Photographs made by William R. Pywell documenting the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. They comprise images of the expedition's camps, transportation, and members including George Armstrong Custer and Bloody Knife. The collection contains images of human remains.
Scope and Contents note:
Stereoscopic photographs made by William R. Pywell documenting the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. They comprise images of the expedition's camps, transportation, and members including George Armstrong Custer and Bloody Knife.
Biographical/Historical note:
William Redish Pywell (1843-1886) received photographic training from Alexander Gardner and worked as a photographer in a Washington, D.C., studio owned by Matthew Brady during and after the Civil War. After opening his own studio in Washington, Pywell became official photographer for the Yellowstone Expedition in 1873.
Historical Note:
Comprised primarily of US Army cavalry and infantry, the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873 was organized to escort and protect the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey. Colonel David S. Stanley led the expedition, with Lieutenant Commander George Armstrong Custer second in command. The War Department also charged Stanley with exploring the region and reporting back on the natural features and resources. As such, a small scientific corps consisting of a paleontologist, geologist, mineralogist, zoologist, botanist, photographer (Pywell), and artist accompanied the expedition. The party set out to Yellowstone from Fort Rice in Dakota Territory in June of 1873, returning in September.
Location of Other Archival Materials:
The National Archives holds Pywell negatives transferred by the BAE circa 1948 (Record Group 106) and the E. Marshall Pywell Photographic Collection, circa 1874 - circa 1975. Additional records of the Yellowstone Expedition can be found in Record Group 391 and 393.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
The collection contains images of human remains.