Description:

Native American
[Okmulgee, Eastern Indian Territory], ca. 1875
Cheyenne Warrior Photographed by J.K. Hillers, Chief Photographer of J.W. Powell 1870s Survey Expeditions
Photographic print
An albumen silver print photograph depicting a Cheyenne warrior, originally taken by John Karl Hillers (1843-1925), the Chief Photographer of several expeditions led by important Western explorer John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). Ca. 1875. [Okmulgee, Eastern Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma)]. The sepia-colored photographic print is laid down on a speckled gray card with a decorative gilt border; the printed title "Department of the Interior / Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories / Second Division / J.W. Powell Geologist in charge" appears at the top, along with a small pictorial vignette. Isolated discoloration to the photographic print edges, probably caused by adhesive residue. Isolated weathering, stains, and some surface loss to the top edge of the mount. Else very good. The actual photo size is 7.25" x 9.25." The overall size of the mat is 13" x 15."

The name of the Cheyenne warrior shown here is attributed to be Big Mouth Hawk. John Karl Hillers photographed indigenous delegates from the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sauk, Fox, and Comanche bands attending Grand Council meetings in Okmulgee in the 1870s. Hillers appears to have been struck by the interesting rock formation of this ledge-like outcropping where Big Mouth Hawk is seated, as he photographed other Cheyenne and Arapaho leaders in similar positions. Some of these other sitters include Plenty Horses, Yellow Bear, Feathered Wolf, Little Bear, Little Chief, Starving Elk, and White Shield.

John Karl Hillers, a German immigrant, first served as a boatman and then a photography assistant on Powell's 1871 expedition from Wyoming through Arizona. He became Powell's primary expedition photographer after 1872. Over 20,000 negatives are attributed to Hillers, who continued photographing Western subjects until 1919. He is well-known for his portraits of indigenous peoples like Big Mouth Hawk.

John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War veteran, was a scientist-explorer who led expeditions of the American West beginning in the late 1860s. His data-collecting missions greatly widened the contemporary understanding of scientific disciplines like geology, botany, hydrology, and climate science. Unique to Powell, he also focused special attention on the ethnography and linguistics of the indigenous peoples whom he was encountering on his travels. Powell's 1870s expeditions along the Colorado and Green Rivers, Rocky Mountains, and the Grand Canyon resulted in specimen collection, new species identification and classification, map-making, and photography. Powell served as the first director of the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution between 1879 and his death, and served as the second director of the Geological Survey of the U.S. Department of the Interior between 1881-1894.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: mat: 13" x 15"
  • Medium: Photographic print

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