This CDV of an American
Indian, photographed by the well known New York City Bowery photographer, Chas. Eisenmann,
with his imprint on the reverse. Eisenmann's works date from 1870
to the 1890's and he was famous for photographing the "freaks" of the
circuses, sideshows and living museums of the Bowery according to the Ronald G. Becker Collection at Syracuse University.
Although this sepia image is faint, worn and frayed it is important due
to the social implications, as the American Indian was an oddity, not only to
be photographed in the East, but to be put on display (as P.T. Barnum and
others did, circa late 1860s.)
Pastel colors on CDV's
became popular starting around 1869 which would put this photo in the 1870's
timeline. Too bad we don't know this young Native American's name or
story.
Any clues as to which tribe?
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry, my Native American knowledge is sadly lacking. Anyone?
DeleteI admire the valuable information you offer in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and have my children check up here often. I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words - I do enjoy learning whatever I can about the subjects and photographers of each photo. Such interesting history to be discovered!
DeleteA very interesting image. Not like the photos of the western plains Indians which were in the news then. I think the blouse shirt, double feather, earrings? gives him a Seminole or Cherokee look or an eastern Indian anyway. Given the location, and the decade, I'd look through NYC newspapers for some reference to Indian entertainments, i.e. P T Barnum theater amusements. The Wild West shows came much later in 1885-1900 so I don't think this chief was one of those, but he may have been part of an exhibition.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good suggestions Mike, I'll try to see if I can find out more. I know next to nothing about American Indians just have a fascination for them for some reason. We're supposed to have Indian blood in our family (doesn't every family have this myth?) but I have never found a connection.
DeleteThis photograph so intrigues me, both for the Indian and the photographer, that I went on a hunt. In June of 1870, the Lakota Chief Red Cloud, traveled to Washington, DC with an Indian delegation to meet with President Grant and officials of the government.
ReplyDeleteThey then traveled to NYC where Red Cloud made a famous speech at the Cooper Union Institute around June 16, 1870. It was a sizable group that included several chiefs, wives, and entourage of braves, translators, and undoubtedly military handlers. They toured NYC and continued their return journey by way of Albany. There are many newspaper accounts of this trip and the Indians were considered by the urban citizens of the east to be very exotic tourists.
Given the time frame and location of the photographer, I'd bet this is a picture of a member of that Native American group of 1870.
As usual I am so impressed with your research, I don't know how you do it. I enjoy the hunt but don't seem to have the time, knowledge or resources that you do - I wanna come hang out and watch you some time! I tried to enhance the photo with Picasa so I could get a better view of his outfit but had no luck, not that I know much about Indian costumes anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to definitely look into this - it is intriguing. Thanks for your diligence!