National Anthropological Archives

Rodman Wanamaker photograph collection relating to Native Americans, 1908-1909

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.64
Creators:
Wanamaker, Rodman, 1863-1928
Dates:
1908-1909
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
154 Prints
silver gelatin
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs commissioned by Rodman Wanamaker to document the "vanishing" way of life for Native Americans during 1908-1913. The photographs were made by Joseph Kossuth Dixon and largely depict northern Plains tribes, including Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, and Dakota. These large bromide prints form a set of presentation photographs and apparently such sets were placed by Rodman Wanamaker in several museums.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Rodman Wanamaker (1863-1928) was heir to a successful Philadelphia department business and patron of the arts, education, and Native American culture. In the early 20th century, he hired photographer Joseph Kossuth Dixon and sponsored three expeditions to Native American reservations (1908-1913). The main goal of these expeditions was to document the way of life of Native Americans, whom he saw as a "vanishing race," and to make "first-class citizens" of the Indians as a means of saving them from extinction. In additiona to still photography, films were also made during these expeditions including a motion picture film about Hiawatha made on the first expedition (1908), and a reenactment of the Battle of the Little Big Horn made on the second expedition (1909). The third expedition, the "Expedition of Citizenship" (1913), focused on carrying an American flag to tribes across the country and inviting them to sign a declaration of allegiance to the United States.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Copies note
Digital surrogates for some photographs are available online.
Custodial History note
Donated by Rodman Wanamaker to the United States National Museum in 1914 (USNM accession 56840).

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 64, Rodman Wanamaker photograph collection relating to Native Americans, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Dixonʹs negatives are at the Indiana University, Mathers Museum of World Cultures.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Anthropological Archives also holds a copy photograph of Wanamaker's Memorial to First Americans ground-breaking (Photo Lot R82-55).
Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Museum of the American Indian holds artifacts and some additional photographs from Wanamaker's expeditions. The Human Studies Film Archives holds expedition footage.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 64

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory is available in repository.

Addl. KW Subj

Addl. KW Subj
Sioux
Blackfeet


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Siksika Blackfoot Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sioux Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Apsáalooke (Crow/Absaroke) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Great Plains Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dixon, Joseph K. (Joseph Kossuth) (1856-1926) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu