National Anthropological Archives

John N. Choate photographs of Carlisle Indian School, circa 1879-1902

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.81-12
Creators:
Choate, J. N. (John N.), 1848-1902
Dates:
circa 1879-1902
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
1200 Negatives (photographic)
circa
glass
16 Printing plates
copper
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs by John N. Choate mostly documenting the United States Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The images include portraits of students, parents, staff and other visitors, as well as interior and exterior images of the school, buildings, and classrooms. Choate also had a thriving commercial practice outside of the Indian School, producing studio portraiture as well many photographs of buildings, farms and industry in and around the town of Carlisle, as well as images of Dickinson College. Some of the photographs in the collection were made by other photographers and perhaps collected by Choate. A few copper plates prepared for publications are also included in the collection.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
John N. Choate (1848-1902) was a commercial photographer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The United States opened its first non-reservation government-supported school there in 1879 under the supervision of Lt. Richard Henry Pratt. Choate photographed almost every student upon arrival and during their school career, as well as school activities, staff, and visiting chiefs and families. Choate remained the primary photographer for the Carlisle Indian School until his death in 1902.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Copies note
Digital surrogate available online. Contact prints made from the original negatives also in collection.
Custodial History note
Donated by Stephen D. (Skip) and Dona Lee C. Olinger, 1980.

Digital Content

More …

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 81-12, John N. Choate photographs of Carlisle Indian School, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional Choate photographs held in National Anthropological Archives MS 4241, MS 4537, MS 4544, MS 4574, MS 4988, Photo Lot 73-8, and Photo Lot 90-1.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 81-12

Reproduction Note

Reproduction Note
Contact prints made by Smithsonian Institution, 1981.

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Indians of North America Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dickinson College Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States Indian School (Carlisle, Pa.) Corporate 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