National Museum of the American Indian
Edward S. Curtis photogravure plates and proofs for The North American Indian
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952
NMAI.AC.080
Archival Resource Key
96 Photomechanical prints
photogravure proofs
184 Printing plates
copper printing plates
1899-1927
circa 1980
The Edward S. Curtis photogravure plates and proofs for The North American Indian include photogravure printing plates and associated proofs made from Curtis photographs and used in the publication of The North American Indian volumes 1-9 and 12-19. The bulk of the images are portraits, though there are also images of everyday items, ceremonial artifacts, and camps.
English
.
Representative Image
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises 183 photogravure plates (101 folio and 82 octavo) and 96 associated proofs used in the printing of The North American Indian volumes 1-9 and 12-19. The original photographs used to make the photogravures were made circa 1903-1926 and the photogravure plates were made in 1907-1930. The bulk are portraits, though there are also images of everyday items, ceremonial artifacts, and camps. About half of the proofs in the collection are originals used for Curtis's publication, though the collection also includes proofs made in the process of later publication by the Classic Gravure Company (circa 1980). Vintage proofs include handwritten notes, likely made by Curtis Studio employees in Seattle and Los Angeles. Many of the photogravure plates do not have matching proofs; in particular, there are no proofs for the octavo plates.
Arrangement
The plates and proofs are arranged by the volume of The North American Indian in which they were published. They are described in this finding aid by the caption and plate number with which they were published.
Biographical / Historical
Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) was an American photographer best known for his monumental and now-controversial project, the twenty-volume publication The North American Indian. Here he sought to document in words and pictures the "vanishing race" of American Indians.
Born in Wisconsin in 1868, Edward Curtis grew up on his family's farm in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, from 1874 to 1887. In 1887, he and his father Johnson Curtis settled on a plot near what is now Port Orchard, Washington, and the rest of the family joined them the following year. When Johnson Curtis died within a month of the family's arrival, the burden of providing for his mother and siblings fell to 20-year-old Edward, and Edward set out to do so through his photography. In 1891, Curtis moved to the booming city of Seattle and bought into a joint photo studio with Rasmus Rothi. Less than a year later, he formed "Curtis and Guptill, Photographers and Photoengravers" with Thomas Guptill; the enterprise quickly became a premier portrait studio for Seattle's elite. In 1895, Curtis made his first "Indian photograph" depicting Princess Angeline, daughter of the chief for whom Seattle had been named. The following year he earned his first medal from the National Photographic Convention for his "genre studies."
In 1899, Edward Curtis joined the Harriman Alaska Expedition as official photographer, a position which allowed him to learn from anthropologists C. Hart Merriam and George Bird Grinnell while documenting the landscapes and peoples of the Alaskan coast. This expedition and the resulting friendship with Grinnell helped to foster Curtis's ultimate goal to "form a comprehensive and permanent record of all the important tribes of the United States and Alaska that still retain to a considerable degree their primitive customs and traditions" (General Introduction, The North American Indian). Curtis made several trips to reservations from 1900 to 1904, including a trip with Grinnell to Montana in 1900 and multiple trips to the Southwest, including the Hopi Reservation. He also hired Adolph Muhr, former assistant to Omaha photographer Frank A. Rinehart, to manage the Curtis studio in his absence, a decision which would prove more and more fruitful as Curtis spent less and less time in Seattle.
In 1906, Curtis struck a deal with financier J. P. Morgan, whereby Morgan would support a company – The North American Indian, Inc. – with $15,000 for five years, by which time the project was expected to have ended. Systematic fieldwork for the publication began in earnest that summer season, with Curtis accompanied by a team of ethnological researchers and American Indian assistants. Arguably the most important member of Curtis' field team was William Myers, a former newspaperman who collected much of the ethnological data and completed most of the writing for the project. The first volume, covering Navajo and Apache peoples, was published at the end of 1907, but already Morgan's funding was incapable of meeting Curtis's needs. Despite heaping praise from society's elite, Curtis spent much of his time struggling to find people and institutions willing to subscribe to the expensive set of volumes. After the initial five years, only eight of the proposed twenty volumes had been completed. Fieldwork and publication continued with the support of J. P. Morgan, but Curtis's home life suffered because of his prolonged absences.
