Edward S. Curtis Digital Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Photographer Edward S. Curtis devoted two decades to making “The North American Indian,” an early 20th century photography and text project studying Western tribes.
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, February 2, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch and Minnie Harris (of the Washington State Historical Society). Curtis discusses the importance of The North American Indian for posterity and describes the long hours that he put into the work. He reflects on his childhood and how his father's illness caused him to begin working at an early age. He writes "As I look back over my scrambled life I realize that I have rarely taken a Sunday off and but one week vacation, its safe to say that in the past sixty years I have averaged sixteen hours a day, seven days a week." In a postscript, he adds that his health has taken a turn for the worse and doctors want him to return to the hospital--an idea which he resists.
Identifier: {}
Date: 1949-02-02
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A Stormy Day - Flathead
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The seventh volume, featuring the Yakima, Klickitat, Salish and Kootenai tribes, was published in 1911.
Identifier: spl_nai_07_233
Date: 1910
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San Ildefonso Pottery
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The seventeenth volume, featuring the Tewa and Zuni tribes, was published in 1926.
Identifier: spl_nai_17_587
Date: 1925
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Piopio-Maksmaks - Wallawalla
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eighth volume, featuring the Nez Perce, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Cayuse, Tlakluit (or Wishham) and Chinook tribes, was published in 1911.
Identifier: spl_nai_08_267
Date: 1905
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A Wichita
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eighteenth volume, featuring the Wichita, Cheyenne, Oto, and Commanche tribes, was published in 1930.
Identifier: spl_nai_19_653
Date: 1927
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Lone Chief - Oto
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eighteenth volume, featuring the Wichita, Cheyenne, Oto, and Commanche tribes, was published in 1930.
Identifier: spl_nai_19_676
Date: 1927
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Hastobiga - Navaho Medicine-Man
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The first volume, featuring the Navajo, Apache and Jicarilla tribes, was published in 1907.
Identifier: spl_nai_01_035
Date: 1904
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Wakonda - Oto
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eighteenth volume, featuring the Wichita, Cheyenne, Oto, and Commanche tribes, was published in 1930.
Identifier: spl_nai_19_677
Date: 1927
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A Feast Day at Acoma
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The sixteenth volume, featuring the Tiwa and Keres tribes, was published in 1926.
Identifier: spl_nai_16_565
Date: 1904
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Black Man - Arapaho
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eighteenth volume, featuring the Wichita, Cheyenne, Oto, and Commanche tribes, was published in 1930.
Identifier: spl_nai_19_674
Date: 1927
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