National Anthropological Archives

Timothy O'Sullivan photographs from the "Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian," 1871-1874

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.167
Creators:
O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882
Dates:
1871-1874
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
33 Contact prints
7 Enlarged prints
8 Negatives
collodion wet-plate
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Stereographic photographs made on the geographical explorations and surveys west of the 100th meridian, under Lieutenant George M. Wheeler, War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A. 1871-74. The bulk of the photographs were made by Timothy H. Sullivan during the years 1871-1872 and 1874, but there are also some taken by William Bell in 1873. The photos include images of expedition party members, camps, and transportation, as well as pueblos, (including Zuni, Navajo, Apache, Coyotero Apache, Jicarilla Apache, Ute, and Mohave), puebloan people, and scenic views in canyons of the Colorado River, Canyon de Chelly, Apache Lake, and the Cerro Blanco Mountains.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The geographical surveys west of the 100th meridian were operated under the United States Army Corps of Engineers and supervised by First Lieutenant (later Captain) George Montague Wheeler from 1869 through 1879. They were intended to document the geography in order to make accurate maps, record locations of Native American tribes in the region, select possible sites for military installations and rail or common roads, and note resources in the area. In total, the surveys analyzed the region now covered by Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon, and the expeditions produced 164 maps, 41 publications, and a series of stereoviews. Timothy H. O'Sullivan began photographing geographical surveys in 1867-1869 when he was the official photographer for Clarence King's United States Geological Exploration of the 40th Parallel. He served as the official photographer for the Wheeler surveys in 1871, 1872, and 1874, with William Bell taking over in 1873. O'Sullivan later became the United States Geological Survey's first photographer in Washington, D.C.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Copies note
Digital surrogates of glass negatives are available.
Custodial History note
The negatives may have come to Smithsonian through the War Department shortly after the surveys were completed. The prints were probably made circa 1937 by the Bureau of American Ethnology.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot 167, Timothy O'Sullivan photographs from the "Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian," National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
This collection has been relocated from Photo Lot 78.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Contact prints and enlargements, previously filed in MS 4498, have been relocated and merged with Photo Lot 167.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Published stereographs and associated papers relating to the surveys are held in National Anthropological Archives Photo Lot 4501.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional O'Sullivan and Bell photographs are held in National Anthropological Archives Photo lot 40, Photo Lot 37, Photo Lot 90-1, Photo Lot 24, and Photo Lot 97.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Some survey negatives were transferred to the National Archives, circa 1948. They are held there in Record Group 106.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 167

Addl. KW Subj

Addl. KW Subj
Coyotero
JIcarilla


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Colorado River Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grand Canyon (Ariz.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chelly, Canyon de (Ariz.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Southwest, New Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
A:shiwi (Zuni) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diné (Navajo) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Apache Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ute Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mojave (Mohave) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Great Basin Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bell, William, 1830-1910 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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