In 1919, Curtis's wife Clara was awarded a divorce settlement which included the entire Curtis studio in Seattle. Exhausted and bankrupt, Edward Curtis moved with his daughter Beth Magnuson to Los Angeles, where they operated a new Curtis Studio and continued work on the volumes; volume 12 was published
in 1922. The constant financial strain forced Myers to leave the North American Indian team after volume 18 (fieldwork in 1926) and Curtis made his last trip to photograph and gather data for volume 20 in 1927. After the final volumes were published in 1930, Curtis almost completely faded from public notice until his work was "rediscovered" and popularized in the 1970s.
Curtis's "salvage ethnology," as scholar Mick Gidley describes it, was mildly controversial even during his life and has become ever more so as his legacy deepens. In his quest to photograph pre-colonial Indian life through a twentieth-century lens, he often manipulated and constructed history as much as he recorded it: he staged reenactments, added props, and removed evidence of twentieth-century influences on "primitive" life. Curtis's work continues to shape popular conceptions of American Indians and so, while problematic, his legacy--his vision of American Indian life--continues to be relevant.
Conditions Governing Access
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).
Conditions Governing Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadcast 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.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Edward S. Curtis photogravure plates and proofs for The North American Indian, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
Processed by Sarah Ganderup, Contract Archivist in 2014, with funding from the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Steven and Arlene Kern to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, in 1984.
Custodial History
The photogravure plates and proofs were used to print The North American Indian (NAI) and then passed from the North American Indian, Inc., to the Morgan Company. In about 1930, the Morgan Company sold the copper plates (along with complete sets of the volumes) to Charles Lauriat Books of Boston, Massachusetts, which later auctioned the full collection in 1972. After some changing of hands, the collection was purchased by a group of five (including some original purchasers from Charles Lauriat Books). The five buyers established the company Classic Gravure (CG, circa 1976) with the intention of publishing abridged versions of The North American Indian. Plates from original NAI volumes 1, 2, 12, 16, and 17 were re-struck (and proofs apparently changed out) for images published in a Southwest volume, the first and only of these to successfully make it to publication. In addition, many of the plates were re-struck as one-offs in a deal between CG and American Express. In 1981, CG contacted the Museum of American Indian (MAI) to propose a cooperative effort, though shortly thereafter Steve Kern and Kenneth Zerbe purchased CG and renamed it The Curtis Collection. In 1983, a final deal was reached between Curtis Collection and MAI, whereby the plates were placed on loan at MAI. The following summer, MAI terminated the agreement and, in December of that year, Steve Kern offered a portion of his photogravure plates and proofs as a gift to the museum.
Related Materials
NMAI also holds Edward Curtis photographs documenting the Harriman Expedition (1899) as well as platinum prints and photogravures of the images published in The North American Indian.
The Smithsonian Institution, National Anthropological Archives holds Edward Curtis prints submitted for copyright (Photo Lot 59) as well as many of his original negatives, photographs, and papers.
Steve Kern donated photogravure plates to the Center for Creative Photography and the Seattle Art Museum at the same time that he donated this set to MAI.
