LARGE 17 1/8" X 21 1/4" HAND-TINTED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY WILLIAM E. HOOK OF CHIEF BUCKSKIN CHARLIE WITH A BAND OF SOUTHERN UTE INDIANS

HOOK, WILLIAM E. [PHOTOGRAPHER]

Published by Photographed by by W. E. Hook, ca 1890., N.P. [Colorado], 1890

About this Item

Hand-tinted large albumen photograph of Chief Sapiah, commonly known as "Buckskin Charlie" with a band of Southern Ute Indians. Photographer is W. E. (William Edward) Hook out of Colorado Springs. Colorado. Text at bottom of the photograph reads, "Chief Buckskin Charlie and Band of Ute Indians. COPYRIGHT. Hook Photo." "Buckskin Charlie was the last traditional chief of the Southern Ute. Entrusted by Chief Ouray in 1880 to lead the Ute into the 20th Century. He served as a bridge between the old and new ways and counseled for peace. Reportedly born near the Garden of the Gods, Buckskin Charlie subsequently returned many times to the areas known as Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. In 1912 he dedicated the ancient Ute Trail near Manitou Springs to future generations of all races. Chief Buckskin Charlie died on May 8, 1936 and was succeeded by his son, Antonio Buck, Sr. As hereditary chief, Antonio Buck, Sr. became the first elected Chairman of the Southern Ute Trail." - Autry Museum of the American West. Sapiah, commonly known as Buckskin Charley (1840?1936), was the leader of the Southern Ute tribe from about 1870 until his death in 1936. He led a group of Utes to rescue women and children from the White River Agency during the Meeker Massacre (1879) that resulted in the deaths of Nathan Meeker and his soldiers. The northern band of Utes were forced out of Colorado after the massacre. According to Autry Museum of the American West, the original gelatin silver print was a part of a photograph album by the Historical Section of the Army War College of American Indian war photographs, Washington, D.C., circa 1870-1916. Caption on the first page of the album states, "The photographs listed herein are those sent to the War Department as depicting important characters or incidents in the various Indian wars. The captions shown have been placed on the photographs by the donors. These photographs were loaned to the War Department for reproduction by the survivors of the Indian wars, or their relatives." In a caption from the album containing our particular photograph, this photograph of Ute men, women and children, Chief Buckskin Charlie, and others, shows: 1. JULIAN BUCK (BUCKSIN CHARLEY'S SON-IN-LAW / 2. PEE-AH / 3. COMEROCK / 4. SEVERO (CHIEF OF CAPOTES) / 5. PENEGISE / 6. BUCKSKIN CHARLEY (CHIEF) / 7. KETCH / 8. COMMISSIONES / 9. PEDRO MACHUCHA / 10. CAPOTE / 11. MAURICE / 12. CUCHACHA / 13. APLAGAS / 14. WHITE WIND / 15. PEEVITZ / 16. STANLEY DAY / 17. NACHEVERATS (SEVERO WHIFE) / 18. OPAH (JULIAN BUCH'S WIFE) / 19. GEORGE BENT'S WIFE / 20. BUCKSKIN CHARLEY'S WIFE / 21. STEPHENS' WIFE / 22. GEORGE BENT (half-breed son of William Bent, founder of Bent's Fort) / 23. CAPITAN / 24. OSARITA / 25. LITTLE CASINO Buckskin Charley (Chief of the Capote band) is seen standing sixth from left, wearing a Navajo concha belt with his wife To-wee seated at the far right. Chief Severo (Chief of the Mouache band), is standing fourth from left. Ah-ca-pore (Acapore), one of the 253 Southern Ute chiefs and warriors that signed the 1888 treaty, and was a member of the Moache band and is seen ninth from the left in back row. We find it interesting to note that two white men appear in this picture and neither image of them has been tinted. A light four inch horizontal surface crease/crack near the bottom left edge in the grass area that is barely noticeable, else a very good photographic image.

Seller Inventory # 54073

Bibliographic Details

• Title: LARGE 17 1/8" X 21 1/4" HAND-TINTED PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY WILLIAM E. HOOK OF CHIEF BUCKSKIN CHARLIE WITH A BAND OF SOUTHERN UTE INDIANS
• Publisher: Photographed by by W. E. Hook, ca 1890., N.P. [Colorado]
• Publication Date: 1890
• Edition: [COLORADO].
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)