American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

A collection of photographs purportedly assembled by American anthropologist Alice Cunningham Fletcher (1838-1923), including a small sampling of images taken by female photographer, ethnographer, and author E. Jane Gay (1830-1919). Fletcher was the first anthropologist to work among the Nez Perce Indians. Between 1889-1892, Fletcher was sent as a Special Agent of the US government to facilitate the allotment of the Nez Perce Reservation in north-central Idaho. Although Gay was not approved to join Fletcher's expedition as an official photographer, she traveled as Fletcher's secretary, cook, and companion, taking photographs on an unofficial basis.

Gay wrote a series of letters describing her experiences during the allotment expedition, which were subsequently published in a book entitled With the Nez Perces: Alice Fletcher in the Field, 1889-1892 (1981, University of Nebraska Press). The book also illustrates examples of Gay's photography. The present collection contains 7 of those works, including:

Chief Joseph, the famed Nez Perce leader, with Alice Fletcher and her interpreter James Stuart (matted and framed). -- A view of Fletcher with her plat book, surveying. -- Lapwai school girls. -- Nez Perce mothers and babies. -- "Camp on Craig Mountain," showing surveyor Joe Briggs with Fletcher and a chainman. -- "Monday morning in Camp McBeth," showing Fletcher, Gay, and Stuart doing domestic duties (2 copies). -- With 6 other photographs, possibly taken or collected by Gay during the allotment expedition, including a view of bark houses and Nez Perce school children. Photos measure approx. 4 3/4 x 8 in. or smaller. (Wear to images, including some creasing, chipping and some areas of loss to edges.)

Two photo albums containing a combination of images of Comanche and Kiowa Indians, including portraiture and parade scenes, as well as landscape views and hunting scenes. Although a majority of the images are uncredited, many were known to have been taken by George W. Bretz or William Irwin. Several album pages include modern inked or penciled notations in an unknown hand.

The first album, which measures 6 3/4 x 11 1/2 in., contains 35 photographs, many hand-tinted, approx. 4 3/4 x 7 3/4 in. or smaller, mounted recto/verso on album pages. Some images are titled in the negatives. Subjects include: Indian Village Near Fort Sill, Oklahoma. -- Indian Parade at Anadarko Indian Territory, 1893 and 1894. -- Outdoor view of 9 Kiowa girls posed together, several mounted on horseback. -- Aw-Ba-Goodle, Kiowa. -- Caddo Masuape. -- Multiple studio and outdoor portraits of Kiowa men, women, and children. -- And more. (Album lacking covers, photographs overall good, with occasional spotting, album pages worn with some soiling, chipping to edges.)

The second album, which measures 7 x 10 1/2 in., contains 58 photographs, approx. 6 x 8 1/2 in. or smaller, mounted recto/verso on album pages. Some images are titled in the negatives. Subjects include: 2 photographs related to Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief, including a view of his camp and a view entitled "Chief Quana [sic] and family. -- Group of Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, and Cado Children, by G.W. Brets. -- Waiting for the Issue. -- Nap-A-Wa, Kiowa Chief. -- Da-Bo, Comanche. -- Kiowa Indian Camp. -- Indian Dance. -- 4th of July, 1892, showing Native Americans and white people gathered together. -- A camp scene including a family of four white settlers. -- Cowboys on horseback. -- Approx. 14 photographs capturing a deer hunting trip in the Bradberry Hills, Kimble County, Texas. -- And more. (Album lacking back cover, photographs overall good with occasional soiling, album pages worn with some chipping, soiling).

Enclosed with the lot is a typed letter dated 20 August 1970, from a previous owner of the albums indicating that they were formerly owned by an unidentified "lady who was an authority on Plains Indians," likely a reference to Fletcher.

Together, an important collection comprised of 13 photographs and 2 photo albums purportedly collected by Alice Fletcher.

Information obtained from the Idaho State Archives website.