Twana
Hoh
Walla Walla (Wallawalla)
Wishram
Suquamish
Skokomish
Quinault
Quileute
Apache
Tolowa
Hupa
Hopi Pueblo
Squaxon
Mewuk (Miwok)
Achomawi (Pit River)
Klamath
Yurok
Kumeyaay (Diegueño)
Cayuse
Northern Paiute (Paviotso)
Santa Ysabel (Santa Isabela) Diegueño
Kalispel (Pend d'Oreilles)
Salish (Flathead)
Spokan
Yakama (Yakima)
Sahnish (Arikara)
Numakiki (Mandan)
Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan)
Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne)
Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)
Niimíipuu (Nez Perce)
A'aninin (Gros Ventre)
Apsáalooke (Crow/Absaroke)
Tsuu T'ina (Sarcee)
Kainai Blackfoot (Kainah/Blood)
Denésoliné (Chipewyan)
Cree
Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo)
San Ildefonso Pueblo
Tewa Pueblos
A:shiwi (Zuni)
Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo)
K'apovi (Santa Clara Pueblo)
Laguna Pueblo
Jemez Pueblo
Serrano
Washoe (Washo)
Kutzadika'a (Mono Paiute)
Kupangaxwichem (Kupa/Cupeño)
Piipaash (Maricopa)
Diné (Navajo)
Oglala Lakota (Oglala Sioux)
Quechan (Yuma/Cuchan)
Hualapai (Walapai)
Akimel O'odham (Pima)
Tohono O'odham (Papago)
Mojave (Mohave)
Niuam (Comanche)
Wichita
Ponca
Osage
Yokuts
Photogravures
Chukchansi Yokuts
Photographs
Southern Mewuk (Southern Miwok)
Indians of North America -- Pictorial works
Wailaki
Pomo
Wappo
Maidu
Volume 1
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
5 Printing plates
1903-1907
8vo1-8vo2
Scope and Contents
This series includes five octavo plates depicting Apache maternity belts and a camp, as well as Apache and Diné (Navajo) religious paintings.
Maternity belt (Apache)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo1
Maternity belt (Apache)
Mescal camp (Apache)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1903
8vo1
Mescal camp (Apache)
Pikehodiklad (Navaho)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo1
Pikehodiklad (Navaho)
Sacred buckskin (Apache)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo1
Zahadolzha (Navaho)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1904
8vo2
Zahadolzha (Navaho)
Volume 2
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
5 Photomechanical prints
11 Printing plates
1903
1907
bulk 1907-1907
8vo2
F1-F4
Scope and Contents
This series includes eight folio plates and three octavo plates showing portraits of Piipaash (Maricopa), Mojave (Mohave), Tohono O'odham (Papago), Akimel O'odham (Pima), Hualapai (Walapai), and Quechan (Yuma/Cuchan) men and women. It also includes five proofs made by Classic Gravure from folio plates in the collection.
Plate 42: Kaviu - Pima
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1907
F1
Plate 42: Kaviu - Pima
Plate 47: Chijako - Pima
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1907
F1
Plate 47: Chijako - Pima
Plate 50: Carlos Rios - Papago chief
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1907
F2
Plate 50: Carlos Rios - Papago chief
Plate 60: Quniaika - Mohave
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1903
F2
Plate 60: Quniaika - Mohave
Plate 63: Hwalya - Yuma
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1907
F3
Plate 63: Hwalya - Yuma
Plate 64: Havachachi - Maricopa
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
F3
Plate 64: Havachachi - Maricopa
Plate 66: Mat Stams - Maricopa
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
F4
Plate 66: Mat Stams - Maricopa
Plate 71: Captain Charley - Maricopa
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
F4
Plate 71: Captain Charley - Maricopa
Nerije (Walapai)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo2
Nerije (Walapai)
A Yuma
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo2
A Yuma
Yuma maiden
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo2
Yuma maiden
Volume 3
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
3 Prints
6 Photomechanical prints
1907-1908
8vo3
F5-F6
Scope and Contents
This series includes four folio plates and two octavo plates depicting Oglala Lakota (Oglala Sioux) and Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux) men and women and two scalp shirts. It also has three proofs made by Classic Gravure from folio plates in the collection.
Plate 78: Two Strike
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1907
F5
Plate 78: Two Strike
Plate 82: Hollow Horn Bear
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
F5
Plate 82: Hollow Horn Bear
Plate 89: Little Hawk
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1908
F6
Plate 89: Little Hawk
Plate 94: Ogalala woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1907
F6
Plate 94: Ogalala woman
Scalp-shirts
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo3
Scalp-shirts
Stands First (Ogalala)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo3
Stands First (Ogalala)
Volume 4
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
9 Printing plates
5 Photomechanical prints
1908
8vo3-8vo4
F7-F9
Scope and Contents
This series includes five folio plates and four octavo plates showing portraits of Apsáalooke (Crow/Absaroke) men and women and two tipis. It also has four proofs made by Classic Gravure and one original proof for Curtis' publication.
