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Indigenous Boarding Schools and Missions in North America Photograph Collection
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Mostly photographs, including prints and lantern slides, as well as a couple of manuscripts documenting Indigenous boarding and residential schools and missions throughout the United States and Canada with a focus on the early period of these institutions. Some photographs depict the reservations on which these institutions were located and the communities living there. There are also portrait photographs of Native American and First Nations peoples.
Some materials to note include those of students at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute taken before and after their enrollment; images from the Forest Grove Indian Industrial Training School; two large sets of lantern slides documenting the Nelson House Mission in Manitoba and the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona; cyanotypes of the school at Fort Sill; and a journal of a missionary at Saddle Mountain Mission in Oklahoma that includes transcriptions of testimonies of Kiowa Baptists.
Titles that use photograph captions are identified with quotation marks.
Racist language appears in the original description of multiple items throughout the collection.
The arrangement of materials by contemporary geographic boundaries, imposed by the dealer, was maintained.
Several photographs are from the collection of the French travel writer Maurice G. Derumaux (1901-1985). These are identified as such throughout the finding aid.
Purchased as a single collection from Daniel Oliver Gallery and Auger Down Books in 2023 (AM 2025-058).
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in 2025. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in 2025 primarily using dealer description.
No materials were removed from the collection during 2025 processing.
Subject
- Off-reservation boarding schools -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Off-reservation boarding schools -- Canada -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Off-reservation boarding schools -- Canada -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Indians of North America -- Residential schools -- Canada -- Sources
- Missionaries -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Missionaries -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Missionaries -- Canada -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Missionaries -- Canada -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Indians of North America -- Missions -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Indians of North America -- Missions -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Indians, Treatment of -- North America. -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Indians, Treatment of -- North America -- 19th century
- Indians of North America -- Social conditions -- 20th century -- Sources
- Indians of North America -- Social conditions -- 19th century -- Sources
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Faith Charlton
- Finding Aid Date
- 2025
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Two 11.5 x 9 cm. silver gelatin prints of Susan Bernardi instructing Kingikmiut Iñupiat students
Physical Description1 folder
Silver gelatin print. 23.5 x 19 cm. by Asahel Curtis & Walter Miller of nuns and students outside the school, many holding American flags
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Silver gelatin print measuring 23 x 18 cm. by Case & Draper
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1 folder
Two silver gelatin photographs of students and staff outside by S. H. Nowell measuring 25 x 20 cm.
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Albumen print by E. G. Roadberg on mount measuring 16.5 x 10.8 cm. likely of a Swedish Evangelical Mission in Yakutak or Unalakleet
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print, 23.5 x 19 cm by Richard Maynard. Also included is a photomechanical reproduction of the image circa 1900.
Physical Description1 folder
Silver gelatin print measuring 25 x 18.5 cm. Photograph includes the caption, "Eskimos Attending Divine Service at the Congregational Church Mission Nome, Alaska, July 22, 1906."
Physical Description1 item
Silver gelatin photograph measuring 15 x 21,5 cm. Stamp on verso reads: "International News Photos inc." A printed label affixed on verso reads: "Point Barrow, Alaska... here are four of the girls of the Presbyterian mission here, who are now serving as nurses at the mission hospital, where victims of the prevalent epidemic of Influenza are being cared for."
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs of students and staff. One photograph is by W. H. Partridge. Handwriting on the verso of a photograph by an unidentified photographer reads: "The one with the cross is old Annie whom father and mother have written about and who became such an earnest Christian she was taken for a witch--the others are the Stome girls, some of the first to enter. Mrs. J. G. Ayers / Nie Almida Austin /19 E Main St. /Port Jervis, New York." The stamp on a photograph by H. H. Brodeck reads: "H.W. Yemans, U.S. Marine Hospital Service."
Physical Description1 folder
56 lantern slides documenting the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Western Apache language: Dzil Ligai Si'an N'dee) on the Fort Apache reservation in Arizona. Many of the slides are hand colored and each 8.2 x 8.2 cm. Many with affixed captions, some with captions in the negative.
Physical Description1 folder
Silver gelatin print by Brown Brothers, depicting students at sewing tables.
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Albumen print, 21.4 x 13.3 cm. Handwriting in graphite on verso reads: "Pima Indian girls, Pima agency Arizona, Louisa, Lill, Mattie, Edith, Sibbie, Carrie, Jessie REF-700 WNK/2879"
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print measuring 20 x 12.5 cm. Stamp on verso reads: "D.A. Markey Photo. Artist." Handwriting in graphite on verso reads: "Apache Indians."
