Printed Books & Early American Photography, including Selections from the Larry Ness Collection

Lot comprised of 4 photographs, including:

3 photographs, each with D.F. Barry's Bismarck and Standing Rock, Dakota/Dakota Territory imprint on recto or verso. Includes: Taking the Census at Standing Rock, Dakota. 9 x 13 in. photograph on original, 9 1/2 x 13 in. cardstock mount with Barry's imprint in lower margin, taken ca 1880s (print and mount heavily worn, with toning, soiling, chipping and loss to print and mount edges and corners). Within the large crowd of people is Chief Gall standing with a cane between two tables as well as Major James McLaughlin sitting at the table on the left. What appears to be hundreds of Sioux Indians and their dogs stand in front of the agency buildings. Some of the children and young women, all wearing Anglo-style clothing, are lined up on the right side of the scene, arranged by height. The image, which was taken at a time of heightened tensions, illustrates the government's attempt to control as well as document the Sioux.

Untitled photograph which appears to document Sitting Bull's 1886 trial at Standing Rock Agency for instigating the Crows to go on the war path. 6 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. photograph on 6 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. cardstock mount with Barry's imprint on verso (print and mount heavily worn, with toning, soiling, chipping, tearing, and loss to mount edges and corners). Research indicates that the three men seated at the table near the center of the scene include (from left to right): Colonel Townsend, 12th Infantry; Colonel Barrister; and Indian Commissioner James McLaughlin. Chester A. Arthur appointed James McLaughlin to run Standing Rock Agency in October 1881. McLaughlin first met Sitting Bull in September 1881 and developed a rift between the Hunkpapa Lakota leader and other chiefs. In Thomas M. Heski's book, The Little Shadow Catcher, which illustrates a different image of the trial, Heski notes that McLaughlin "was willing to use any Indian he could to effectively combat the influence of Sitting Bull," and blamed Sitting Bull personally if anything went wrong at Standing Rock.

Photograph providing a close-up view of the Standing Rock Monument, 9 3/8 x 6 3/8 in., on 9 5/8 x 6 1/2 in. cardstock mount. Verso with Barry's imprint and faintly penciled notation, "Standing Rock, Bird Maynard Robinson, Clerk 1887" (toning, soiling, some edge and corner wear to print and mount).

[With:] Photograph showing a group of men, including government officials gathered at the Standing Rock Monument, 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 in., on 10 x 12 in. mount with imprint of F.B. Fiske, Bismarck, North Dakota (very good overall, some edge and corner wear to mount). The subjects, who are identified in the negative, include (from left to right): A.D. Anderson (?), Dr. Eastman, Mr. Uvell (?), Mr. Wolbert, Gov. Sarles, Col. Sveen (?), Supt. Derrick, Mr. Carignan (?). The image was likely taken bewteen 1905 and 1907, when Elmore Yocum Sarles served as the 9th Governor of North Dakota.

Together, 4 photographs.