Plate 118: Hoop On The Forehead - Apsaroke
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F7
Plate 118: Hoop On The Forehead - Apsaroke
Plate 121: Bread - Apsaroke
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1908
F7
Plate 121: Bread - Apsaroke
Plate 128: Bull Chief - Apsaroke
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F8
Plate 128: Bull Chief - Apsaroke
Plate 143: Lone Tree - Apsaroke
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F8
Plate 143: Lone Tree - Apsaroke
Plate 144: Coups Well-Known - Apsaroke
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F9
Plate 144: Coups Well-Known - Apsaroke
An Apsaroke lodge
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo3
An Apsaroke lodge
Does Everything (Apsaroke)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo3
Does Everything (Apsaroke)
Flathead woman (Apsaroke)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo4
Flathead woman (Apsaroke)
Hunts to Die (Apsaroke)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo4
Hunts to Die (Apsaroke)
Volume 5
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
4 Photomechanical prints
11 Printing plates
1908
8vo4-8vo6
F9-F11
Scope and Contents
This series includes four folio plates and seven octavo plates showing portraits of Sahnish (Arikara) and A'aninin (Gros Ventre) men and women and ceremonial artifacts of Sahnish, A'aninin, and Numakiki (Mandan) peoples. It also has four proofs made by Classic Gravure from plates in this collection.
Plate 151: Four Horns - Arikara
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F9
Plate 151: Four Horns - Arikara
Plate 154: Bear's Teeth - Arikara
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F10
Plate 154: Bear's Teeth - Arikara
Plate 165: Arikara girl
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1908
F10
Plate 165: Arikara girl
Plate 167: No Bear - Atsina
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1908
F11
Plate 167: No Bear - Atsina
Beside the stream
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo4
Beside the stream
Contents of bundle of Numak-Mahana (Mandan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo4
Keeper of a medicine bundle (Arikara)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo5
Keeper of a medicine bundle (Arikara)
Parfleches (Atsina)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo5
Parfleches (Atsina)
Rattles of Arikara bear medicine-men
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo5
Record of custodians of a turtle-drum (Mandan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo5
Record of custodians of a turtle-drum (Mandan)
Three White Cows (Atsina)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1908
8vo6
Three White Cows (Atsina)
Volume 6
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
11 Printing plates
6 Photomechanical prints
1910-1911
1905
1900
bulk 1910-1911
8vo6-8vo7
F11-F14
Scope and Contents
This series includes six folio plates and five octavo plates depicting objects used by Pikuni Blackfeet people and portraits of Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) and Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan) men and women. It also has six proofs of folio plates made by Classic Gravure. One plate is covered by a substance or corrosion that obscures the image.
Plate 200: New Chest - Piegan
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F11
Plate 200: New Chest - Piegan
Plate 202: Middle Calf - Piegan
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1900
F12
Plate 202: Middle Calf - Piegan
Plate 210: Cheyenne type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1910
F12
Plate 210: Cheyenne type
Plate 211: Cheyenne profile
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F13
Plate 211: Cheyenne profile
Plate 212: Cheyenne girl
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1905
F13
Plate 212: Cheyenne girl
Plate 216: Porcupine - Cheyenne
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F14
Plate 216: Porcupine - Cheyenne
Buffalo-stones (Piegan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1911
8vo6
Buffalo-stones (Piegan)
Cheyenne man
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1911
8vo6
Cheyenne man
Cheyenne woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo6
Cheyenne woman
Day-dreams (Piegan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1911
8vo7
Day-dreams (Piegan)
Navel-amulets (Piegan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1911
8vo7
Navel-amulets (Piegan)
Volume 7
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
16 Printing plates
8 Photomechanical prints
1905
1910
bulk 1910-1910
8vo7-8vo9
F14-F18
Scope and Contents
This series includes eight folio plates and eight octavo plates depicting Salish (Flathead), Kalispel (Pend d'Oreilles), Yakama (Yakima), and Spokan men and women as well as a Spokan camp. It also has eight proofs made by Classic Gravure from folio plates in the collection.