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Gelatin silver print, 26 x 17.5 cm. by Alexander Wilson. Stamped on verso: "Derumaux" and below that "Photograph Canadian National Railway." Extensive publishers' notes and handwriting in graphite and pencil crayon on verso. text: "Coqualeetza Residential School. Tsimshian, Haida, Nootka--Kwakuitls" Blind stamp, recto, lower right. "Wilson, Chilliwack, B.C."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Gelatin silver print, 25 x 21 cm. by Bailey Bros. Stamp on verso reads: "Major J.S. Mathews, Vancouver B.C."
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Gelatin silver print, 15.5 x 11 cm. of students and nuns outside school. Verso reads: Reverend Sacre Maria Albert and Reverend Sacre St. Stanislas des Anagos[?] / Victoria, Vancouver / 28th Dec 1912.
Physical Description1 item
Unbound album of nineteen photographs was taken at the Baptist mission in Auberry California, as well as at a second unknown mission, likely in Arizona, or possibly New Mexico. Many of the photographs are accompanied by inscriptions in pencil and pen and ink.
Physical Description1 folder
Gelatin silver print measuring 16.7 x 11.8 cm. Handwriting in pen and ink on verso reads: "Missionary instructing Indian Catechist. W H Callison Reading Lesson."
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Three silver gelatin prints measuring 18 x 13 cm. commissioned by the Canadian National Railway of female students working in a kitchen, at sewing tables, and in a laundry room at an unknown location in Canada.
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Three gelatin silver prints measuring 20.4 x 24 cm. of one female student at an unknown institution, shown weaving, reading Braille, and at a typewriter with an instructor.
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72 hand-colored lanterns slides. Many have descriptions affixed to the items.
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Two gelatin silver prints. One, 22.8 x 17.6 cm., an exterior photograph of the school, includes handwriting in graphite on verso reads: "Government Indian School at White Earth (?) for girls & boys Virginia Hull." The other, 22 x 17 cm., shows the interior of the post office with Grace Warren Hull. Handwriting in graphite and pen and ink on verso reads: "Post office & show hall 1923 now Alliance Tabernacle, Virginia Hull. Grace Warren Hull in Post office."
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print mounted on board measuring 15.7 x 20.8cm (print); 25.3 x 30.5 cm. (mount) of a landscape with one individual. Inscribed recto, under image, on board, in graphite: "St. Paul's Mission." Inscribed verso, upper left, in graphite: "Indian."
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print by D. B. Chase, cabinet card mount, 10.6 x 16.4 cm. Handwriting in pen and ink on verso reads: "Mr. George Frost April 9, 1892. Children in Ramona School Santa Fe. N.M."
Physical Description1 folder
Gelatin silver print measuring 17.6 x 11.3 cm. of an outdoor scene with students. Printed label affixed on verso reads: "J. L. Clinton, Colorado Springs, Colorado. " Further printed text gives a brief history of Santa Fe.
Physical Description1 folder
Silver gelatin photographs attributed to George Hunter. The photographs were published alongside a story by Abraham Opkik entitled "Ancient People in a Changing World." Imperial Oil Review, vol. 44, no. 5, October 1960, pp. 17-20.
Physical Description1 folder
Two silver gelatin prints on card stock of students by Brown Brothers. Editorial stamps and notes in pencil about individuals on verso. One photograph, described as "Miss Dromb's Chilocco Pupils" notes that the students, are the nieces of "Little Minnetonka, a money loaner and Osage Councilor- very influential."
Physical Description1 folder
Twelve Cyanotypes of students and staff at Fort Sill as well as photographs of the reservation taken by Dr. Ferdinand Shoemaker. Some individuals represented include Quanah Parker and Kiowa George. Photographs of the reservation include individuals drawing rations at the commissary building and Quanah addressing a group of people waiting to receive their share of cattle on issue day. Cyanotypes measuring 7 ½ x 4 ½. with notations on versos, presumably in Shoemaker's hand.
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print on cabinet card mount measuring 20.5 x 13.5 cm.
Physical Description1 folder
Journal by an unknown author that includes transcriptions of testimonies of Kiowa individuals often written in shorthand and interspersed with the author's own experiences. The journal ends abruptly, covering a period of several months from September 1915 to Easter of 1916.
Physical Description1 folder
Gelatin silver print, mounted measuring 25 x 20.1 cm., of the building's exterior with students and staff by Irwin & Mankins.
Physical Description1 folder
Unknown creator. Includes the album itself, which has ephemera pasted on the inside front board, as well as photographs that were removed from the album for preservation reasons. The photographs are foldered in the order in which they were represented in the album. Many have handwritten information on the verso. Some names that are represented are M. Riel, Olive Riel, and Dr. and Mrs. McNicol. In addition to photographs, several ephemeral items pertaining to other Anglican-run residential schools in Canada are included.
In addition to the primary subject matter, the album includes individuals in anti-Black racist costumes.
Physical Description1 item
A series of 12 gelatin silver prints measuring 20.5 x 12 cm. of students, mostly, and staff taken by the studio of Isaac Grundy Davidson for the 1881 Portland Mechanics' Fair.
