35-42
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1931
Group selling beadwork at outdoor tables
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.43
Man
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.44
Tuscarora Chiefs Richard (left) and Willie (right) Chew and another man
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.45-48
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.49-50
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.51
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.52
Helen Beaver
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.53-54
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.55
Rebecca Stirling, "Mississagua, but Mohawk by birth"
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.56
Mrs. John Arthur Gibson
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.57
Tuscarora man holding baby
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.58
Chief John Snow of Oshweken
Archival Resource Key
1
8
II.59
Seneca man Asa Hill wearing beaded garments and feathered headdress
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.60-62
Possibly chief wearing headdress and woven sash, and two women
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.63
Onondaga man Jake Stykes with daughter in law
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.64-65
Jake Stykes with son Norman
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.66
Jake Stykes with brother in law Chief John Buck
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.67
Tuscarora Chief Richard Hill
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.68
Group photograph of Johns Field Baptist Church choir or congregation
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.69-70
Mohawk man Roy Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.71
Onondaga-Mohawk man David Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.72
Bearfoot Onondaga man John White and family, including Roy Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.73
Bearfoot Onondaga man John White, "age 80"
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.74
J.N.B. Hewitt and Tuscarora woman Mrs. Martin
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.75
Log house
Archival Resource Key
1
9
II.76
Possibly family members in front of wooden building. "Clause, Sims, King, Monture."
Archival Resource Key
1932
1
9
II.77-84
General
No prints for 79-81, 84
Painting "on the backs of false faces"
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.85-86
Bearfoot Cayuga man Jacob Hess, Sr.
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.88-93
General
No prints for 89, 91, and 93
Cayuga Chief Joseph Logan
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.94-95
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1932, p. 83
Young man in military uniform
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.96
Onondaga man David Sky
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.97-98
General
No print
Mohawk man Jim Bunham
Archival Resource Key
1
10
II.99-100
Alexander, Mrs. Sherry, and daughter, of Oshweken (Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
11
III.1-5
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1929, p. 202
John and Esther Buck with children and J.N.B. Hewitt and wife in front of Buck's log house
Archival Resource Key
1
11
III.6-11
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1929, p. 202
RCMP barracks in Oshweken, Ontario
Archival Resource Key
1
11
III.12-13
Lady Willingden Hospital in Oshweken, Ontario
Archival Resource Key
1
11
III.14-15
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1929, p. 203
Tuscarora man Alexander Sherry
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.17
Jesse Greene, ferryman at Chiefswood
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.18a-b
Ferry at Chiefswood
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.19
John Van Avery and mother picking tobacco
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.20-21
General
See
Explorations and Fieldwork of the Smithsonian Institution, 1936, p. 85
Mrs. Bearfoot and daughter. "Mrs Bearfoot is the daughter of Mrs. Van Avery"
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.22-23
Tuscarora woman Maggie Martin
Archival Resource Key
1937
1
12
III.24-25
Beretha (?) Jamieson and baby Howard
Archival Resource Key
1937
1
12
III.26-27
Maggie Martin and son Andrew
Archival Resource Key
1937
1
12
III.28-29
Andrew Martin and baby Howard Jamieson
Archival Resource Key
1937
1
12
III.30
Man
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.31
Man
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.32
Small children
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.33
Man
Archival Resource Key
1
12
III.34
Man
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.35-36
Girl
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.37
Tombstone of William Smith. Tombstone reads "died by kick of a horse"
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.38-40
Wife and daughters of Simeon Gibson
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.41-45
Helen Beaver
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.46-47
Silas Hewitt
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.48-49
Mrs. A. G. Smith
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.50
House of Mrs. A. G. Smith
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.51
David Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.52
General
No print
Bearfoot Onondaga man John White and family, including Roy Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.53-54
Two small boys
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.55
District school house at St. John's on Six Nations Reservation
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.56
Man, "Clause"
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.57
Cayuga Chief Joseph Jacobs
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.58
General
No print
Woman
Archival Resource Key
1
13
III.59
Ruby Elliott
Archival Resource Key
1929
1
13
III.60
General
No negative
Cayuga Chief Abram Charles
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.1-2
J.N.B. Hewitt and Cayuga Chief Abram Charles
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.3
Onandaga woman Mrs. Hill
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.4
General
No negative
Son of Mrs. Hill
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.5
Home of Mrs. Hill
Archival Resource Key
1
14
VI.6
General
No negative
Man (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.7
General
No print
Man (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.8
General
No print
Two women (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.9-10
Woman (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.11
General
No print
Man (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.12
General
No print
Two boys and a girl (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.13
General
No print
Boy (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.14
General
No print
Cayuga Chief Joseph Jacobs
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.15-16
Woman (possibly Tuscarora)
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.17
General
No print
"J.N.B. Hewitt's mask collection of 1916, deposited in the Nat. Museum."
Archival Resource Key
1
14
IV.18-29
General
No prints
General
Note in log book: "W.N. Fenton has prints and cat. nos. of same specimens."
David Thomas' log house
Archival Resource Key
14
14
IV.30
Original "negative books" I-IV with list of identifications
Archival Resource Key
2
Original negatives from "negative book" I
Archival Resource Key
N1
Original negatives from "negative book" II and IV
Archival Resource Key
N2
Original negatives from "negative book" III and original negatives from MS 4596
Archival Resource Key
N3