Plate 225: Klickitat type
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F14
Plate 225: Klickitat type
Plate 226: Klickitat profile
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F15
Plate 226: Klickitat profile
Plate 227: Flathead type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1910
F15
Plate 227: Flathead type
Plate 228: Flathead profile
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1910
F16
Plate 228: Flathead profile
Plate 237: Kalispel type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1910
F16
Plate 237: Kalispel type
Plate 241: Spokan man
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F17
Plate 241: Spokan man
Plate 244: Nespilim man
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1910
F17
Plate 244: Nespilim man
Plate 247: Luqaiot - Kittitas
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1905
F18
Plate 247: Luqaiot - Kittitas
Ahlahlemila (Flathead)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo7
Ahlahlemila (Flathead)
Chief of the land (Kalispel)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo7
Chief of the land (Kalispel)
The chief's wife (Kalispel)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo8
The chief's wife (Kalispel)
Lishhaiahit (Kittitas)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo8
Lishhaiahit (Kittitas)
Mitsa (Klickitat)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo8
Mitsa (Klickitat)
Red Owl (Flathead)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo8
Red Owl (Flathead)
Returning to camp (Spokan)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo9
Returning to camp (Spokan)
Typical Spokan woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo9
Typical Spokan woman
Volume 8
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
8 Printing plates
3 Photomechanical prints
1909-1910
1899
1905
bulk 1910-1910
8vo9-8vo10
F18-F19
Scope and Contents
This series includes three folio plates and five octavo plates showing bone carvings, beadwork, and portraits of Nimi'ipuu (Nez Perce), Cayuse, Wishram, and Walla Walla (Wallawalla) men and women. It also includes three proofs made by Classic Gravure from plates in the collection.
Plate 258: Typical Nez Perce
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1899
F18
Plate 258: Typical Nez Perce
Plate 267: Piopio-maksmaks - Wallawalla
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1905
F19
Plate 267: Piopio-maksmaks - Wallawalla
Plate 282: Hlalakum - Wishham
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1909
F19
Plate 282: Hlalakum - Wishham
Bone carving (Cascade)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo9
Bone carving (Cascade)
Cayuse type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo9
Cayuse type
Cayuse woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo10
Cayuse woman
Nez Perce matron
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo10
Nez Perce matron
Wishham Beadwork
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1910
8vo10
Wishham Beadwork
Volume 9
Series 9
Archival Resource Key
10 Printing plates
6 Photomechanical prints
1899
1912
bulk 1912-1912
F20-F23
8vo10-8vo11
Scope and Contents
This series includes seven folio plates and three octavo plates depicting portraits of Hoh, Twana, Quileute, Quinault, Skokomish, Suquamish, and Squaxon men and women. It also has six proofs made by Classic Gravure from plates in the collection. Two plates are severely corroded.
Plate 293: Primitive Quinault
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1912
F20
Plate 293: Primitive Quinault
Plate 295: Quinault female profile
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1912
F20
Plate 295: Quinault female profile
Plate 299: Tsatsalatsa - Skokomish
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1912
F21
Plate 299: Tsatsalatsa - Skokomish
Plate 305: Suquamish woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1899
F21
Plate 305: Suquamish woman
Plate 306: Suquamish girl
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1912
F22
Plate 306: Suquamish girl
Plate 307: Squaxon matron
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1912
F22
Plate 307: Squaxon matron
Plate 308: Puget Sound type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1899
F23
Plate 308: Puget Sound type
Hoh type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1912
8vo10
Hoh type
Lotsubelo (Quilcene)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1912
8vo11
Lotsubelo (Quilcene)
Silto (Quilliute)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1912
8vo11
Silto (Quilliute)
Volume 12
Series 10
Archival Resource Key
5 Photomechanical prints
8 Printing plates
1904-1907
1921
F23-F25
8vo11-8vo12
Scope and Contents
This series includes five folio plates and three octavo plates depicting a snake priest, basket plaques, and portraits of Hopi women and girls. It also has five proofs made by Classic Gravure from plates in the collection. One plate is severely corroded.
