Descriptive Catalogue Collections

Wyandot Indian Tribe, Photo Descriptions

The Wyandot, or Huron, a western Iroquois tribe, lived originally on the shores of Lake Huron, where they raised tobacco to such an extent that they were called Petem, or Tobacco Indians. Were driven west to Wisconsin and to the shores of Lake Superior, and by the Sioux back again to the neighbor hood of Detroit, where they remained up to the close of the wars between the United States and England. In 1832 ceded all their lands in Ohio to the Government, and 687 were re moved to Kansas, where they have since resided, at the junction of the … Read more

Winnebago Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Winnebago are a branch of the great Dakota family, calling themselves O-tchun-gu-rah, and by the Sioux, Hotanke, or the Big-voiced People; by the Chippeway, Winnebagonk whence their common English name a word meaning men from the fetid waters. The French knew them as La Puans (the Stinkers), supposed to have been given them in consequence of the great quantity of decaying and putrid fish in their camps when first visited by white men. With some others they formed the van of the eastward migration of the Dakotas, penetrating apparently some distance, but were forced back to Green Bay. This … Read more

Wasco Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Wasco, like the Warm Springs Indians, are related to the Walla Walla, and through them to the Sahaptin family. The name signifies “basin,” and the tribe derives its name, traditionally, from the fact that formerly one of their chiefs, his wife having died, spent much of his time in making cavities or basins in the soft rock for his children to fill with water and pebbles, and thereby amuse themselves.” They came originally from around the Dalles. Are associated with the Warm Springs and Tenino on a reservation in Oregon just south of the Columbia. Now number 263, profess … Read more

Warm Springs Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Warm Springs Indians, so named from their location about the thermal springs in Northern Oregon, are related to the Walla Walla, and number 187, on a reservation of some 725 square miles, on which are also some 300 Wasco and Tenino. The combined tribes cultivate about 800 acres of the land. They are very well off in live stock and derive some of their income by lumbering. All wear citizen’s dress, many have good comfortable houses, and support two schools, with an attendance of about 50 scholars. They assisted in the operations against the Modoc in 1872, raising a … Read more

Waco and Wichita Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

Waco 742. Long Soldier. (Front.) 743. Long Soldier. (Profile.) Wichita 744. Assadawa. (Front.) 745. Assadawa. (Profile.) 746. Esquitzchew. (Front.) 747. Esquitzchew. (Profile.) 748. Black Horse. 165, 167. Buffalo Goad. (Front.) 166, 168. Buffalo Goad. (Profile.) Was one of the great delegation of chiefs from the Indian Territory in 1872, among whom were Little Raven, Little Robe, Bird Chief, &c. He impressed all as being a man of more than usual ability and dignity.

Utah Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Utah, Yuta, or Ute, as the name is variously written, are a large tribe belonging to the great Shoshone family* and who occupy the mountainous portion of Colorado, with portions of Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada. Those living in the mountains where game abounds have a fine physical development, are brave and hardy, and comparatively well to do; while those who inhabit the sterile plains of the Salt Lake Basin are miser ably poor, and spiritless. We derive our first knowledge of the Utah from the early Spanish explorers, who came in contact with them on the upper waters … Read more

Temiculsa and Tawacanie Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

A small tribe in the Indian Territory associated with the Caddo, Kiowa, and others on the Wichita agency. They are well advanced toward civilization. List of illustrations 738-739. Dave. 740-741. Caw-Lac-Its-Ca. Son of Dave. Temiculsa A small band of Indians living in the southern portion of California, who are extensively intermarried with the Mexicans. They are a thrifty, prosperous people, fully able to take good care of themselves, and are not under the care of any agent. List of illustrations 993. Ka-Lek. Hanging. Chief of the Temicula, and delegate recently to Washington, to seek from the General Government the restitution … Read more

Shoshone Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Shoshone, or Snake, are a tribe inhabiting the country about the head-waters of the Green and Snake Rivers, and a part of a great family of the same name, including the Comanche, Utah, and Kiowa. They occupy nearly all of the great Salt Lake Basin, to the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, and extend also easterly to Texas. The Shoshone proper are divided into many bands under various names, the most important being the Buffalo-Eaters, of Wind River; the Mountain Sheep-Eaters, of Salmon River, and the Western Shoshone, near Boise, separated from the rest of the tribe by … Read more

Shawnee Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Shawnees or Shawano are an erratic tribe of Algonkin stock, supposed to have been one primarily with the Kickapoo. Were first discovered in Wisconsin, but moved east ward, and, coming in contact with the Iroquois south of Lake Erie, were driven to the banks of the Cumberland. Some passed thence into South Carolina and Florida, and, by the early part of the eighteenth century, had spread into Pennsylvania and New York. At the close of the Spanish and English war those in Florida emigrated and joined the northern bands, and, again coming into contact with the Iroquois, were driven … Read more

