American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

A collection comprised of 4 albums containing more than 830 photographs assembled by Reverend William L. Earl, ca early 20th century. Several also appear to have been taken by Earl. The photographs range in size from 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. to 3 1/2 x 5 3/4 in., and are mounted recto/verso on album pages. Some include manuscript notations in lower margins of images. Content varies from images showing Earl and his family in cities throughout the midwestern US, such as Detroit, MI, Toledo, OH, and Danville, IL, to images documenting travels to Mexico, possibly taken during the Mexican Border War, and Asia.

The collection is highlighted by numerous photos documenting Reverend Earl's experiences in the American West. Notable images include: Multiple images of Pueblo artisans Severo and Maria Tafoya. -- Images of Navajo, Hopie, and Pueblo Indians, including some homes and churches. -- Trading posts, including Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona and Newcomb's in New Mexico. -- Native American flutist Antonio Lajuau (?), including images of his home and wife. -- Hopi Indians. -- Camp scenes, including some views of Earl interacting with Native Americans. -- Multiple images documenting the Ignacio Indian Boarding School and Ute Mountain Boarding School in Towaoc, CO, including images of the grounds and students. -- Native Americans playing baseball. -- Photos of Dr. Edward Steiner, scholar, lecturer, and author, and colleagues at Steiner's Acres in Colorado. The images appear to document a minister's retreat at Steiner's camp. -- Multiple views of Colorado scenery and wildlife. -- Images of men, possibly including Earl, panning for gold in the San Miguel River, Colorado. -- Gold mine shaft in Colorado. -- Multiple views of churches in Colorado. -- Pioneer Days, Cheyenne, Wyoming. -- Multiple images of Catamount Camp in Colorado, led by William Earl as per notation. Camp activities range from "initiation day" and "setting up" for exercises, to prayer and Bible study.

Also enclosed are 8 postcards, most RPPCs of Native American subjects, including Severo and Maria Tafoya, a possibly autographed image of Ray Silver Tongue, Nathan Wing and his family at home on a Towaoc, CO, reservation, and a photograph showing Earl with a Native American subject identified as Billy Boice, who "brought his squaw with him to ask the missionary shown in the picture (Earl) for needed clothing for winter." -- A typed poem with accompanying photograph entitled "The House Where I was Born," signed by Victor M. Hatfield, an author and composer of church hymnals. -- 2 CDVs showing Andrew M. Earl, father of William Earl, including a war-date view of Andrew M. Earl in uniform (uncredited, 2-cent US Internal Revenue stamp on verso) and an image of Earl with a woman, presumably his wife (Meyerhuber, Adrian, MI). Andrew Earl served with the 4th Michigan Infantry from September 1864 - May 1865. He resided in Michigan following the war.