Processed by Emily Moazami, Assistant Head Archivist, in 2017.
Purchased from New Durham Auction Barn, Inc. in 1985.
Original order was maintained when processing this collection, however it does not appear that the photos were assembled in chronological order. Some of the photographs are attached to the album pages via photo corners. The loose are stored in folders in the original order in which they were found.
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).
Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the United States Indian Industrial School opened its doors in 1884. The school soon changed its name to Haskell Institute after the passing of Dudley Haskell (1842-1883)- a U.S. Representative and chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs- who was instrumental in opening the school in his hometown of Lawrence.
The first twenty-two students that attended Haskell Institute were from the Ponca, Chilocco, and Ottawa communities. The school initially taught trades such as blacksmithing, farming, cooking, and sewing, among other industrial skills. As the school grew and expanded its curriculum, American Indian and Native Alaskan students from communities across the country enrolled in the boarding school. The student population grew from 22 to 400 pupils in just one semester. Similar to other Indian boarding schools of its time, Haskell Institute's mission in part was to "civilize" American Indian students and the school employed militaristic techniques in its teaching and discipline. By 1927, the school taught both high school and post-graduation courses.
From 1896-1930, the school also sustained prominent athletic teams, including its nationally recognized football team. Fullback John Levi [1898-1946; Inunaina (Arapaho)] led the football team to many victories in the mid-twenties and eventually went on to coach the team from 1926-1936.
By 1965, the school discontinued its high school courses and in 1970, it transitioned into the Haskell Indian Junior College. The school was renamed Haskell Indian Nations University in 1993 and began offering a four-year baccalaureate degree program with a mission dedicated to Indian cultural preservation, research, and education. The University continues to teach students from federally recognized tribes.
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited users to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not changed, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Haskell Institute photograph album, NMAI.AC.105; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
The photograph album in this collection was purchased at an auction in 1985 along with a pair of bookends that were probably made by a Haskell Institute student. The bookends are in NMAI's object collection, catalog number 25/2220. A 1931 Haskell yearbook was also purchased at the auction and is now located in the Huntington Free Library Collection at Cornell, call number E97.6.H34.
This collection consists of 1 photograph album containing 42 snapshot photographs and photographic postcards from circa 1930-1934. The bulk of the photographs depict Haskell Institute students including members of the football team Arnes Barlow, Paul Edge, Leonard Barlow, Guy Bush, Charles Bernard, Led Wilson, and coach John Levi [Inunaina (Arapaho)]; other unidentified students; buildings on campus including Hiawatha Hall (Chapel); a 1930 pageant and pow-wow; and athletics including archery, baseball, and track, among other scenes.
Other photographs depict the University of Kansas and Memorial High School both in Lawrence, Kansas. Some photographs were also shot at an unidentified Wyoming Indian school.
Many photographs have handwritten captions on the back of the prints. The album has a soft leather cover that features a painting of an American Indian man in a headdress.
One photographic postcard may provide a clue as to the album's creator; the postcard was sent in 1932 from a Haskell teacher named Mary to a teacher named Elsie C. Ramage (Mrs. J. C. Ramage) of Denver, Colo. This postcard may have been sent by Mary Louise Breuninger who was a Haskell teacher according to the 1929 Lawrence, Kansas City directory. The photographs in the album may have been shot, collected, and/or assembled by either Mary or Elsie.
Photograph album
P27652
Postcard of an ivy-covered building on Haskell Institute's campus in Lawerence, Kansas.
P27653
Photographic postcard depicting a 1930 pageant at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. The scene includes people outside of tipis that were set up on an athletic field.
P27654
Photographic postcard depicting a 1930 powwow at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. The scene includes unidentified people cooking outside tents.
P27655
Photographic postcard depicting a tree-lined walkway in Lawrence, Kansas. This photograph was possibly shot on the Haskell Institute campus.
P27656
Photographic postcard of ivy covered entrance on the Haskell Institute campus in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27657
Seven men from the 1930 Haskell football team posing for group portrait outside Hiawatha Hall on the Haskell Institute campus in Lawrence, Kansas. According to a caption on the back of the photo, the men are from left to right: Arnes Barlow, Paul Edge, Leonard Barlow, Guy Bush, Charles Bernard, and Led Wilson.
