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Native American culture is rich with magical customs and captures the spirit of living free, but during the 20th century it was quickly vanishing. Because of this, Edward Sheriff Curtis dedicated decades of his life to capturing and recording the lifestyle of indigenous tribes in North America and his extensive work includes some of the most captivating photos from that era.
In 1906, wealthy financier and banker J.P. Morgan provided Curtis with $75,000 to produce a series on Native Americans. Together they produced a 20-volume series, called The North American Indian. Edward spent more than 20 years traveling across the continent and made over 40,000 images of over 80 tribes. He also recorded songs and language, transcribed oral stories and biographies.
Curtis' methods to record the disappearing way of life were later criticized by some anthropologists. He occasionally posed individuals from unrelated tribes in the same clothing, removed them from natural settings and used overly romantic ones, and so on. Nonetheless, his work still features a lot of authenticity and is regarded as one of the biggest Native American research.
More info: edwardcurtis.com (h/t: mashable)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Klamath Chief Stands On A Hill Above Crater Lake, Oregon, 1923
Mary Dominguez 8 years ago
You see the tree standing on th left of the picture and the Indian Chief standing on the right side of this picture, both tall and precise. Notice the Chief's head-dress of feathers sewn into the band of leather the height of his stance minus a foot from the ground. His leather shirt has fringe across the shoulders, down the sides and on the bottom of the shirt. It also has feathers over the shoulders with the fringe, and also feathers in the mid back, shoulder height, at the waist, front, sides and back. His long leather pants have fringe on the outer side of each leg and the bottom of each leg. He appears to be wearing boots or shoes. What a lot of work went into the Chief's outfit! What bird do the feathers come from?
Samantha McGreevy 8 years ago
Crater Lake has a great Native American tale if you want to read about it. http://oe.oregonexplorer.info/craterlake/history.html
Daniel Losinger 8 years ago
“How Native Americans Lived” Not true. Most of these scenes were staged by the photographers.
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#2
An Apsaroke Man On Horseback, 1908
Mitchell Davis 8 years ago
Unfortunately these are staged. The chief's headdress was ceremonial and not worn for hunting. I don't believe native Americans used bridles on their horses either as they did not work steel for the bite.
Cody Eriksen 8 years ago
I agree about the staging, however, with trade, bridles were used
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Mary Dominguez 8 years ago
This view gives one the thought to be on top of the world. Why not? It is a good place to be.
#3
A Jicarrilla Girl, C. 1910
#4
A Group Of Navajo In The Canyon De Chelly, Arizona, 1904
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
I've been to Canyon de Chelly several times. The bottom floor of the canyon requires a back country permit and an authorized Navajo guide. There are roughly 40 or so families that still reside within the National Monument boundaries. Being part Indian I have been given several tours of the Navajo Nation. This photo is very indicative of how the Canyon still looks today.
#5
An Apsaroke Mother And Child, 1908
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
The cradleboard can then be carried in the mother's arms, worn on her back like a backpack for travel, propped up on the ground like a baby chair, or secured to a sled for longer journeys. After horses were introduced to the Americas, cradleboards in some tribes began to be designed to hang off the side of a horse as well. Not all Native Americans used these baby carriers -- families didn't traditionally bring infants out of the village in some tribes, so they didn't need a special way to carry them.
#6
Sioux Chiefs, 1905
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
As the Indian Wars became fewer and further between; and gunpowder made its' way west. The Spear (or staff) became more of a symbolic thing. However; the Spear still showed fur from the "big hunt", maybe a scalp and a feather from a lucky throw. Originally used as a thrusting weapon in hand-to-hand combat, after the introduction of horses, war lances became a prestigious weapon of mounted warriors, and took on symbolic and ceremonial importance in some tribes as well.
Adrien Roubens 8 years ago
It's good to have some history comments on each picture ;) good job
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Marcia J. Downing 8 years ago
We should be totally ashamed and disgusted at what we did to the American Indians, and we called ourselves Christians!
Juana 8 years ago
I wasn't there, were you? We can be ashamed by how these people were treated, but it happened in a different time by different people.
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#7
A Tewa Girl, 1906
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
This hairstyle was known as a butterfly whorl. The Tewa People mostly lived on the Arizona and New Mexico vicinity.
Vanessa Zee 8 years ago
thank you...after reading some of the comments I looked forward to your explanations. I wish you would do all of them.
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Ronja Rövardotter 8 years ago
Oh I see, there they took the inspiration for princess Leia hairstyle! :) Nice.
#8
A Nootka Man Aims A Bow And Arrow, 1910
#9
Black Eagle, An Assiniboin Man, 1908
#10
Piegan Tepees, 1910
Ronja Rövardotter 8 years ago
So many childhood memories coming to my mind now. I loved Karl May's books. I remember like I was imagining myself sitting next to teepee or riding horses with Winnetou...lovely times. Thanks for all these pictures they are interesting and beautiful.
#11
Hollow Horn Bear, A Brulé Man, 1907
#12
Mohave Woman, 1903
#13
Apache Girl And Papoose, 1903
#14
A Kwakiutl Wedding Party Arrives In Canoes, 1914
Mary Dominguez 8 years ago
It is important to know the customs of the tribe to understand what exactly is going on. Very interesting boats and Indian dress for this occasion!
#15
Nakoaktok Dancers Wear Hamatsa Masks In A Ritual, 1914
Francisco Gomes 8 years ago
So weird to think that maybe, as these people were performing their rituals with barely any clothing and those masks, civilized Europe was under the resounding firing of guns and a future of many battles to be fought in one of the world's worst wars
#16
Eskadi, Of The Apache Tribe, 1903
#17
A Kwakiutl Shaman Performs A Religious Ritual, 1914
Briana DeGruttola 8 years ago
Jeans have been around for nearly a century.
