Edward Curtis &Edward Curtis &The Pomo IndiansThe Pomo Indians

"The information that is to be gathered ... respecting "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be must be collected at once or the opportunity will be

lost."lost."~ Edward S. Curtis in the introduction to ~ Edward S. Curtis in the introduction to The North The North

American IndianAmerican Indian, Vol. I, 1907, Vol. I, 1907

By: Katie Lockwood

Edward CurtisEdward Curtis His work became most famous after he diedHis work became most famous after he died One volume of “The North American Indian” sells One volume of “The North American Indian” sells

for thousands of dollarsfor thousands of dollars He spent many years just gaining the trust of the He spent many years just gaining the trust of the

Indians and later he was rewarded by being able to Indians and later he was rewarded by being able to get so many opportunities for photographs and get so many opportunities for photographs and interaction that other people couldn’t getinteraction that other people couldn’t get

Without him a large amount of Indian culture would Without him a large amount of Indian culture would be lost and even harder to salvage todaybe lost and even harder to salvage today

His field notes provided good ethnology for both His field notes provided good ethnology for both anthropologists and the general publicanthropologists and the general public

Creating an ethnographic environmentCreating an ethnographic environment

Uniqueness of Curtis’ PhotographyUniqueness of Curtis’ Photography

Golden tone prints Golden tone prints named “Curt tones”named “Curt tones”

Spent time and money Spent time and money on materials not on materials not expecting a profitexpecting a profit

Wanted his photos to Wanted his photos to have a life like qualityhave a life like quality

Did all of this as an Did all of this as an effort to preserve Indian effort to preserve Indian cultureculture

The Pomo TribeThe Pomo Tribe

One of the best known tribes in CaliforniaOne of the best known tribes in California At the time of publication of “The North At the time of publication of “The North

American Indian” there were 1,200 living American Indian” there were 1,200 living Pomo Pomo

This included 30 villages that were culturally This included 30 villages that were culturally diverse and in various culture areasdiverse and in various culture areas

Pomo women best known for their success in Pomo women best known for their success in art and basket makingart and basket making

Pomo LivingPomo Living

Men usually were naked or wore limited clothingMen usually were naked or wore limited clothing Women wore short kilts, and simple clothingWomen wore short kilts, and simple clothing Necklaces were made of magnesite and clam shell beads and Necklaces were made of magnesite and clam shell beads and

were worth approximately $20were worth approximately $20 Moved locations in the summer to stay coolMoved locations in the summer to stay cool Most dependable food was nuts (acorns specifically)Most dependable food was nuts (acorns specifically) Very few disagreements between tribesVery few disagreements between tribes Families were lead by one chief and followed a patriarchal Families were lead by one chief and followed a patriarchal

formform Men had the duty to maintain general welfare without powerMen had the duty to maintain general welfare without power

Example of Curtis’ PhotographyExample of Curtis’ Photography

Pomo Beliefs and PracticesPomo Beliefs and Practices

The Pomo had two ceremonial The Pomo had two ceremonial rituals including the “Ghost rituals including the “Ghost Dance,” during which the dead Dance,” during which the dead were recognized and the “Far were recognized and the “Far South,” which was a rite of South,” which was a rite of passage for children of the passage for children of the tribe. tribe.

The majority of Pomo myths The majority of Pomo myths involved the adventures of involved the adventures of Coyote and his friend LizardCoyote and his friend Lizard

Salvage EthnologySalvage Ethnology

Curtis wanted a first hand account Curtis wanted a first hand account of Indian lifestyle of Indian lifestyle

When members of the tribes die, When members of the tribes die, they take their culture with themthey take their culture with them

Today Curtis’ field notes and Today Curtis’ field notes and photographs capture elements of photographs capture elements of culture that may not have ever culture that may not have ever been knownbeen known

Although Curtis was not Although Curtis was not considered and anthropologist in considered and anthropologist in his time, his works show his time, his works show significant value for many people significant value for many people today, including anthropologiststoday, including anthropologists

Effect on mainstream American Effect on mainstream American CultureCulture

Increased cultural curiosity about the Native Increased cultural curiosity about the Native American peopleAmerican people

Reactions of both enjoyment and disgustReactions of both enjoyment and disgust Preserve culture? Romanticize? Beauty? Truth? Preserve culture? Romanticize? Beauty? Truth?

Assumption Native American life was Assumption Native American life was doomed and vanishingdoomed and vanishing

Some said his work was stereotypicalSome said his work was stereotypical

QuotesQuotes I have the ability, strength, and determination to finish . . . I have the ability, strength, and determination to finish . . .

but have gone to the end of my means and must ask but have gone to the end of my means and must ask someone to join me in the undertaking and make it possible someone to join me in the undertaking and make it possible for all ages of Americans to see what the American Indian for all ages of Americans to see what the American Indian was like."was like."~ Edward S. Curtis in a letter to J.P. Morgan, January 23, ~ Edward S. Curtis in a letter to J.P. Morgan, January 23, 19061906

"The passing of every old man or woman means the passing "The passing of every old man or woman means the passing of some tradition, some knowledge of sacred rites possessed of some tradition, some knowledge of sacred rites possessed by no other."by no other."~ Edward S. Curtis, ~ Edward S. Curtis, The North American IndianThe North American Indian, Vol. I, , Vol. I, 19071907

BibliographyBibliography Baxter, William. “Frontier Photographer Edward Curtis” Smithsonian Institution Baxter, William. “Frontier Photographer Edward Curtis” Smithsonian Institution

Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/index.htmLibraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/index.htm Friedman, Kerim. Friedman, Kerim. “Vanishing Race and the Ethnographic “Vanishing Race and the Ethnographic

Present”Present” 9-17-2005 http://savageminds.org/2005/09/17/vanishing-race- 9-17-2005 http://savageminds.org/2005/09/17/vanishing-race-and-and- the-ethnographic-present/the-ethnographic-present/

Northwestern University Library, Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Edward S.

Curtis's "The North American Indian,"Curtis's "The North American Indian," 2003. 2003. http://http://digital.library.northwesterdigital.library.northwester n.edu/curtisn.edu/curtis//

Ponce, Pedro. Ponce, Pedro. “The Imperfect Eye of Edward Curtis” “The Imperfect Eye of Edward Curtis” HumanitiesHumanities, , May/June 2000, May/June 2000, Volume 21/Number 3Volume 21/Number 3