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Catalog Data

Extent:
6,000 Photographic prints (99 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographic prints
Date:
circa 1860s-1930s
Scope and Contents:
The photographs comprise documentation of Indigenous North American peoples and cultures, from over 100 communities. Most of the photographs are portraits of individuals and groups, often in a studio setting, but there are also photographs of people engaged in various activities, views of camps, villages, dances and ceremonies, and scenery. Included are photos of people portraying Hiawatha, Minnehaha, and other fictional roles as part of the Hiawatha play. The copyright claimants include well-known photographers such as Frank Rinehart, Joseph Dixon, and Edward S. Curtis, as well as many lesser-known photographers. In some cases, the copyright claimant is not the photographer at all but perhaps the sponsor of the photographic endeavor. There are also photographs for which the copyright claimant is not known (Series 3). Series 1: Copyright claimant A-Z comprises all the photographs by known copyright claimant and is organized alphabetically by copyright claimant. Series 2: Edward S. Curtis comprises a third of the collection with almost 2000 prints and is organized by the volumes of Curtis's 20 volume publication, The North American Indian. Please see separate finding aid for this series; Series 3: Copyright claimant unidentified comprises photographs for which copyright claimant is unknown. This series is organized by geographic region in the United States and elsewhere. It should be noted that all dates given in this finding aid are copyright dates, and not (necessarily) when the photographs were made.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into 3 series. Series 1: Copyright claimant A-Z; Series 2: Edward S. Curtis; and Series 3: Copyright claimant unidentified.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Citation:
Photo Lot 59, Library of Congress Copyright Office photographs of Native Americans, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.PhotoLot.59
See more items in:
Library of Congress Copyright Office photographs of Native Americans
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw3693a52d3-17ab-4bdb-9d48-920ae83685d2
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-photolot-59