Collection of Thirty Original Photographs of Native American Subjects Including Kiowa, Comanche and Wichita by the Lenny and Sawyers Photographic Firm in Oklahoma Territory, c. 1890s-1900

[American Indian History - Photography] Lenny and Sawyers, Photographers

Published by Purcell, 1900

About this Item

In the years following the Land Run of 1889, which opened land in Indian Territory to Euro-American settlement, professional and amateur photographers alike moved to the region. Their motives varied, with some attempting to document the vanishing indigenous culture and others trying to capitalize on the Euro-American demand for photographs of Native Americans in both traditional and western attire. Some studios would use single sets of props for different tribes. Despite these issues, the images from the period do illuminate the period of acculturation and displacement in the history of the Southern Plains Indians tribes, and also provide a record of the motives of the Euro-American photographers behind the camera. William J. Lenny and William L. Sawyers were photographers working out of Purcell in the years immediately following the land rush. They photographed the tribes on the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache and Wichita-Caddo reservations. Lenny was a field photographer and likely took most of the photographs, while Sawyer managed the studio. Offered here are a very extensive group of photographs taken by the duo - twenty-seven in total - giving a visual record of the Kiowa and other tribes during this period. Some of these images - though not these copies - were included in the Museum of the Great Plains Exhibition In Citizen s Garb, and we have included their reference numbers where applicable. Overall an uncommonly large group in fine condition, with some fading. From the collection of Forest Fenn, the noted Santa Fe gallerist. 1. Indian Police / Kiowa and Comanches [Supplied Title]. The images shows seven mounted police officers, with the one furthest to the left appearing to be Euro-American. 2. Arko, Captain of the Indian Police (Comanche.) [Supplied Title] Indian police commonly earned $8-$10 per month to work on the reservation, where their duties included expelling intruders, bringing children to the schools, curbing crime and preventing the sale of alcohol. He s dressed traditionally including a single feather worn as a headdress. [In Citizen s Garb 32] 3. Chief Tow-Wac-A-Ny and Wives. Wichitas. [Supplied Title]. A portrait of Towacany Jim, a famous military scout, posed with a Navajo-style blanket along with his two wives. The women are wearing purchased shoes common in this period. He earned $10 per month as leader of the Indian Police and traveled to Washington, D.C. on diplomatic missions. Fine contrast. 4. Big Tree s Boy and Girl. Kiowas. [Supplied Title] A portrait of two children of the chief Big Tree. The pair wear traditional dress. Faded. Big Tree. 5. Kiowa Chief. [Supplied Title] A portrait of A Do-Ette, or Big Tree, the Kiowa chief. Fine contrast. 6. [Portrait of A Do-Ette] . He wears the same costume used by the photographers for various other tribal leaders, including a large headdress. Faded. 7. Chief Big Tree s Daughters. (Kiowas.) [Supplied Title] The image shows two girls identified as Alma (left) and Leena (right). Alma wears a dress of dark buckskin. Both girls have beaded bags, known as "Strike-a-Light" bags hanging from belts. 8. Lone Wolf. Kiowa Chief. [Supplied Title] A photograph of Mamay-day-te, or Lone Wolf the Younger, in the same costume used for O Do-Ette s portrait and others. Some fading. 9. Photograph of Laura Dunmore, or Laura Pedrick. Dunmore was a graduate of Carlisle School and sister of Chief Aptone. She is pictured here with a parasol, tartan cloth and tinkling cone earrings, providing a striking study in fashion during this period. Fine contrast. 10. Photograph of a Camp Scene in Summer on a Reservation. This scene, perhaps a Kiowa-apache camp, contains a tipi made of canvas instead of hides. A man in an expensive set of purchased clothing sits in the foreground. Excellent contrast. [In Citizens Garb 9] 11. Photograph of a Camp Scene in Summer. A variant of our no. 10, showing the same scene from a different angle. Excellent contrast. 12. Chief Wild Horse [Supplied Title] Title writ.

Seller Inventory # List1916

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Collection of Thirty Original Photographs of Native American Subjects Including Kiowa, Comanche and Wichita by the Lenny and Sawyers Photographic Firm in Oklahoma Territory, c. 1890s-1900
• Publisher: Purcell
• Publication Date: 1900
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • American Indians
  • Western Americana
  • Photographs