Photos: Edward Curtis documented Indian life at turn of century


Kikisoblu (Princess Angeline) of the Duwamish, a portrait by Kikisoblu (Princess Angeline) of the Duwamish, 1896. Photo from Northwestern University

The Washington Post publishes a series of photos taken by Edward S. Curtis, whose portraits of tribal people continue to resonate today.

Princess Angeline, who was the eldest daughter of Chief Sealth, was the subject of Curtis's first Indian photo in 1896, the Post reported. He followed up with an exhibition in 1903 and then started publishing a series of volumes in 1907 as he traveled the West to document what he believed was a "vanishing" race.

Indian people are still around of course and Curtis has often been criticized for the way he carried out his project. "He has been accused of romanticizing the life of Native Americans by depicting an idealized version of their lives during a time when their culture was being suppressed," Dan Murano write for the Post.

Northwestern University has published all 20 of the Curtis volumes online.

Get the Story:
These photos by legendary photographer Edward Curtis show Native American life at the beginning of the 20th century (The Washington Post 12/9)

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