Plate 411: Hopi woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1905
F23
Plate 411: Hopi woman
Plate 412: Hopi maiden
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1905
F24
Plate 412: Hopi maiden
Plate 414: Chaiwa - Tewa
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1921
F24
Plate 414: Chaiwa - Tewa
Plate 415: Chaiwa - Tewa, profile
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1921
F25
Plate 415: Chaiwa - Tewa, profile
Plate 423: Primitive style of hairdressing
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1921
F25
Plate 423: Primitive style of hairdressing
A snake priest
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1907
8vo11
A snake priest
An East Mesa girl
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1904
8vo11
An East Mesa girl
Oraibi plaques
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1921
8vo12
Oraibi plaques
Volume 13
Series 11
Archival Resource Key
18 Printing plates
5 Photomechanical prints
1923
F26-F28
8vo12-8vo15
Scope and Contents
This series includes five folio plates and thirteen octavo plates depicting a Hupa house, canoe, and fishing techniques as well as portraits of Hupa, Tolowa, Yurok, Klamath, and Achomawi (Pit River) men and women, some wearing ceremonial clothing. It also includes five original proofs of the North American Indian, Inc.
Plate 437: Sam Ewing - Yurok
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1923
F26
Plate 437: Sam Ewing - Yurok
Plate 440: Old Klamath woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1923
F26
Plate 440: Old Klamath woman
Plate 446: A Klamath type
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1923
F27
Plate 446: A Klamath type
Plate 466: Achomawi man
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1923
F27
Plate 466: Achomawi man
Plate 467: Principal female shaman of the Hupa
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1923
F28
Plate 467: Principal female shaman of the Hupa
Costume of the obsidian-bearer (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo12
Costume of the obsidian-bearer (Hupa)
Dancer with black deer effigy (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo12
Dancer with black deer effigy (Hupa)
Dip-netting at the sugar bowl (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo12
Dip-netting at the sugar bowl (Hupa)
The forest stream
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo13
The forest stream
Hupa canoe
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo13
Hupa canoe
Hupa female shaman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo13
Hupa female shaman
Hupa salmon-fishing
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo13
Hupa salmon-fishing
Modern Hupa house
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo14
Modern Hupa house
Obsidian bearer, White deerskin dance (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo14
Obsidian bearer, White deerskin dance (Hupa)
Tolowa man
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo14
Tolowa man
Tolowa type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo14
Tolowa type
Watching for salmon (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo15
Watching for salmon (Hupa)
White deerskin dance costume (Hupa)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1923
8vo15
White deerskin dance costume (Hupa)
Volume 14
Series 12
Archival Resource Key
13 Photomechanical prints
18 Printing plates
1924
F28-F35
8vo15-8vo16
Scope and Contents
This series includes fourteen folio plates and four octavo plates showing portraits of Mewuk (Miwok), Yokuts, Pomo, Wailaki, Wappo, and Maidu men and women. It also has thirteen proofs made by the North American Indian, Inc.
Plate 472: Mitat - Wailaki
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
F28
Plate 472: Mitat - Wailaki
Plate 473: Old "Ukiah" - Pomo
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F29
Plate 473: Old "Ukiah" - Pomo
Plate 476: Mixed-blood Coast Pomo
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F29
Plate 476: Mixed-blood Coast Pomo
Plate 478: Shatila - Pomo
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F30
Plate 478: Shatila - Pomo
Plate 486: Coast Pomo girl
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F30
Plate 486: Coast Pomo girl
Plate 490: Wappo
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F31
Plate 490: Wappo
Plate 491: Wappo woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F31
Plate 491: Wappo woman
Plate 492: Otila - Maidu
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F32
Plate 492: Otila - Maidu
Plate 493: Miwok head-man
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F32
Plate 493: Miwok head-man
Plate 495: Southern Miwok
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F33
Plate 495: Southern Miwok
Plate 498: Yauelmani Yokuts
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F33
Plate 498: Yauelmani Yokuts
Plate 504: Chukchansi Yokuts type
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F34
Plate 504: Chukchansi Yokuts type
Plate 505: Chukchansi matron
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F34
Plate 505: Chukchansi matron
Plate 507: Yaundanchi Yokuts woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F35
Plate 507: Yaundanchi Yokuts woman
A Coast Pomo man
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo15
A Coast Pomo man
The hunting basket
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo15
The hunting basket
A southern Miwok
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo16
A southern Miwok
A southern Miwok woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo16
A southern Miwok woman
Volume 15
Series 13
Archival Resource Key
11 Photomechanical prints
18 Printing plates
1924
F35-F40
8vo16-8vo18
Scope and Contents
This series includes eleven folio plates and seven octavo plates depicting vessels, baskets, mortar pits, and portraits of Kumeyaay (Diegueño), Northern Paiute (Paviotso), Kutzadika'a (Mono Paiute), Kupangaxwichem (Kupa/Cupeño), Serrano, and Washoe (Washo) men and women. It also has eleven proofs made by the North American Indian, Inc. One plate is covered by a substance or corrosion that obscurs the image.
