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

28 mostly cabinet-sized stereoviews on yellow mounts, each with S. J. Morrow's Yankton, Dakota Territory imprint. Most from his "Photographic Views/Gems of/from the Great North-West" series. Several include pencil inscriptions to the versos with further details of the images.

The author of the inscriptions is unknown but seems to be a resident in the area around Miles City and has written the inscriptions for the benefit of a friend or family member back east.

Comprises:

4 stereoviews documenting a reburial at Little Big Horn, including: An exceedingly scarce image of 2 covered wagons, tents, and several men making camp, with clipped caption affixed to verso: "no. 43 Capt. Sanderson's camp at the ford, while gathering the bones and building the moment." -- A view featuring a stone cairn with a flag, clipped caption reading: "No. 42 the monument on Custer's hill, containing all the bones found on the field" with the pencil inscription continuing, "Since replaced by suitable granite shaft.'' -- A view showing a pile of bones, most appearing to be animal remains, with clipped caption reading: "no. 34. Gen'l Custer's last stand, looking in direction of for and Indian village" and with extensive ink inscription summarizing Custer's Last Stand -- And a view of two men paying respects to a monument at Little Bighorn, with clipped caption reading: "no. 38 Decorating the graves on Custer's Battle field," with a newspaper clipping affixed to verso, "The Custer Monument in Montana has been so greatly defaced by Indians shooting at it that it has been found necessary to recut the names on it," and with pencil inscription stating, "Sin speaks for itself."

Numerous rare stereoviews taken in and around Miles City, Montana, with many outdoor portraits of American Indians, including: An outdoor image taken from an elevation capturing a large group of Indians sitting in a large circle in the middle of town with a large crowd gathered around them -- A portrait of an American Indian man and woman identified as Crow from the caption affixed to the verso and a newspaper clipping titled " An Indian Bridal Pair" -- An image of women tanning buffalo hides outside in front of two tipis, the pencil inscription to verso reading: "These are some of my friends cleaning buffalo hides and softening buckskin. This is the Cheyenne camp, I can see this camp from my window...I often watch them working with their poor, old, knotty, gnarled hands while the lordly bucks enjoy their pipes beneath the shade of the 'teepee'." -- An image of the Yellowstone Journal Job Printing Office, the verso pencil inscription noting: "Yellowstone Journal the first paper printed in Custer co. I have the office every time I go to Miles City -- An image of a ferryboat and two men, the verso pencil inscription noting: "This is the Tongue River, and a short way to the left, it empties in the Yellowstone, we are right in the angle between the two rivers. We drive down in our buggy on to this flat boat and are ferried across to Miles city where we do our shopping." -- A view of downtown Miles City, the pencil inscription noting: "Getting off the ferry we drive into Miles city here this looks eastward. And shows the main street. Wide you see. No lack of room. Come out here and pitch your tents. Its a great and glorious country!" -- And another view of Miles City, the inscription reading: "the other end of Miles City looking Westward. This will give you some idea of a frontier town. This town occupies the site of what was Sitting Bull's camp. Here the lordly Savage baked his toes, and tossed the ashes of his own camp fire. Where your glory now old Brave."

6 stereoviews of Ft. Keough, MT, built in 1876 after the Battle of Little Bighorn, including: Images of houses and various buildings around the town. -- An image of school children with a school teacher outside. -- And a view of a large group of men cleaning up a destroyed building, the pencil inscription to verso noting: "Barracks wrecked by tornado, Aug. '81.We were on the margin of the storm centre, but it was terrific!"

Together, 28 stereoviews.

From the collection of Philip J. Dieter (1843-1927), a veteran of the Civil War and the late Indian wars. Born in Baltimore, he was an ardent supporter of the Union. Discharge documents confirm two terms of service and anecdotal evidence that he was sent home as being too young after trying to enlist at age 16. He first officially enlisted at age 21 in Baltimore in May 1865 for a term of one year. After the war ended, he reenlisted in 1866, age 23, for a term of 3 years, and became a member of the 7th Cavalry, which was later commanded by George Armstrong Custer.