Samuel Lone Bear, Sioux Indian, standing
date: label: Date made
content: ca 1898
name: label: maker
content: Kasebier, Gertrude
notes: label: Description
content: In 1898 New York photographer Gertrude Käsebier (1852-1934) embarked on a deeply personal project, creating a set of prints that rank among the most compelling of her celebrated body of work. Käsebier was on the threshold of a career that would establish her as both the leading portraitist of her time and an extraordinary art photographer. Her new undertaking was inspired by viewing the grand parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West troupe en route to Madison Square Garden for several weeks of performances.
label: Description
content: Käsebier had spent her childhood on the Great Plains, and retained many vivid, happy memories of playing with nearby Native American children. She quickly sent a letter to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917), requesting permission to photograph Sioux Indians traveling with the show in her studio. Within weeks, Käsebier began a unique and special project photographing the Indian men, women, and children, formally and informally. Friendships developed, and her photography of these Native Americans continued for more than a decade.
label: Description
content: Samuel Lone Bear developed the closest lasting friendship with photographer Gertrude Käsebier following this initial portrait sitting in April 1898. "Sammy" was educated at a Government Indian School and wrote letters to Käsebier in English over many years, dated as late as 1912. Käsebier's granddaughter Mina Turner remembered vividly one visit to a Wild West show performance, and having Sammy pull her from the ground for a horseback ride around the arena with him. "Granny" waved happily from the stands.
label: Description
content: Lone Bear stands alone for the third portrait in a series in the midst of the 5th Avenue studio, a table covered in white behind. Embroidered American flags decorate his blanket border.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Native Americans
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
label: See more items in
content: Gertrude Kasebier
label: See more items in
content: Photography
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Delaney, Michelle. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Warriors: A Photographic History by Gertrude Kasebier
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Mina Turner
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.69.236.034
label: accession number
content: 287543
label: catalog number
content: 69.236.034
objectType: label: Object Name
content: platinum print
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: platinum print (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: image: 19.1 cm x 12.4 cm; 7 1/2 in x 4 7/8 in