Plate 510: Cupeño woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F35
Plate 510: Cupeño woman
Plate 512: Serrano woman of Tejon
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F36
Plate 512: Serrano woman of Tejon
Plate 513: Tejon Serrano
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F36
Plate 513: Tejon Serrano
Plate 526: Diegueño of Capitan Grande
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F37
Plate 526: Diegueño of Capitan Grande
Plate 527: Diegueño woman of Santa Ysabel
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F37
Plate 527: Diegueño woman of Santa Ysabel
Plate 530: Diegueño woman of Campo
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F38
Plate 530: Diegueño woman of Campo
Plate 532: Diegueño of Santa Ysabel
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F38
Plate 532: Diegueño of Santa Ysabel
Plate 535: Pyramid Lake Paviotso
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F39
Plate 535: Pyramid Lake Paviotso
Plate 537: Aged Paviotso of Pyramid Lake
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1924
F39
Plate 537: Aged Paviotso of Pyramid Lake
Plate 539: Walker Lake Paviotso
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F40
Plate 539: Walker Lake Paviotso
Plate 543: Washo woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1924
F40
Plate 543: Washo woman
A Capitan Grande man (Digueño)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo16
A Capitan Grande man (Digueño)
A Capitan Grande woman (Digueño)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo16
A Capitan Grande woman (Digueño)
A Mono type
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo17
A Mono type
Mortar pits (Cupeño)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo17
Mortar pits (Cupeño)
Sandstone vessels from Santa Catalina Island
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo17
Sandstone vessels from Santa Catalina Island
Washo burden-basket and trinket-basket
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo17
Washo burden-basket and trinket-basket
A Washo gem
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1924
8vo18
A Washo gem
Volume 16
Series 14
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
4 Printing plates
1925
F41
8vo18
Scope and Contents
This series includes one folio plate (and associated proof) and three octavo plates depicting pottery from Laguna Pueblo, the remains of a church at Gyuwisa, a Jemez Pueblo governor, and a Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) man. The proof was made by the North American Indian, Inc.
Plate 557: Lucero - Santo Domingo
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1925
F41
Plate 557: Lucero - Santo Domingo
Laguna water-jar
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo18
Laguna water-jar
Ruins of the church at Gyusiwa
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo18
Ruins of the church at Gyusiwa
Tsola ("Chipmunk"), Jemez governor
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo18
Tsola ("Chipmunk"), Jemez governor
Volume 17
Series 15
Archival Resource Key
3 Photomechanical prints
8 Printing plates
1905
1925
F41-F42
8vo19-8vo20
Scope and Contents
This series includes three folio plates and five octavo plates depicting ceremonial and daily objects of Tewa Pueblo people and portraits of K'apovi (Santa Clara Pueblo), A:shiwi (Zuni), Okhay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo), and San Ildefonso Pueblo people. It also has three proofs made by the North American Indian, Inc.
