East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-10
INDIAN LIFE PORTRAYED BY
THE CAMERA.

The following article on Indian
Photography was written by Bert
Huffman, editor of the East Orego-
nian and appears in the Fifth Ami
i versary number of the oregon Daily
Journal, accompanying page of In
dian pictures by Major Lee Moor
house of Pendleton:
The art of photography has be-
come such potent and vital part of
literature that the history of no per-
son. place or thing is nov complete
without photographs and illustra-
tions.
This s particularly true of the his
tory ot departing races which will
sooD bl lln N to the world no more.
The Nlltn American Indian once
the sole inhabitant of this vast and
majestic country of the northwest,
known - the "old Oregon country"
are swiftly passing and soon their
picturesque life and environment will
have been lost to the writer of his
tory Thanks to the Photographic art
everything beautiful, fascinating and
valuable in the life of this race has
been preserved and rescued for pos
terity.
The Indians of eastern Oregon
the Cayuses, Umatillas and Walla
Wallas-keep alive yet the most vital
traits and characteristics of the alb
original tribes, and on the Umatilla
reservation, near Pendleton, are found
today the only typical Indians-In-
dians as they were a century ago, to
be found in the United States
Here, while a portion of the tribes
are we'll educated and send their chill.
| dren to school, are yet to be found
| typical and picturesque characters
venerable old men and women who
hug to their breasts the lingering
customs of their forefathers who,
while living in the atmosphere of civ
ilization, yet preserve all their ancient
rites and habits unimpaired.
The life of these tribes has been
beautifully and faithfully portrayed
in photography by Major Lee Moor
house of Pendleton, the recognized
leader of photographers who make i
study of Indian life. history and pho
Biography.
Has 5000 Negatives.
In the studio of Major Moorhouse
at Pendleton are over 5000 negatives
of Indian pictures, portraying every
phase of their life, every type of the
race and every character that has an
individuality or personal interest.
Only by lifelong association with
the tribes, and by winning and hold
ing their implicit confidence, has
Major Moorhouse been enabled to
secure his priceless collection, which
is now recognized as the best, most
perfect and largest collection of In
dian photographs in existence.
His camera has been admitted to
the homes of prominent Indians
which have been inaccessible to all
Others. He has gained this high place
in the Indians respect by a long
and faithful friendship lasting over
q quarter of a century, during which
time he has been not only a friend
of the tribes, but a counsellor, de-
fender and Intimate confidant of all
their leading men and chiefs.
|
He has photographs of every lead
ing Indian of the northwest, includ-
ing Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces,
the banished and broken-hearted
leader of his people who fought the
Nez Ferce war. OF the Umatilla
chieftains photographed by him are
Peo, Young Chief, Fish Hawk, Whirl-
wind, Paul Showaway, Umapine, and
others, all of whom have helped make
the history of the northwest country,
many of these mentioned having TAX
en- active parts in past Indian wars
by lending their assistance to the
whites in the final conquest of the
unruly members of the tribes.
The home life of the Indians, their
dress, ornaments. native costumes and
their mode of living, all form intrin-
sic parts of the history of the Indian
tribes, and these Major Moorhouse
has photographed faithfully and tire
lessly for the future generations
which will be compelled to study
| written history for knowledge of the
native Indian.
Perhaps no other line of photo
graphs has enjoyed as wide circu-
lation as the Moorhouse Indian pic
lures During the past 10 years the
| Moorhouse pictures have been sent
into every civilized country in the
world, many of them finding a per-
manent place in art studios of Eu-
rope as a unique representative of the
aboriginal American.
AS souvenir cards these photo
graphs have been sent out Of Pen
dleton by the thousand, carrying the
fascinating story of the Indian into
every state of the union and into
every country where ties of kinship
and friendship link American fire
| sides to those of the old world.