Physical Description1 folder
A gelatin silver print measuring 22 x 16.5 cm of male students in a pipefitting shop. Stamp on verso reads: Culver Pictures Inc. 660 First Ave. New York, N.Y. 10016
Physical Description1 item
Twelve portrait photogrphs of individuals and small groups from various geographic locations, collected by the dealer to provide, "photographic examples of Native American and First Nations peoples in transitional and western dress from the time period."
Physical Description1 folder
Two silver gelatin prints. One, dated circa 1920, is of students in the classroom. Another, dated circa 1905, is captioned "two Sioux girls."
Physical Description1 folder
Three albumen prints of students with handwritten captions in pencil on verso. One includes the caption: "Girls Dormitory / Laundry /Mrs. Williams house"; another "School Easter Day / Easter Day"; the third, "Mess House/Dr.'s House."
Physical Description1 folder
Two gelatin silver prints measuring 17.8 x 12.3 cm. of students.
Physical Description1 folder
Two gelatin silver prints measuring 16.5 x 9.5 cm. of students with handwritten captions in graphite on verso. One reads: "Base Ball team Indian School"; the other notes "[Fire]Hose team."
Physical Description1 folder
Albumen print cabinet card measuring 10.7 x 16.4 cm. by Nathaniel W. Taylor, Asheville, N.C., likely depicting a group of students and teacher.
Physical Description1 folder
Five gelatin silver and album prints potenitally depicting students and schools located in the southwestern United States.
Physical Description1 folder
Two albumen print stereoviews measuring approx. 9 x 16 cm. with handwritten captions on verso. One notes, "Group of Indian students being educated at N&A Institute Hampton Va"; the other caption reads, "Indian members of St. Johns Church, Hampton Va."
Physical Description1 folder
Portrait prints by William Franklin Larrabee of students at the time of their arrival at Hampton and months after their arrival. The photographs are as follows:
An albumen print on cabinet card mount and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso that reads: "Zie-Wie (Yellow Moon) Daughter of Indian Chief Crow Creek Agency, Dakota as she appeared on arrival at Hampton Va Nov 1878 Age 16 years."
An albumen print on cabinet card mount and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso that reads: "Zie-Wie Feby, 1880. Fourteen months after her arrival at Hampton Va."
An albumen print on cabinet card mount and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso that reads: "Carrie Anderson, 12 yrs. Annie Dawson, 10 yrs. Sarah Walker, 13 yrs. As they appeared on arrival at Hampton, Va., November, 1878."
An albumen print on cabinet card mount and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso that reads: "Carrie Anderson, 12 yrs. Annie Dawson, 10 yrs. Sarah Walker, 13 yrs. Fourteen months after their arrival at Hampton, Va."
Two albumen prints on cabinet card mounts of an individual identified as Arihotchkish (Long Arm).
An albumen print on cabinet card mount with a handwritten description and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso noting: "Group of Indians Taken on their arrival at Hampton, Va., November, 1878. Beginning at your left: Tis-cahf-uh (Laughing Face); Arickaree; Say-ed-da: (White Breast); Mandan. U-hah-ke-um-pa: (Carries Flying); Blackfeet Sioux. E-corrupt-ta-ha: (Man who looks around); Mandan; Ka-ru-nach: (Sioux Boy); Arickaree. Second Row, left: Koo-nook-te-wan: (Sharphorn). Mok-pi-ama-ni: (Walking Cloud); Unkpapa Sioux. Pa ma-ni: (One who hoots when he walks); Unkpapa Sioux. A-hu-ka: (White Wolf); Arickaree. In front: Ari-hotch-kish: (Long Arm); Gros Ventre."
An albumen print on cabinet card mount with a handwritten description and a matted heliotype with stamped paper affixed on verso noting: "Group of Indian Boys, Taken March 20th, 1880, about fifteen months after their arrival at Hampton, Va. Beginning at your left rear row: Say-ed-da: (White Breast); Mandan. U-hah-ke-um-pa: (Carries Flying); Blackfeet Sioux. E-corrupt-ta-ha: (Man that looks around); Mandan. Ka-ru-nach: (Sioux Boy); Arickaree. Second row, left: Tis-Cahf-uh: (Laughing Face); Arickaree. Pa-ma-ni: (One who hoots when he walks); Unkpapa Sioux. A-hu-ka: (White Wolf); Arickaree. Front: Ari-hotch-kish: (Long Arm); Gros Ventre."
Physical Description1 folder
Four silver gelatin prints measuring 24.5 x 19 cm taken by John A. Juleen of unidentified students performing educational exercises. Stamp on versos reads: "Dr. Chase. M. Buchanan, Supt. &c. Tulalip Indian Agency, Tulalip P.O., Wash. Tulalip Training School, Washington."
Physical Description1 folder