P27658
Photograph depicting Haskell Institute football player Guy Bush and coach John Levi [Inunaina (Arapaho)] posing outside a tipi on the Haskell Institute campus in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27659
Outdoor group portrait depicting six unidentified women standing on lawn in front of buildings. A caption on the back of the photograph indicates that this photo was shot at an Indian School in Wyoming.
P27660
Photograph overlooking rows of tents around the perimeter of a field. Also in the scene are people and cars outside the tents. This photo was possibly shot at a Haskell Institute pagaent or powwow event in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27661
Outdoor portrait of two women in traditional dresses. This photograph was probably shot at a pagaent or powwow at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27662
Four female students relaxing on a lawn. This photograph was possibly shot at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27663
Photograph overlooking rows of tents around the perimeter of a field. Also in the scene are people and cars outside the tents. This photo was possibly shot at a Haskell Institute pagaent or powwow event in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27664
Outdoor group portrait of three girls, probably students, standing in front of a tipi. This photograph was probably shot at a powwow or pagaent at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27665
Photograph depicting swimmers posed in the water near pier for a photo. This photograph may depict Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27666
Photograph depicting eight women posing on and behind park bench. These women may be Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27667
Photograph depicting women sitting on end of pier on a lake or pond. A caption on the back of the photo indicates that one of the women is named Eloise. These women may be Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27668
Photograph depicting houses and buildings along a paved path. This photograph was possibly shot at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27669
Photograph depicting a large house. This photograph was possibly shot at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27670
Photograph depicting a large house, apartment, or dorm building. This photograph was possibly shot at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27671
Photograph depicting a large building. This photograph was possibly shot at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27672
Photograph depicting an unidentified man with two small children standing on a walkway in front of a building. One of the children holds a basketball. This man may have been a student or teacher at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27673
Two small children, one with a basketball, standing on a walkway next to a building. This photograph was possibly shot at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27674
Photograph depicting two young women posing for an outdoor portrait on a set of stairs. These women may be Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27675
Three young women posing for a photo outdoors. They may be Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27676
Photograph of a young woman posing on low rail fence. She may be a Haskell Institute student in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27677
Six young women posing in a formation on an athletic field. It appears that they may either be playing a game or are cheerleaders in formation. The women were probably students at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27678
Three young women posing in a track starting position in a athletic stadium. The women were probably Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27679
Photograph depicting two young women playing baseball, with one as acting as the batter and the other woman as the catcher. The women were probably Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27680
Group portrait of young women posing on a lawn. The women are most likely students at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27681
Photograph depicting three archers in an athletic stadium. The young men are most likely students at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27682
Three young men on horseback, in stableyard with a dog. A caption on the back of the photograph reads, "Montana; Shoshoni, Washihou (?) --great grandson; Montana Indian?"
P27683
Photographic postcard depicting a large brick building on the Memorial High School campus in Lawrence, Kansas. A car with two individuals is in the foreground.
P27684
Photographic postcard of the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas. The photo depicts a reelined lanes, large stone buildings, and an automobile.
P27685
Photographic postcard of Hiawatha Hall Chapel on the Haskell Institute campus.
P27686
Photograph depicting a couple with small child standing in front of a small log building. The individuals are possibly affiliated with Haskell Institution in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27687
Group of young boys and girls arranged on stairs for group portrait. The children are probably Haskell Institute students in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27688
Photographic postcard of three men and a boy standing on front of a parade float that reads, "Dairy and Poultry." The border of the postcard indicates that the photo was shot at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27689
Photographic postcard depicting a large house with terraced garden. A caption on the bottom of the postcard reads, "Terrace and Club House, Unity Farm." It is possible that this site is associated with Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
P27690
Outdoor group portrait of men, women, and children standing outside a building with a sign that reads, "Employees Club." The caption on the back of the photograph reads, "Indian School, Wyoming."
P27691
Outdoor group portrait of men, women, and children standing outside a building with a sign that reads, "Employees Club." The caption on the back of the photograph reads, "Indian School, Wyoming."
P27692
Outdoor portrait depicting a man holding long stemmed pipe. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, "A Chinese from the north."
P27693
Photograph depicting a large building surrounded by plam trees. The caption on the back of the photo reads, "The hospital from the side and rear."