Call Number:

C1197

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

• 2 boxes
• 2.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Thomas W. Smillie Photographs of a Yankton Sioux Delegation, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1904 (inclusive)

Creator:

Smillie, T. W. (Thomas William) (1843-1917)

Form:

Gelatin silver prints. and photographs -- 20th century

Abstract:

Consists of twenty-two photographs of a delegation of Yankton Sioux Indians that visited Washington, D.C., in 1904, taken by Thomas William Smillie for the Smithsonian's Department of Preparation's Section of Photography.

The history of photography at the Smithsonian Institution dates from the 1850s. In 1859, Secretary Joseph Henry proposed that a photographic record be assembled of Native American delegations visiting Washington, D.C. In 1867, with the support of Ferdinand V. Hayden, a geologist, and William H. Blackmore, a wealthy English collector, Washington photographers Alexander Gardner and Antonio Zeno Shindler began photographing the Native American delegates. These images formed the earliest Smithsonian photograph collection. In 1883, the Section of Photography was established in the Department of Preparation, with Thomas William Smillie as photographer. Smillie, a former photographer at the United States Fish Commission, had been employed by the Institution as its official photographer since 1870. Smillie was named custodian of the Section in 1896, but also continued to function as the Institution's photographer until his death in 1917.

The collection consists of twenty-two silver gelatin photographs of a delegation of Yankton Sioux Indians that visited Washington (D.C.) in March 1904. The delegation consisted of Thunder Horse, Yellow Horse, Eugene Bruno, Edward Oshie, White Swan, Not-Afraid-of-Pawnee, Iron Bear, Big Tobacco, and His Hoop. There is an image of the entire delegation taken on the roof of the Arts and Industries building of the Smithsonian Institution (the two men dressed in Western clothing are not identified). Also included are three 8.7" x 7.2" studio photographs of the members of the delegation grouped in threes, and 9" x 7" studio portraits of each member, showing a frontal and profile view, with names and dates inscribed on the verso. These latter photogtraphs were done to note the anthropometric features of each member. The photographs are mounted on 13" x 9.7" grey card stock, with negative numbers written in ink on the bottom right hand corner of each image.

Photographs are arranged by the negative number written on the bottom right-hand corner of each image.