Plate 596: Ambrosio Martinez - San Juan
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1905
F41
Plate 596: Ambrosio Martinez - San Juan
Plate 601: Oyi-tsa (Duck White), summer cacique of Santa Clara
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1905
F42
Plate 601: Oyi-tsa (Duck White), summer cacique of Santa Clara
Plate 611: Lutakawi, Zuni Governor
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1925
F42
Plate 611: Lutakawi, Zuni Governor
Agoyo-aye ("Star Moving") (San Ildefonso)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1905
8vo19
Agoyo-aye ("Star Moving") (San Ildefonso)
Fo-e ("Snow Child") (Santa Clara)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1905
8vo19
Fo-e ("Snow Child") (Santa Clara)
Ruins on the mesa at Puye
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo19
Ruins on the mesa at Puye
Tewa war-god effigies
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo19
Zuñi pottery
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1925
8vo20
Zuñi pottery
Volume 18
Series 16
Archival Resource Key
14 Printing plates
12 Photomechanical prints
1926
8vo20
F43-F48
Scope and Contents
This series includes twelve folio plates and two octavo plates showing portraits of Denésoliné (Chipewyan), Cree, Tsuu T'ina (Sarcee), and Kainai Blackfoot (Kainah/Blood) men and women. It also includes twelve proofs made by the North American Indian, Inc. One plate is covered by a black substance which obscurs the image.
Plate 617: Titishu-kghitluhl ("Deer Running") - Sarsi
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1926
F43
Plate 617: Titishu-kghitluhl ("Deer Running") - Sarsi
Plate 618: Tsaaassi-mis-salla ("Crow with Necklace") - Sarsi
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F43
Plate 618: Tsaaassi-mis-salla ("Crow with Necklace") - Sarsi
Plate 619: Muwu ("His Tooth") - Sarsi
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F44
Plate 619: Muwu ("His Tooth") - Sarsi
Plate 626: A Cree
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F44
Plate 626: A Cree
Plate 627: A Cree woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F45
Plate 627: A Cree woman
Plate 638: Medicine-headdress - Blackfoot
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F45
Plate 638: Medicine-headdress - Blackfoot
Plate 639: Oksoyapiw - Blackfoot
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F46
Plate 639: Oksoyapiw - Blackfoot
Plate 641: Calf Child - Blackfoot
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1926
F46
Plate 641: Calf Child - Blackfoot
Plate 647: Makoyepuk ("Wolf-child") - Blood
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F47
Plate 647: Makoyepuk ("Wolf-child") - Blood
Plate 649: Astanighkyi ("Come-singing") - Blood
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1926
F47
Plate 649: Astanighkyi ("Come-singing") - Blood
Plate 650: Stsimaki ("Reluctant-to-be-woman") - Blood
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F48
Plate 650: Stsimaki ("Reluctant-to-be-woman") - Blood
Plate 651: Soyaksin - Blood
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1926
F48
Plate 651: Soyaksin - Blood
A Chipewyan woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1926
8vo20
A Chipewyan woman
A Cree
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1926
8vo20
A Cree
Volume 19
Series 17
Archival Resource Key
6 Photomechanical prints
9 Printing plates
1927
8vo21
F49-F51
Scope and Contents
This series includes six folio plates and three octavo plates depicting Osage ceremonial artifacts and portraits of Osage, Ponca, Wichita, Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne), and Niuam (Comanche) men and women. It also includes six proofs made by the North American Indian, Inc.
Plate 668: Dog Woman - Cheyenne
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1927
F49
Plate 668: Dog Woman - Cheyenne
Plate 669: Woista - Cheyenne woman
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1927
F49
Plate 669: Woista - Cheyenne woman
Plate 670: Reuben Taylor (Istofhuts) - Cheyenne
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1927
F50
Plate 670: Reuben Taylor (Istofhuts) - Cheyenne
Plate 682: Esipermi - Comanche
Archival Resource Key
1 Photomechanical print
1 Printing plate
1927
F50
Plate 682: Esipermi - Comanche
Plate 684: Uwat - Comanche
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1927
F51
Plate 684: Uwat - Comanche
Plate 686: A Comanche
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1 Photomechanical print
1927
F51
Plate 686: A Comanche
Altar peyote with rattle (Osage)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1927
8vo21
White Deer (Ponca)
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1927
8vo21
White Deer (Ponca)
A Wichita matron
Archival Resource Key
1 Printing plate
1927
8vo21
A Wichita matron