National Anthropological Archives

MS 7463 Book of Cheyenne drawings by Little Skunk and unknown Cheyenne artists, with correspondence concerning drawings, 1878-1902

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS7463
Creators:
Little Skunk
Dates:
1878-1902
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Volume
152 pages, including 89 drawings with 3 leaves inserted
hard-bound in slipcase
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Repository:
Container:
7463

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a bound notebook, slip case, and three inserted letters. The notebook contains 89 drawings on ruled paper, primarily scenes of warfare. The drawings are the work of several different artists and depict battles with several different tribes as well as with White civilians and Army troops. The slip case is embossed with title "Outbreak of the Cheyenne Indians 1878. Sign Language Written by the Chief 'Little Skunk.'"
The first letter is dated September 10, 1892, and signed by A. Wernher. It states: "this book was presented to me in 1879 by Hermann Hauser of the Q[uarter] M[aste]r Dep[artmen]t at Fort Reno, Ind[ian] Terr[itory] Hauser was affiliated by marriage to the Cheyenne tribe of Indians and assured me that the book represented in sign language the outbreak of the Cheyenne Indians at Fort Reno Ind[ian] Terr[itor]y and their raid through Kansas to the North in 1878, written by the Cheyenne Indian "Little Skunk." However, the content of the images is not consistent with the accompanying identification. The names "Little Skunk" and "Hermann Hauser" do not appear in the index to the records of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency held at the Oklahoma Historical Society, but the latter's name appears as "Herman Hauser" in separate material at the Oklahoma Historical Society relating to Fort Reno.
The second letter is dated February 2, 1897, and written by Frank Hamilton Cushing on Bureau of American Ethnology letterhead. The note returns the book to a Colonel Cushing and asks to see it again later.
The third letter is dated March 11, 1902, and written by P. C. Knox to Colonel William C. Sanger with thanks for letting him see the book.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Administration

Custodial History
The collection was acquired by W.H. Kelly of Glasgow, Scotland. Kelly worked for Nicol and Halliday, a firm of auctioneers in Glasgow. The collection and other objects were found during a clean-up of the firm's storage areas in the 1950s, and Mr. Kelly was told he could have them. The items were believed to have belonged to a Presbyterian minister from Clyndor, Gareloch, Scotland.
The book was purchased by the Smithsonian from Kelly in 1987, and transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives in 1989.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
MS 7463 Book of Cheyenne drawings by Little Skunk and unknown Cheyenne artists, with correspondence concerning drawings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.

Related Materials
The National Anthropological Archives holds MS 7567 Miscellaneous specimen tags and newspaper clippings, which were also donated by W.H. Kelly. Artifacts donated by Kelly are held in the Department of Anthropology object collections (Accession 380486).

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
NAA MS 7463
OPPS SLIDE 22,227-22,297
USNM Accession 380496

Variant Title

Variant Title
Outbreak of the Cheyenne Indians, 1878 / sign language written by the Chief "Little Skunk"


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Works of art Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ledger drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
North America Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fort Reno (Okla.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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