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Lot Description

CHOATE, John N. (1848-1902), photographer.

Cabinet card featuring chiefs who visited the Carlisle Indian School, presented to Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs Henry W. Andrews by Carlisle School Superintendent Richard H. Pratt. Carlise, PA, ca 1880s.

Approx. 3 15/16 x 5 7/8 in. cabinet photograph on cardstock mount (toning and soiling throughout, with some wear to edges of print and tape to upper edge of print; mount with toning, soiling, edge/corner wear, and tape attached to upper and lower edges); framed to 12 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. Signed and inscribed on mount recto: "H.W. Andrews, Compliments of R.H. Pratt U.S.A." Subjects numbered in the negative. Other known examples of this image feature Choate's imprint and list identifications of the pictured "Noted Indian Chiefs" on verso.

Composite photograph featuring vignetted bust portraits of 19 chiefs, including: Sioux Chiefs Spotted Tail (1), Iron Wing (2), American Horse (3), and Red Shirt (4); Ponca Chiefs White Eagle (5) and Standing Buffalo (6); Mandan Chief Poor Wolf (7); Arickaree Chief Son of the Star (8); Apache Chief White Man (9); Kiowa Chief Stumbling Bear (10); Wichita Chief Tso-de-ar-ko (11); Cheyenne Chiefs Big Horse (12), Bob Tail (Horse) (13), Man-on-the-Cloud (14), and Mad Wolf (15); Arapaho Chiefs Little Raven (16), Yellow Bear (17), and Left Hand (18); and Ute Chief Ouray (19).

John N. Choate (1848-1902) began a long photographic career at Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1879 when the famous Carlisle Indian Industrial School was founded. Photographs like this one were produced to gain support for the school, suggesting that the chiefs featured supported the institution and its aims. Superintendent of the school, Richard Henry Pratt, explained his philosophy of assimilation in an 1892 speech to the National Conference of Charities and Correction, in which he uttered the infamous phrase, "Kill the Indian in him, and save the man."

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