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Valerie Williams 7 years ago
The modern art and metal techniques used to design his rings...very 1914???? or not
#18
Apache Woman, 1906
Diane Fones 1 year ago
will this little one be safe from the so called Christian schools, so many babies were taken to these institutions and never heard from again. we are no better than Hitler!
#19
A Smoky Day At The Sugar Bowl, 1923
#20
A Qagyuhl Man Dressed As A Bear, 1914
#21
Walpi Maidens, 1906
Laurens Pilger 8 years ago
Looks like this is from June 1966, seeing the scribble on the bottom left. Just saying.
#22
A Qahatika Girl, 1907
Shannon Withrow 8 years ago
This reminds me of the photo of the Afghan girl from Time magazine
#23
Navajo Man, 1904
#24
Crow Encampment With Tipis, Tents, Wagons, Horses And Men As Seen From The Distant Shore Of The River, 1908
#27
A Qagyuhl Woman Wears A Fringed Chilkat Blanket And A Mask Representing A Deceased Relative Who Had Been A Shaman, 1914
#28
Piegan Girls Gather Goldenrod, 1910
Candy Sheppard 8 years ago
wonder what they did with golden rod cause as a kid we used it to make yellow dye
#29
A Koskimo Man Dressed As Hami ("dangerous Thing") During A Numhlim Ceremony, 1914
#30
A Hidatsa Man With A Captured Eagle, 1908
#31
Medicine Crow, Of The Apsaroke Tribe, 1908
Sissy Hankshaw 8 years ago
everyttime i see those faces full of natural dignity and knowledge, i want to leave all the smartphone and central heating and nine-to-five b******t behind me and move into a tipi
Beth Barenbaum 8 years ago
I'm right behind you....You've expressed their beauty and handsome ness well, natural dignity and knowledge...
#35
A Wishran Girl, 1910
Charles Dwyer 2 years ago
Hanging coins from a headdress is also a custom in parts of Asia. These coins appear to be from China.
#40
A Hupa Spear Fisherman Watches For Salmon, 1923
#41
Kwakiutl People In Canoes In British Columbia, 1914
Arnoud Lievers 8 years ago
Intriguing picture. Also still kindof painfull to see such an old picture with the Natives in their land called "British" Columbia
Alison Flannigan 8 years ago
This photo was staged it is part of an old movie made at the turn of the century and still can be seen in the provincial museum.
#42
Ron Breast, A Piegan Man, 1900
Sommer Dickson 8 years ago
I would love to be able to sit down with this man and hear what his life has been like. To be able to look at his garment up close. To hear his wisdom.
#46
Members Of The Qagyuhl Tribe Dance To Restore An Eclipsed Moon, C. 1910
#58
A Qagyuhl Dancer Dressed As Paqusilahl ("man Of The Ground Embodiment"), 1914
Gillian Higson 8 years ago
These pictures are wonderful, but I have to say that I find your comments mostly inane.
#59
Nayenezgani, A Navajo Man, 1904
#64
Kominaka Dancer, 1910
Martha Stevens 8 years ago
skulls i can vibe but he's holding a leg with a mangled foot attached ummm doc
Maualo Velflo 7 years ago
I didn't notice until I saw your comment. That foot is more disturbing than the skulls.
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#74
Skokomish Couple Outside House Made Of Reed Mats, One Seated Beside Canoe That Has Been Pulled Onto The Riverbank, The Other Standing Holding A Paddle, 1913
#79
Navajo Man Bedecked In Hemlock Boughs And Mask Of A Clown Associated With The Mischievous Rain God Tonenili, 1905
Doris Leyba 8 years ago
Native Hemlock - Officially called Tsuga, this is type of Conifer tree in the Pine family. Unlike poison hemlock (conium), the species of Tsuga are not poisonous. Western Hemlock, technically called west coast of North America. It was often used by area tribes as a dye, for tanning hides, making baskets and wooden items. The pitch was often applied topically as a poultice or slave for colds and to prevent sunburn. A decoction of pounded bark was also used in the treatment of hemorrhages. Another species, commonly known as Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga Mertensiana) was also used by Native Americans. The Menominee and the Forest Potawatomi used the inner bark and twigs it in a tea to relieve colds and fever. It was also used to treatflu, kidney or bladder problems, diarrhea, as a gargle for mouth and throat problems, and externally to wash sores and ulcers.
#81
A Kwakiutl Person Dressed As A Forest Spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, ("bringer Of Confusion"), 1914
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What do you think ?
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
Curtis made 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Indian language and music. He described tribal population, traditional foods, dwellings, clothing, games, ceremonies, burial customs, biographical sketches and even supplied a bit of the proper clothing when his subjects had none. Such a massive project is almost incomprehensible in this day and age. Finally, in Los Angeles. On October 21, 1952 at the age of 84, E. S. Curtis died of a heart attack, and at that time was virtually unknown.
Barbara Berg 8 years ago
Love this a lot. So sad they were oppressed as this is a stunning group of people with a raw unique culture.
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
Curtis made 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Indian language and music. He described tribal population, traditional foods, dwellings, clothing, games, ceremonies, burial customs, biographical sketches and even supplied a bit of the proper clothing when his subjects had none. Such a massive project is almost incomprehensible in this day and age. Finally, in Los Angeles. On October 21, 1952 at the age of 84, E. S. Curtis died of a heart attack, and at that time was virtually unknown.
Barbara Berg 8 years ago
Love this a lot. So sad they were oppressed as this is a stunning group of people with a raw unique culture.
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