MS 053 - Edward S. Curtis Collection, 1899-1928 | McCracken Research Library

Series 1. Photographs, 1904, 0.25 ft (Box 1) –

11 photographs of Native American Indians, all signed by Curtis.

Series 2. Oversize Photographs, 1899 – 1928 (Box 2) –

71 photogravures from Curtis photographs of Native American Indians + one mounted photograph.

12 photographs and 71 large photogravures of Native American Indians by Edward S. Curtis.  The photographs are signed by Curtis.  The photogravures are all images found in the portfolios of plates that supplement Curtis’s 20-volume work, The North American Indian.  The ones in this collection were acquired from more than one source, and their provenance is unknown in some cases.  It is probable that some were once part of original editions of The North American Indian and others are later reprints.

Curtis, Edward S.

Edward S. Curtis (1868 – 1952):

“Born in Wisconsin, 1868; died in Los Angeles, California, October 19, 1952.  Older brother of Asahel Curtis.  Edward moved to the Puget Sound area with  his ailing father, 1887, and built a cabin in Port Orchard.  He formed a photography partnership with Rasmus Rothi in Seattle, 1891; partner with Thomas Guptill, 1892-97.  Curtis photographed Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle (namesake of Washington’s metropolis and the leader of the Suquamish Indians of the Puget Sound area), 1895 or 1896.  Thus began Curtis’ fascination and later obsession with photographing Native Americans.  Curtis befriended such notables as C. Hart Merriam, George Bird Grinell, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir.  Theodore Roosevelt and J. P. Morgan, were his patrons, the former supporting and the latter financing Curtis’ monumental work, The North American Indian.  The set of twenty volumes and accompanying portfolios were illustrated with beautiful gravures on three kinds of paper; Japanese tissue, vellum and Holland.  Adolf Muhr managed Curtis’ studio during his frequent and lengthy trips throughout the West to photograph Indians.  Muhr sold large numbers of Curtis’ work to keep the cash flowing and the family alive.  Imogen Cunningham was one of Curtis’ technicians.  When Muhr died in 1913, management of the studio passed to Ella McBride and Curtis’ daughter, Beth.  Edwin Johanson was the chief studio photographer and the studio began selling “Curt-tones,” also known as goldtones or orotones, stunning images with gold highlights.  In 1916, Curtis’ wife divorced him and was awarded nearly all their property.  Curtis made films, produced books and continued work on The North American Indian, completing it in 1930.  He was exhausted and went into seclusion to regain his health.  After a long rest in Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles, Curtis began mining, and eventually settled with his daughter, Beth, in Whittier, California.”

--Mautz, Carl. Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19^th Century American West. Nevada City, CA: Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997.