The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-22
ThrosseI Is Appointed Official
Photographer of In
dian Bureau.
is PART INDIAN HIMSELF
COLLECTION OF PICTURES De.
PLOTTING INDIAN LIFE TO BE
SHORTLY EXHIBITED At MA.
TIONAL CAPITAL.

Washington, Jan. 22.-The remarka-
BILE Photographic work Of Richard
Throssel, Montana artist who was
recently appointed official photogra-
pher of the Indian bureau by Commits
sioncr Robert G. Valentine, has won
warm praise from many Washington
art critics who have had the opportu
nifty to examine his studies, and ar
engagements will be made shortly to
hold an exhibition of them here.
For a number of years Throssel has
been an employe in the office of Mai.
Reynolds of the Grow Indian reserva-
ton. and it is on this reservation that
he has found the subjects for his art.
He has Indian blood in his veins. his
Indian name, which has been given
him by the Crows. being Ahsua Es-
quon Dupahs. 1t is this consang,lin-
ity. it is pointed out, that has given his
work a depth of sympathetic insight
such as few, if any, other artists have
attained. The call of the blood, art
lists declare. is the great Interpreter,
and in addition it has given Throssel
the ambition to make his lifework the
perpetuatiOn in lasting form of the fast
vanishing types of the Grow Indians,
who, under the wise leadership of
Maj. Reynolds, are rapidly casting
away the old life in the preparation for
citizenship.
Born in Far West.
ThrOssel was born in the state of
Washington, and spent his early life
on farm. His school education was
somewhat desultory. and when he was
eighteen years of age he left home
with $2.65 in his pocket, determined to
earn his living and at the same time
get high school education. He found
work with a physician at Tacoma and
entered the Vashon Military Academy
But this lasted only for a year, for I'M
der the strain of study and work his
health broke down and he was forced
to return home. When convalescent
he went to Montana, where he has re-
NAMED ever since, acquiring not only
good health. but also a home and a
happy family.
was followed at first haltingly and un-
der difficulties. The facilities for art
education on Indian reservations are
limited. and he was forced to depend
on a correspondence school for train
ing in drawing. 1t was about this
time that he got his first camera and
it's possibilities began to dawn on him
as he became more and more profit
cient in it's use. Visiting artists gave
him instruction and encouragement,
and a year or so ago several visited
the Crow reservation and showed him
some real art in photography.
Called Him Wizard.
1t was revelation of the possibili-
ties of the camera in art, and while it
showed Throssel that he had long hill
to climb before he could attain similar
excellence. yet it gave him hope. Lat
err he went to Seattle and had the Sc
crets of the art explained to him and
he was sent home with encourage
ment and advice. And then later
one of the artists visited the Crow res
ervation again and after looking over
Throssers work exclaimed, ''Dickie.
my boy. you're wizard 1t was
praise that counted.
1t was after this visit that Throssel,
encouraged and hopeful of accomplish
ing something worth while. planned a
monumental Photographic study of the
history, legends, myths and life of the
Crows. In speaking of the work he
says: My one great desire is to truth
fully record Indian life by means Of
pictures and stories
The Throssel photographs, critics
point out. are noteworthy for depth
of feeling and warmth of sympathy
for the subjects which are very rare of
pictures Of Indian life. and it is de-
clared that each one tells story preg-
nant with instructive insight into the
life of the Crows, which characters
ties have won so much praise for the
artist.
Record for Posterity.
The work of Throssel was brought
to the attention of Commissioner VAL
entine and that official at once planned
to give the artist all of the encour-
agement possible to bring out these
various phases of Indian life and to re-
cord for posterity the heroic figures Of
the red race which are fast vanishing
Assistant Commissioner Abbott IS
also much impressed with Throssel's
work and during a recent visit to the
Crow reservation met the young artist
While Mr.. Abbott was on the reserva-
ton the annual fair was held by the
Indianas and Throssel made a number
of large photographs of the various
scenes. which are now being framed
and shortly will adorn the walls of the
Indian office here.
In the fight which the Indian bureau
IS making on tuberculosis-tha dread
enemy of the white, as we'll as the red
race Throssel will depict with his
camera. the scenes where the physi-
clans are doing all in their power to
eradicate the disease. He will show
the interior of the wigwams, the suf
fering and those who are being helped
back to life from the ravages of the
great white plague. These photo
graphs will be OF great value to the