[NATIVE AMERICANS]. ROTHROCK, G.H. (1843-1924), photographer. A group of 2 stereoviews, incl. Indians Scouting, featuring Lieutenant John A. Rucker. [Phoenix, AZ].

6 x 3 3/16 in. stereoview on cardstock mount (toning to image, with soiling and wear to edges and corners of mount). Rothrock's imprint and series title "Arizona Scenery" printed on mount recto. Image number and title inscribed on verso: "29 / Indians Scouting." Armed scouts are featured crouching and aiming their weapons in various directions. Seated on the ground is Second Lieutenant John A. Rucker, commanding officer of Company C, 6th United States Cavalry.

Lieutenant Rucker met his demise when, in the summer of 1878, he and his scouts were stationed at Camp Supply in the Chiricahua Mountains. He and Lieutenant Austin Henely, commander of Company D of the same regiment, drowned as they attempted to cross White River Canyon after a monsoon. The next year Camp Supply was re-named Camp Rucker, and later Fort Rucker, in honor of the fallen lieutenant.

[With:] Apache Indian Skirmish. [Phoenix, AZ]. 6 1/16 x 3 3/16 in. stereoview on cardstock mount (toning, spotting, and some loss to image edges; mount with wear including some creasing and bits of loss to edges and corners). Rothrock's imprint and series title "Arizona Scenery" printed on mount recto. Image number and title inscribed on verso: "59[?] / Apache Indian Skirmish." Verso also bears marker inscription, "Helen's Dome," and various pencil inscriptions. Armed Apaches stand and crouch among shrubs and rocks spotting the landscape, holding up their weapons, some aiming as if to shoot.
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George H. Rothrock was born in Missouri but grew up mostly in California after his family settled on a ranch near Marysville. He operated his first photography studio with fellow photographer William Houghton in Bakersfield, California from 1870-1875, and he opened Phoenix's first photography studio in the fall of 1877 after his photographic exploration of the territory including stops at Fort Bowie, Solomonville, the San Carlos reservation, Fort Apache, Fort Verde, and other fascinating locales in the region. Rothrock moved to Tempe in 1893 and largely gave up the photography business soon after that. His body of work is immense, capturing and telling the story of Arizona Territory and its inhabitants as the century and its long-fought Indian Wars drew near a close.

Rowe, Jeremy. Arizona Stereographs 1865 to 1930. Nevada City: Carl Mautz Publishing, 2014.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

[NATIVE AMERICANS]. ROTHROCK, G.H. (1843-1924), photographer. A group of 2 stereoviews, incl. Indians Scouting, featuring Lieutenant John A. Rucker. [Phoenix, AZ].

[NATIVE AMERICANS]. ROTHROCK, G.H. (1843-1924), photographer. A group of 2 stereoviews, incl. Indians Scouting, featuring Lieutenant John A. Rucker. [Phoenix, AZ].