While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Office Of United States Geological
Geographical Survey Of The Territories,
Washington DC, November 1, 1877.
The collection of photographic portraits of North American Indians described in
the following "Catalogue" is undoubtedly the largest and most valuable one
extant. It has been made at great labor and expense, during a period of about
twenty-five years, and now embraces over one thousand negatives, representing
no less than twenty-five tribes. Many of the individuals portrayed have
meanwhile died; others, from various causes, are not now accessible; the
opportunity of securing many of the subjects, such as scenes and incidents, has
of course passed away. The collection being thus unique, and not to be
reproduced at any expenditure of money, time, or labor, its value for
ethnological purposes cannot easily be over estimated.
Now that the tribal relations of these Indians are fast being successively
sundered by the process of removal to reservations, which so greatly modifies
the habits and particularly the style of dress of the aborigines, the value of
such a graphic record of the past increases year by year; and there will remain
no more trustworthy evidence of what the Indians have been than that afforded by
these faithful sun-pictures, many of which represent the villages, dwellings,
and modes of life of these most interesting people, and historical incidents of
the respective tribes, as well as the faces, dresses, and accoutrements of many
prominent individuals.
Those who have never attempted to secure photographs and measurements or other
details of the physique of Indians, in short, any reliable statistics of
individuals or bands, can hardly realize the obstacles to be overcome. The
American Indian is extremely superstitious, and every attempt to take his
picture is rendered difficult if not entirely frustrated by his deeply-rooted
belief that the process places some portion of himself in the power of the white
man, and his suspicion that such control may be used to his injury. No
prescribed regulations for the taking of photographs, therefore, are likely to
be fully carried out. As a rule, front and profile views have been secured when
ever practicable. Usually it is only when an Indian is subjected to confinement
that those measurements of his person which are suitable for anthropological
purposes can be secured. In most cases the Indian will not allow his person to
be handled at all, nor submit to any inconvenience whatever. Much tact and
perseverance are required to overcome his superstitious notions, and in many
cases, even of the most noted chiefs of several tribes, no portrait can be
obtained by any inducement what ever. If, therefore, the collection fails to
meet the full requirements of the anthropologist, it must be remembered that the
obstacles in the way of realizing his ideal of a perfect collection are
insurmountable.
About two hundred of the portraits, or one-fifth of the whole collection, have
been derived from various sources, and most of these are pictures of Indians
composing the several delegations that have visited Washington from time to time
during the past ten years. Such individuals are usually among the most prominent
and influential members of the respective tribes, of which they consequently
furnish the best samples. The greater portion of the whole collection is derived
from the munificent liberality of William Blackmore, esq., of London, England,
the eminent anthropologist who has for many years studied closely the history,
habits, and manners of the North American Indians. The Blackmore portion of the
collection consists of a number of smaller lots from various sources; and it is
Mr. Blackinore's intention to enlarge it to include, if possible, all the tribes
of the North American continent.
The entire collection, at the present time consisting of upward of a thousand
negatives, represents ten leading "families" of Indians, besides seven
independent tribes, the families being divisible into fifty-four "tribes,"
subdivision of which gives forty-three "bauds." The collection continues to
increase as opportunity otters.
The present "Catalogue." prepared by Mr. W. H. Jackson, the well-known and
skilful photographer of the Survey, is far more than a mere enumeration of the
negatives. It gives in full, yet in concise and convenient form, the information
which the Survey has acquired respecting the subjects of the pictures, and is
believed to represent an acceptable contribution to anthropological literature.
Descriptive Catalogue, Photographs Of North American Indians. United States Geological Survey
of the Territories, 1877 by W. H. Jackson, Photographer of the Survey,
F. V. Hayden, U. S. Geologist.
