[Native Americana]. Cabinet card of Pine Ridge Tribal Police Captain George Sword and wife.

Cabinet photograph of George Sword, Captain of Pine Ridge Tribal Police, and wife, verso with imprint of J. E. Meddaugh, Rushville, Nebraska.

The first Oglala called Sword was the subject's older brother, a "Shirt Wearer" or one of the four leading chiefs of the tribe, who died in 1876. The younger brother then assumed the name to "carry it on," a common tradition. When Valentine Mc Gillycuddy organized the Indian police force at Pine Ridge, Sword was made its first captain. Soon he was given the English name "George." Later he was promoted to the rank of major, and later still became judge of the tribal court. Soon after 1900, he was an important informant for Dr. James R. Walker who collected extensive descriptions of Oglala mythology, customs and historical events. Walker's "Sword Manuscript" is in the collection of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The woman seen here is Sword's third wife, Lucy Different Eagle. She holds a cabinet card photograph of an unidentified child.

Provenance: Cowan's, Western & Historic Americana, 6 December 2007, Lot 330.

The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

This lot is located in Chicago.

Bottom edge of mount trimmed. Light soiling to mount.

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

[Native Americana]. Cabinet card of Pine Ridge Tribal Police Captain George Sword and wife.

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