Representative image
Processed by Emily Moazami, Assistant Head Archivist in 2017.
Donated by Murphy Sprinkel and Mary Jane Stout, 2016.
Matilda Inez Murphy Sprinkel was born in Ligonier, PA in 1880. She married Frederick Kemper Sprinkel (1877-1936) on September 26, 1906. The couple operated a trading post on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and were possibly Indian Agents as well. They had several children including Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006), Frederick Kemper Sprinkel, Jr. (1910-1998), and Rose Hume Sprinkel Rosse (1914-1992). Matilda Inez died in Richmond, VA in 1966.
The materials in this collection are organized in 1 box.
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.
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).
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Matilda Sprinkel glass plate negatives of the Rosebud Reservation, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection contains 11 glass plate negatives photographed by Matilda Inez Murphy Sprinkel, circa 1904-1910. Sprinkel and her husband Frederick Kemper Sprinkel were trading post operators and possibly Indian Agents on the Rosebud Reservation when she shot these photographs. It is possible that some of the photographs may have been shot by Frederick as well.
The bulk of the photographs are portraits of individuals probably from the Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux) community and include 2 photos of Chief Red Fish; an outdoor photo of Charging Elk and Broken Legs, with one of them wearing an Indian police badge; a photo of Big Face holding a rifle; 2 photos of Chief Bear Heels; an outdoor portrait possibly of Bear Heels' wife; and 2 unidentified Lakota women. There are also 2 baby photos of the Sprinkels' first child Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006).
The backgrounds on several of the glass plate negatives have been masked out with red paint either by Matilda Sprinkel, or perhaps by her daughter Margaret who worked as a photograph retoucher. Notes such as names and locations were also etched in the emulsion on several glass plates presumably by Matilda.
Chief Bear Heels
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of Chief Bear Heels [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)]. The photograph has been masked, creating a highlighted outline around around the sitter. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Chief Bear Heels
Glass plate negative depicting an outdoor portrait of Chief Bear Heels [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)]. Chief Bear Heels is wearing traditional clothing including a feather headdress. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Possibly Chief Bear Heels' wife
Glass plate negative depicting a woman, possibly Chief Bear Heels' wife [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)]. She is standing outside a building, wearing an elk tooth dress and a feather headdress. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Chief Red Fish
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of Chief Red Fish [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)].He is wearing a feather headdresss and beaded hide shirt. The photograph has been masked, creating a highlighted outline around the sitter. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Chief Red Fish
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of Chief Red Fish [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)] standing in profile.He is wearing a feather headdresss and beaded hide shirt. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Charging Elk and Broken Legs
Glass plate negative depicting an outdoor portrait of Charging Elk and Broken Leg [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)]standing outside a building. One holds a rifle and the other is wearing what appears to be an Indian Police badge. Etched into the emulsion of the photograph is, "F.K. Sprinkel. Rosebud S.D. 1908." This photograph was shot by Frederick Kemper Sprinkel on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, 1908.
Big Face
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of Big Face [Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux)] sitting on a couch and holding a rifle. The photograph has been masked, creating a highlighted outline around the sitter. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Unidentified woman
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of an unidentified woman.The photograph has been masked, creating a highlighted outline around the sitter. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Unidentified woman
Glass plate negative depicting an indoor portrait of an unidentified woman.The photograph has been masked by, creating a highlighted outline around the sitter. This photograph was shot on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, circa 1904-1910.
Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006)
Glass plate negative depicting Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006). This photograph was shot circa 1909-1910.
Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006)
Glass plate negative depicting Margaret Paulina Sprinkel (1908-2006). This photograph was shot circa 1909-1910.