This album, entitled "The Way It Looks," contains 146 photographic prints taken by Frank Churchill between 1899 and 1900 and later compiled by Clara Churchill. Most of the photographs were taken in Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) with many shot in and around Muskogee where Churchill was living during his time as a revenue collector to the Cherokee Nation. There are also images from Missouri and Kansas. The photographs are not arranged in chronological order (see the chronology for a timeline). Locations (Indian Territory unless otherwise indicated) represented in this album include—Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Vinita, Spavinaw, Marble, Sallisaw, Dawson, Saratoga (MO) Fairland, Noel (MO), Cowskin Creek (MO), Southwest City (MO), Adair, Blue Jacket, Oologah, Chelsea, Afton, Pryor Creek, Coffeyville (KS), Tahlequah, Manard, Claremore and Caloosa.
Photographs taken in and around Muskogee include—Inspectors offices, Inspectors Frank C. Churchill and Guy Cobb (inspector to the Creek Nation), U.S. Marshall J.C.C. Rogers; Chief Isparhecher (Muskogee Creek); Agents J. Blair Shoenfelt (agent to the Seminole), Zevely and Wright with Mrs. Bixby; Mrs. Clara Churchill with Miss Severs, Mr. Dana, Mr. Von Weise, Betty (Muskogee Creek) and Mrs. Tuttle; government offices, Dawes commission buildings; Alfred Taylor, D.H. Kelsey (clerk), Col. Dew M. Wisdom, Cullen and Wells; Muskogee Court House; Churchill's deputies B.P. Rasmus, W.S. Irvin, P.L. Soper, N.L. Ryder; U.S. Marshalls Wells and Talbert; Blanche Oppenheimer (stenographer) at the US Indian Office; Hotel Early and various views of the town. Photographs in Fort Gibson include—Chief Bushyhead's former house; Commanders residence; National Cemetery; and Barracks. Other photographs of note include—The National Hotel in Tahlequah; Niven's Ferry on the Arkansas River; images of "Movers"; horse traders; and oil fields in Chelsea.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archives 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).
Collection Rights:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadbast materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Collection Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Frank C. and Clara G. Churchill collection, NMAI.AC.058, National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.
