American Historical Ephemera & Photography

FAWCETT, Waldon (1875-1952), photographer. 7 silver gelatin photographs, most approx. 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in., each with 1905 copyright blindstamp of Waldon Fawcett, Washington, DC, on recto, and additional copyright ink stamp on verso. Each subject is identified on a typed sticker affixed to verso of each print (with toning on recto of each print as a result of sticker affixed to verso, occasional soiling and residue on verso, some chipping and creasing to edges). Subjects include: Yellow Thunder. -- Charging Bear, wearing two peace medals. -- Eagle Track. -- Iron Owl, wearing two peace medals. -- Black Chicken. -- Black Thunder. -- Not Afraid of Pawnee. Little information is available regarding Waldon Fawcett, who was a photographer and journalist working in Washington, DC. Provenance: Obtained from the Grolier Educational Corp, 1965 (consignor notes). 

[With:] RUTTER, Thomas (1837-1925), photographer. Yakima Indian Klootchman with Papoose. North Yakima, Washington, 1900. 7 x 9 lightly hand-colored silver gelatin photograph on cardstock mount, framed, 6 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (light fading to print, otherwise very good). Titled and copyrighted in negative, photographer's imprint in lower margin of mount. Additional manuscript notation on mount verso. 

Thomas Rutter was an English-born photographer who immigrated to the United States before the Civil War. He served as a farrier with Company M of the 1st New York Cavalry from 1861-1862, then moved to Montana Territory in 1864 where he established mining claims. By the late 1860s, he became fascinated with photography and opened studios, first in Glendale, Montana, then Butte, Montana. In 1888, Rutter moved to the Pacific Northwest and established a studio in Tacoma, Washington, which he operated until 1900. He then moved to North Yakima where he worked until at least 1906. During his time in Tacoma and Yakima, Rutter photographed the city, the surrounding area, and most notably the members of Yakima Indian tribe.

Together, 8 photographs of Native American subjects.