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National Anthropological Archives
Guide to MS 39-a Book of drawings by an unidentified Cheyenne artist at Fort Marion, Florida
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.MS39A
- Creators:
-
UnknownFort Marion artistsPratt, Richard Henry, 1840-1924
- Dates:
-
1875 August
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
1 Volumedisbound and laminated; 21 drawings on 23 leavesgraphite and colored pencil10.75 x 8.25 inches
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of an artist's sketchbook, now disbound and laminated, containing scenes of daily life, dances, hunting, and a picture of birds. Individual leaves are numbered 1 through 23. The cover of the drawing book is inscribed in pencil "Drawn by Making Medicine, Cheyenne Prisoner, St. Augustine, Fla. Aug. 1875." Inscriptions on individual leaves are by the same hand, probably Lt. Richard Pratt.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Historical Note
Historical Note
Fort Marion, also known as Castillo de San Marco, is a stone fortress in St. Augustine, Florida. Between 1875 and 1878, seventy-two prisoners from the southern plains were incarcerated in the fort under supervision of Lt. Richard Pratt. The prisoners consisted of 27 Kiowas, 33 Cheyennes, 9 Comanches, 2 Arapahos, and a single Caddo. With the exception of one Cheyenne woman, all the prisoners were men. They had been accused of participating in the recent Red River War, earlier hostilities, or both. With the exception of the wife and daughter of one of the Comanche men, the prisoners families were not allowed to accompany them to Fort Marion.
Administration
Custodial History
The book was originally collected by the U.S. War Department; it is stamped "Ordnance Office, Rec'd. Sep. 15, 1875; War Dept. Museum." It was transferred to the collection of the U.S. National Museum in November 1877 and entered into the Anthropology department catalog as no. 30,664, where it was recorded as collected by Lt. Emmett Crawford, USA. The book was transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives in 1969.
Processing Information
The original identification of the artist as Making Medicine based on the inscription is in error, based on comparison to other known examples of the artist's work, including MS 39B. Re-identified as anonymous Cheyenne artist by Candace Greene, 2002. Drawing titles are taken from the inscriptions on the drawings. The archivist assigned titles to drawings without inscriptions; assigned titles are in square brackets [].
Digital Content
See all digital content in NAA.MS39AUsing the Collection
Preferred Citation
MS 39-a Book of drawings by an unidentified Cheyenne artist at Fort Marion, Florida, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
More Information
Local Numbers
Local Numbers
NAA MS 39A
USNM Catalog 30664
PPS NEG 55,025 - 55,046
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Works of art | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Ledger drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) | Cultural Context | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Florida -- Fort Marion | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| North America | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1310
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu
