Frank Kenjockety and Louis Belmont Newell Native American Entertainers collection
Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadbast materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Processed by Rachel Menyuk, Archives Technician in 2013.
Along with the archival materials, five additional objects were purchased and are a part of the NMAI Ethnology collection. They have catalog numbers 26/5414 through 26/5418 and include outfits supposedly worn by Frank Kenjockety "Chief Strong Fox" and his wife Leona Kenjockety.
All of the photographs in this collection are located in cool storage and arranged in folders by their catalog numbers.
This collection is arranged in two series;
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Frank Kenjockety and Louis B. Newell Native American Entertainers collection, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
The Native American Entertainers collection includes ephemera, documents and photographs from two prominent Native American entertainers, Frank Kenjockety, also known as "Chief Strong Fox" and Louis Belmont Newell, also known as "Rolling Thunder". Kenjockety's collection contains photographs, ephemera and a small amount of personal records from his career as a circus troupe leader and lecturer from 1909-1940. Newell's collection contains ephemera from his career as a traveling Medicine Man and entertainer from the 1880's until the 1930's. This includes remedy and ointment packaging as well as broadsides and flyers.
This collection of Native American Entertainers materials was put together by Crown Collectibles, a privately held historical research company based out of Richmond Virginia.
Known to his family as Belmont and to the public as Chief Rolling Thunder,
This collection was purchased in 2005.
The Frank Kenjockety collection contains photographs, documents and ephemera from Kenjockety's time as an entertainer and Vaudeville troup leader from the early 1900's to the late 1930's. Also called "Chief Strong Fox," Kenjockety travelled extensively on the east coast with his troupe of performers. Photographs includes portraits of perfomers in Kenjockety's troupe, including photographs of Mabel Kenjockety, Frank Kenjockety's daughter and half-tones of Princess Sa Lillian. There are also group pictures of Kenjockety's troupe in front of various venues. Ephemera includes broadsides, flyers, tickets and stationary. There is also a scrapbook that includes letters, clippings and reviews from Kenjockety's later years touring schools as well as a Father's day card from Mabel to Frank.
Mabel DeOrlo's (nee Kenjockety) Appointment Book
Scrapbook: Recommendation Letters, Clippings, Enrollment Letters
Script Idea, Father's Day Card from Mabel
Boyce's Historical Entertainment, Broadsides
Boyce's Historical Entertainment, Tickets
F.L. Kenjockety, Band Director, Musician's Contract
F.L. Kenjockety's Society Circus and Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Flyers
Kenjockety's Frontier Wild West and Indian Village Show, Flyer and Contract
Letterheads and Envelopes
Sarrasani Nieuwe Circus, Tickets, Ten Big Acts, Broadsides
"The Red House Indian Harmonica Band" Broadside
Frank Kenjockety, "Chief Strong Fox"
Portrait of Frank Kenjockety (Cayuga), also known by his show name 'Chief Strong Fox,' in traditional clothing including a feather headdress, beaded pouch, and face paint. He stands in front of a wire fence at Moscow High School in Pennsylvania.
Frank Kenjockety with Wife (Leona) and Daughter (Mabel)
Portrait of Frank Kenjockety (Cayuga), also known by his show name 'Chief Strong Fox,' his daughter Mabel (on left) and his wife, Leona (on right), all standing in front of a tipi. Chief Strong Fox is wearing traditional attire, including a feather headdress and beaded clothing, while women are wearing fringed and beaded dresses.
Chief Strong Fox Troupe on Stage
Frank Kenjockety (Cayuga), also known by his show name 'Chief Strong Fox,' and his troupe of thirteen Native American performers. Group, dressed in traditional clothing, stand in a semi-circle on stage, while one man walks across the stage. Included in the picture are Chief Strong Fox (fourth from the left), his wife Leona (third from left), and their daughter Mabel (fifth from left). Lawrence Pierce, brother to Leona, is throwing knives in the center. Also included in this image are Moybee, Phidalia, Lillian Pierce and Robert Jr. Swihart.
Frank Kenjockety with Al Sigl
Al Sigl, Times-Union new broadcaster, interviewing Frank Kenjockety (Cayuga), also known by his show name 'Chief Strong Fox.' Fox wears traditional clothing, including a feather headdress, and sits next to the desk where Sigl is reporting.
Chief Strong Fox Troupe with Prin. Stanley Johnson and his Seneca Harmonica Band
Outdoor group portrait of the combined troupes of Prin. Stanley W. Johnson and his Seneca harmonica band (young boys in white shirts) and the six members of Chief Strong Fox's troupe. Back row (L-R): Robert Swihart, Fancher Pierce, Leona Kenjockety, Mabel Kenjockety, unknown, Frank Kenjockety. Prin. Stanley Johnson is kneeling in front of Frank Kenjockety (Chief Strong Fox) on the right. They are in Salamanca, New York.
Unknown Man Posing on Horse
Man standing on the back of a horse posing in front of an architectural backdrop; part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) performing troupe act.
