Photography

Leica 35mm Camera

The millions of photographs in the Museum's collections compose a vast mosaic of the nation's history. Photographs accompany most artifact collections. Thousands of images document engineering projects, for example, and more record the steel, petroleum, and railroad industries.

Some 150,000 images capture the history, art, and science of photography. Nineteenth-century photography, from its initial development by W. H. F. Talbot and Louis Daguerre, is especially well represented and includes cased images, paper photographs, and apparatus. Glass stereographs and news-service negatives by the Underwood & Underwood firm document life in America between the 1890s and the 1930s. The history of amateur photography and photojournalism are preserved here, along with the work of 20th-century masters such as Richard Avedon and Edward Weston. Thousands of cameras and other equipment represent the technical and business side of the field.

Name: Kasebier, Gertrude

Amos Two Bulls, Sioux Indian, right profile

In 1898 New York photographer Gertrude Käsebier (1852-1934) embarked on a deeply personal project, creating a set of prints that rank among the most compelling of her celebrated body of work.
Description
In 1898 New York photographer Gertrude Käsebier (1852-1934) embarked on a deeply personal project, creating a set of prints that rank among the most compelling of her celebrated body of work. Käsebier was on the threshold of a career that would establish her as both the leading portraitist of her time and an extraordinary art photographer. Her new undertaking was inspired by viewing the grand parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West troupe en route to Madison Square Garden for several weeks of performances.
Käsebier had spent her childhood on the Great Plains, and retained many vivid, happy memories of playing with nearby Native American children. She quickly sent a letter to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917), requesting permission to photograph in her studio the Sioux Indians traveling with the show. Within weeks, Käsebier began a unique and special project photographing the Indian men, women, and children, formally and informally. Friendships developed, and her photography of these Native Americans continued for more than a decade.
Left and right close-up profile views of Amos Two Bulls, these reverse platinum images are toned in shades of brown and black, expertly applied by Käsebier during the printing process. "Sioux Indian/$5.00" is written on the back of the right profile view.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1898
maker
Kasebier, Gertrude
ID Number
PG.69.236.068
accession number
287543
catalog number
69.236.068

Drawing of a Horse

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1898
maker
Kasebier, Gertrude
ID Number
PG.69.237.22
accession number
287543
catalog number
69.237.22

The Red Man

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1902
maker
Kasebier, Gertrude
ID Number
2007.0200.01
accession number
2007.0200
catalog number
2007.0200.01

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