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Edward S. Curtis Collection, 1900-1921

NAU.PH.93.38

Biographical Note

Edward Sheriff Curtis was born near White Water Wisconsin in 1868. He was a self-taught photographer and built his first camera when still a child. For several years he worked as an assistant to a commercial photographer in Minnesota. In 1887, he moved with his family to Seattle, Washington where he owned part interest in a photographic studio. During this time, he was heavily influenced by George Bird Grinnell, who was an expert on Native Americans and played a major role in giving young Curtis' photographic enthusiasm direction and scope. As a result of Grinnell's influence, he turned his attention to Native American subjects. Curtis photographed his first Native American in 1896 and, as a result of his subsequent Native American photographs, was commissioned to Edward H. Harriman's two month expedition to Alaska in 1899.

In 1900, Curtis began an extensive photographic documentation of Native American tribes from the United States. His work carried him all over the American West and resulted in his first trip to the Hopi Mesas in 1900. Curtis' talent and topic caught the interest of many Americans including Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan. Morgan was so impressed that he advanced Curtis $75,000 in 1905 to complete and publish the results of Curtis' Native American studies. In 1930, he completed his Native America n study and published a twenty- volume illustrated encyclopedia of North American Indian life, containing over 1,500 photographic images.

Curtis employed a variety of techniques, but he is best known for his high quality photogravure photographs. Although his style was uncomplicated, he tended to romanticize his subjects by posing them with various props, including wigs.

In addition to his twenty volume set, The North American Indians, Curtis' photographs appear in many other publications. Curtis also wrote books based on his knowledge of Native Americans such as, In the Land of the Head Hunters, and Indian Days of Long Ago. Curtis died on October 21, 1954 in Los Angeles, California.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of black-and-white copy photographs and copy negatives made from images originally captured by Edward S. Curtis. These images document the Hopi Indian Reservation from the years 1900-1921 and are the result of Curtis' frequent forays into the Hopi Reservation and help to increase and preserve the history of the Hopi nation. Additionally, these images provide insights into the life of Edward S. Curtis and turn of the century professional photography.

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Controlled Access Terms

Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Digital versions of parts of this collection are available online herehere.

Original glass plates of the Curtis material are located at the Library of Congress.

Preferred Citation

Edward S. Curtis Collection, NAU.PH.93.38. Special Collections and Archives. Northern Arizona University. Cline Library. Flagstaff, Arizona.

Acquisition Information

The Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives Department, NAU, received the Edward S. Curtis Collection from the Museum of Northern Arizona in October 1993.

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