Men in front of Sautelle's Wild Animal Arena and Annex
Business men and band members with their instruments posing in front of a sign that reads, "Sig. Sautelle's wild animal Arena and Annex, Admission 10 cents" in Homer, New York.
Unknown Man with Chimes and Bells
A young man stands with his horse in front of chimes and bells on an apparatus; possibly part of a musical act for Frank Kenjockety's (aka Chief Strong Fox) troupe.
Group of Uniformed Men with Horse
Outside, a group of unidentified Native men in uniform pose with a harnessed horse.
Group of Men in a Field
Group of men, some dressed in cowboy hats and scout uniforms, standing in a field; three are on horseback.
Unknown Man with Trombone
Portrait of a man holding a trombone and wearing a band uniform; possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) performing troupe.
Billie Palmer
Studio portrait of Billie Palmer wearing an overcoat and holding a hat, while posing in front of a curtain.
Charles Wheat, Equilibrist
Studio portrait of Charles Wheat, an equilibrist in a leotard costume (P33933) and in a suit and tie (P33934).
The Mysterious Lewis, Marvelous Wizard
Man known as Mysterious Lewis, Marvelous Wizard, with his arms and legs bound in chains; possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) performing troupe.
Unknown Woman with Horse
Horse drinking from a cup that a young woman is holding at the Shrum's Ice Cream cart; possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Princess Sa Lillian in various poses
Portraits of Princess Sa Lillian in various costumes and poses. Possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Princess Sa Lillian in various poses
Portraits of Princess Sa Lillian in various costumes and poses. Possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
David Nicholson, Contortionist
Portrait of contortionist David Nicholson posing with one leg behind his head; possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Native American Baseball Team Portrait
Native American baseball team photo; men in uniforms sitting on wooden bleachers likely in New York.
Outdoor Group Portrait
Group posing outside a house, most wearing traditional clothing and four individuals wearing buffalo head masks; possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Outdoor Group Portrait
Group of performers in costumes posing on a hillside; individuals include band members, contortionists, clowns, and strong men all of whom are possibly from Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Outdoor Group Portrait
Outdoor group portrait of Native and Non-Native performers who are possibly part of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe; included in portrait are band members with instruments, men wearing traditional feather headdresses, scouts on horses, and women wearing dresses decorated with elk teeth.
The Heavenly Twins (with Frank Huffman and Billie Palmer)
Portrait of the 'Heavenly Twins' with Frank Huffman and Billie Palmer; two women in white dresses and two men dressed in cowboy hats and chaps posing in front of a wagon.
Welsh Brothers Show Group Portrait
Group portrait outside a tent of the Welsh Brothers Shows band members dressed in uniforms and clown costumes; show possibly affiliated with Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe.
Mabel Kenjockety
Portrait of Mabel Kenjockety (Cayuga), around age 9, on horseback and wearing a cowgirl outfit in Crescent Park, Rhode Island. She is the daughter of Chief Strong Fox (aka Frank Kenjockety) and was part of the G.P. Kemp Wild West show.
Mabel Kenjockety
Portrait of Mabel Kenjockety (Cayuga), around age 16, wearing a white dress and standing on a kneeling horse; she is the daughter of Chief Strong Fox (aka Frank Kenjockety) and was part of his performing troupe.
Wild West Performers Posing on Horse Back
P33956: Wild west show performers posing on horseback in front of a grandstand; some individuals hold instruments, while one man stands on his horse and whirls a lasso in the air. P33958: Wild west show performers posing on horseback in front of a scenery backdrop; Mabel, daughter of Chief Strong Fox (aka Frank Kenjockety), is third from the left.
Mourners at a Funeral
Group of mourners at a funeral; possibly for the victims of a 1915 train accident that killed several of Chief Strong Fox's (aka Frank Kenjockety) traveling troupe performers.
The Louis B. Newell collection consists of materials from Newell's time performing as "Chief Rolling Thunder." This includes braodsides, flyers and stationary for the Rolling Thuder Vaudeville Company, a photographic portrait of Newell as well as packinging and leaflets for Chief Rolling Thunder's medicines and remedies.
Rolling Thunder Letterhead
Rolling Thunder Vaudeville Company, Broadsides
Rolling Thunder Vaudeville Company, Flyers
Guide to Health Leaflets: Kiowa Indian Recipes and Mus-Ka-Bia
Packaging for "Kiowa Indian Ointment", "Mus-K-Bia", "Pile Ointment" and "Wisheta Rub"
Recipe for "Cough Syrup" and "Worm Destroyer" Leaflet
Portrait of Rolling Thunder in Profile
Portrait of Rolling Thunder, aka L.B. Newell, in profile, wearing a suit and bow tie. A smaller image of a young girl is superimposed on his shirt. Although Newell claimed to be Kiowa, it is more likely that he was Penobscot from Maine. Handwritten note on back of image reads, "#11/ To Blanche Newell / From your papa / Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year / Please write to me, L.B. Newell / Clipper Office /New York City"