Edward Curtis & The Pomo Indians

Edward Curtis &The Pomo Indians "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost."~ Edward S. Curtis in the introduction to The North American Indian, Vol. I, 1907 By: Katie Lockwood

Edward Curtis • His work became most famous after he died • One volume of “The North American Indian” sells for thousands of dollars • He spent many years just gaining the trust of the Indians and later he was rewarded by being able to get so many opportunities for photographs and interaction that other people couldn’t get • Without him a large amount of Indian culture would be lost and even harder to salvage today • His field notes provided good ethnology for both anthropologists and the general public

Creating an ethnographic environment

Uniqueness of Curtis’ Photography • Golden tone prints named “Curt tones” • Spent time and money on materials not expecting a profit • Wanted his photos to have a life like quality • Did all of this as an effort to preserve Indian culture

The Pomo Tribe • One of the best known tribes in California • At the time of publication of “The North American Indian” there were 1,200 living Pomo • This included 30 villages that were culturally diverse and in various culture areas • Pomo women best known for their success in art and basket making

Pomo Living • Men usually were naked or wore limited clothing • Women wore short kilts, and simple clothing • Necklaces were made of magnesite and clam shell beads and were worth approximately $20 • Moved locations in the summer to stay cool • Most dependable food was nuts (acorns specifically) • Very few disagreements between tribes • Families were lead by one chief and followed a patriarchal form • Men had the duty to maintain general welfare without power

Example of Curtis’ Photography

Pomo Beliefs and Practices • The Pomo had two ceremonial rituals including the “Ghost Dance,” during which the dead were recognized and the “Far South,” which was a rite of passage for children of the tribe. • The majority of Pomo myths involved the adventures of Coyote and his friend Lizard

Salvage Ethnology • Curtis wanted a first hand account of Indian lifestyle • When members of the tribes die, they take their culture with them • Today Curtis’ field notes and photographs capture elements of culture that may not have ever been known • Although Curtis was not considered and anthropologist in his time, his works show significant value for many people today, including anthropologists

Effect on mainstream American Culture • Increased cultural curiosity about the Native American people • Reactions of both enjoyment and disgust • Preserve culture? Romanticize? Beauty? Truth? • Assumption Native American life was doomed and vanishing • Some said his work was stereotypical

Quotes • I have the ability, strength, and determination to finish . . . but have gone to the end of my means and must ask someone to join me in the undertaking and make it possible for all ages of Americans to see what the American Indian was like."~ Edward S. Curtis in a letter to J.P. Morgan, January 23, 1906 • "The passing of every old man or woman means the passing of some tradition, some knowledge of sacred rites possessed by no other."~ Edward S. Curtis, The North American Indian, Vol. I, 1907

Bibliography • Baxter, William. “Frontier Photographer Edward Curtis” Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/index.htm • Friedman, Kerim. “Vanishing Race and the Ethnographic Present” 9-17-2005 http://savageminds.org/2005/09/17/vanishing-race-and- the-ethnographic-present/ • Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis's "The North American Indian," 2003. http://digital.library.northwester n.edu/curtis/ • Ponce, Pedro. “The Imperfect Eye of Edward Curtis” Humanities, May/June 2000, Volume 21/Number 3

Edward Curtis & The Pomo Indians