National Museum of the American Indian

Ephraim George Squier collection of negatives and photographs, circa 1862-1868

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAI.AC.041
Creators:
Squier, E. G. (Ephraim George), 1821-1888
Dates:
circa 1862-1868
Languages:
No linguistic content; Not applicable
.
Physical Description:
312 Negatives (photographic)
black and white
3 Photographic prints
black and white
Repository:
The Squier collection consists primarily of glass plate negatives made by Squier in the Central Andes region of Peru from 1862 to 1868 while he served as the United States Commissioner to Peru.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Squier collection consists primarily of glass plate negatives made by Squier in the Central Andes region of Peru from 1862 to 1868 while he served as the United States Commissioner to Peru. A few of the negatives measure 6.5 x 8.5 inches but the overwhelming majority of them are stereoscopic. Each stereoscopic negative has a notation in Squier's hand etched into the emulsion. The bulk of these Squier made in Cusco and the Cusco region and include depictions of colonial and archaeological Inka (Inca) architecture and antiquities, and Spanish architecture. The negatives he made in Lima and Lima Province, and the Trujillo, Ancash, Puno, Ayacucho, and Arequipa regions also depict Inka or Central Andres (which includes Chimú) antiquities and Inka colonial architecture. In addition, there are representations of objects, contemporary streets scenes and village scenes, and a few negatives made in Bolivia. The few prints in the collection are copy photographs made of Squier's drawings.

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
Negatives Arranged by negative number (N18828-N19139)
Prints Arranged by print number (P04466, P04467, P18525)

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Ephraim George Squier (1821-1888) was born Bethlehem, New York, and as a young man pursued several career paths until he settled on archaeology in about 1847. This interest led to the publication of the 1848 Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, which he co-authored with Edwin H. Davis and represents the Smithsonian Institution's first official publication. His fascination with the antiquities of the Western Hemisphere encouraged him to secure political posts in Central and South America that would allow him to pursue these interests. From 1846 to 1869, Squier worked in various diplomatic positions throughout Latin America, and it was then that he undertook archaeological and ethnological field work. Originally appointed by President Lincoln, from 1862 to 1868, Squier was the United States Commissioner to Peru. His studies and travels produced another extremely popular book, Peru: Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas (1877). Several of the photographs in the NMAI's collection appear as (slightly altered) illustrations in this book. Squier's papers and the original photographs from his negatives are housed at the Tulane University Library. Squier died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1888.

Administration

Author
Heather Shannon
Processing Information
Processed by Heather Shannon, Photo Archivist in 2013.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Historically, the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation managed all photographic materials separately. This collection description represents current management practices of organizing and contextualizing related archival materials.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
Access is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Restricted: Cultural Sensitivity
Preferred Citation note
Ephraim George Squier collection of negatives and prints, circa 1862-1868, National Museum of the American Indian Archives, Smithsonian Institution (negative, slide or catalog number).

Related Materials
Papers of Ephraim George Squier,1835–1872; Tulane University Library.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Chimú (archaeological culture) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Incas -- Peru -- Antiquities -- Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peru -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peru -- Photographs Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inka (Inca) (archaeological) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Incas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Central Andes Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stereoscopic photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Colonial Inka (Inca) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Museum of the American Indian
4220 Silver Hill Rd
Suitland, Maryland 20746-2863
nmaiarchives@si.edu