National Anthropological Archives

Bill Groethe photographs of surviviors of the Battle of Little Big Horn, 1948

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.92-14
Creators:
Groethe, Bill, 1923-
Dates:
1948
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
10 Gelatin silver prints
mounted
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs made by Bill Groethe depicting a reunion of survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn at Custer State Park, South Dakota, on September 2, 1948. The survivors depicted include Little Warrior, Pemmican, Little Soldier, Dewey Beard, High Eagle, Iron Hawk, Comes Again, and Nicholas Black Elk. John Sitting Bull, though not a survivor himself, was present to represent Sitting Bull, his adoptive father.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
William M. Groethe (b. 1923) is a professional photographer from Rapid City, South Dakota, known for his photographs of Mount Rushmore and his portrait of the last survivors of the 1876 Battle of Little Big Horn. Mentored by fellow Rapid City photographers Carl Rise and Bert Bell, Groethe was the only professional photographer in attendance at the reunion of the Battle of the Little Big Horn survivors. Both Rapid City and the State of South Dakota declared September 2, 2009 as William M. Groethe Day in honor of the 61st anniversary of the Little Bighorn photo.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Donated by Bill Groethe through Art Madill, 1992.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Copyright retained by Bill Groethe. Contact the repository for terms of use and access.
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot 92-14, Bill Groethe photographs of surviviors of the Battle of Little Big Horn, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Groethe's photograph, entitled "Lakota Moon of the Longest Night," held in National Anthropological Archives Photo Lot 2002-02.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 92-14

Bibliography

Bibliography
Photographs published in Mary Duffy, "Bill Groethe: Master photographer of Mount Rushmore," South Dakota Magazine, May/June 1991.

Addl. KW Subj

Addl. KW Subj
Sioux


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Indians of North America -- Great Plains Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Minneconjou Lakota (Minniconjou Sioux) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oglala Lakota (Oglala Sioux) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Custer State Park (S.D.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lakota (Teton/Western Sioux) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hunkpapa Lakota (Hunkpapa Sioux) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black Elk, 1863-1950 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beard, Dewey Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
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