American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

6 1/8 x 8 1/2 in. albumen photograph on 8 x 10 in. mount with printed paper labels affixed to lower margin, the first identifying the subjects as "Keo-Kuk and His Son Charles" of Kansas, and crediting the photograph to Shindler. Penciled on this label is also "head chief of the Sacs." The second label bears copyright information. Verso with partly printed exhibition label from the Second International Congress of Eugenics held at the Museum of Natural History in New York, 1921. 

The man identified as simply "Keo-Kuk" is actually Keokuk Jr., also known as Moses Keokuk (ca 1821-1903), the son and successor of the first Chief Keokuk. He is featured wearing traditional garb including an embroidered blanket, and leggings, a bear claw necklace, and head wrap with feathers. He also holds a tomahawk and stands next to his son (variously referred to as Keokuk, Keokuk Jr., and Charles Keokuk) who wears a Euro-American style suit and his hair trimmed.

5 1/4 x 7 1/4 in. albumen photograph on 8 x 10 in. mount with printed paper labels affixed to lower margin, the first identifying the subject as "Keo-Kuk, Son of Keo-kuk, Jr., age 14 Years" of Kansas, and crediting the photograph to Shindler; the second label bearing copyright information.

The younger Keo-kuk Jr., or Charles, sits in a fringed studio chair and wears a suit of clothing, the same as in the other portrait featured here. He looks directly into the camera.

These images were likely taken when Moses Keokuk (and his son) were in Washington, DC as part of the Sauk and Fox delegation that signed a treaty ceding lands in Kansas to the US for reservations in present-day Oklahoma. Keokuk Jr. succeeded his father, Keokuk, as chief of the Sac and Fox people in 1848. He advocated peace and cooperation with the US government and encouraged adopting aspects of Euro-American culture.