Seneca Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

One of the Five Iroquois Nations in Western New York, comprising, originally, the Sinnekaas, as the Batch called them, (hence the word Seneca,) Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, and Oneida. When first known to the French, were living on the south side of Lake Ontario, and engaged in a fierce war with their Algonkin neighbors. By conquest several other tribes became incorporated with them. Missions were established among them by the French as early as 1657. In 1763 the Seneca alone, of the Six Nations, joined in Pontiac’s league to extirpate the English. During the Revolution sided with the English, but made … Read more

Seminole Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

“The Isti-Semole (wild men) who inhabit the peninsula of Florida (1836) are pure Muskogee, who have gradually detached themselves from the confederacy, but were still considered members of it till the United States treated with them as with an independent nation. The name of Seminoles was given to them on account of their being principally hunters and attending but little to farming.” Were very hostile to the Americans up to the cession of Florida in 1819, but a treaty was finally made with them in 1823. Other treaties followed looking to their removal westward, in attempting to carry out which … Read more

Sahaptin Family

Sahaptin Indian Family

Sac and Fox Indian Tribes Photo Descriptions

Sac and Fox Indian Tribes

Rogue River Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Rogue Rivers, so called from the stream upon which they have lived for a long time, have also been known by the names Lototen or Tototutna. As a general rule the coast tribes are inferior in physique and character to the inland tribes, but an exception must be made in favor of the Rogue Rivers. “The men are tall, muscular, and well made, the women are short and some of them quite handsome, even in the Caucasian sense of the word.” They are associated with some 15 or 20 tribes or bands at the Siletz agency, the whole numbering … Read more

Pueblo Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

A general name applied by the Spaniards to several tribes of semi-civilized Indians in what is now New Mexico. The term pueblo, in Spanish, literally means the people and their towns. They were first visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1537, who conveyed the first authentic account of their villages to Mexico, which resulted, in 1540, in the expedition of Coronado. As nearly as can be ascertained at the present time, he visited and subdued the Pueblos in the neighborhood of Zuñi, along the Rio Grande, and the Moqui of the province of Tusayan; but only occupied the country two … Read more

Keechie Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Keechie, of whom there are now only a small remnant of about 90 in the Indian Territory, affiliated with the Wichita, Waco, and Tawacanie; were originally from Texas, and are supposed to be the Quitzies of the Spanish authorities of 1780. Even at that time they were a small tribe, numbering about 100 warriors. After the admission of Texas, were placed on a State reservation, where they remained undisturbed until 1859, when their presence became so distasteful to the ‘settlers that it became necessary to remove them. Land was leased from the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and the Keechie settled … Read more

Kaw or Kansas Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

The Kansas are an offshoot of the Osages, whom they resemble in many respects. In 1673 they were placed on Marquette’s map as on the Missouri, above the Osages. After the cession of Louisiana, a treaty was made with them by the United States. They were then on the river Kansas at the mouth of the Saline, having been forced back from the Missouri by the Sioux, and numbered about 1,500 in 130 earthen lodges. Some of their chiefs visited Washington as early as 1820. In 1825 ceded their lands on the Missouri, retaining a reservation on the Kansas, where … Read more

Iowa Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

A tribe of Indians of Dakota stock, inhabiting originally the interior of the State of the same name. Marquette in 1673 placed them on his map as the Pa-houtet. Some of the neigh boring Algonkin called them Iowas a name originally applied to a river, and said to mean “the beautiful land” and others Mascoutin or Prairie Nadouessi. In their own tongue their name is Pahucha, meaning u Dusty Nose. “They were famous as great pedestrians, being able to walk twenty-five or thirty leagues a day, and the names of many of their chiefs show that they prided themselves on … Read more

Descriptive Catalogue, Photographs of North American Indians

The following Descriptive Catalogue is intended to systematize the collection of Photographic Portraits of Indians now in the possession of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, and to place on record all the information, we have been able to obtain of the various individuals and scenes represented. It is of course far from complete; but it is a beginning, and every new fact that comes to light will be added to what has already been secured. This information has been gathered from many sources, principally from Indian delegates visiting Washington, and by correspondence with agents and others living in the Indian country.

Delaware Indian Tribe Photo Descriptions

When first discovered by the whites, the Delaware were living on the banks of the Delaware, in detached bands under separate sachems, and called themselves Renappi a collective term for men or, as it is now written, Lenni Lenape. In 1616 the Dutch began trading with them, maintaining friendly relations most of the time, and buying so much of their land that they had to move inland for game and furs. Penn and his followers, succeeding, kept up the trade and bought large tracts of land, bat the Indians claimed to have been defrauded and showed a reluctance to move. … Read more