The aboriginal port folio, or, A collection of portraits of the most celebrated chiefs of the North American Indians
By: by J.O. Lewis
Contributors: Duval, Peter S., 1804 or 5-1886; Lehman, George, d. 1870; Barincou, J
Publisher: J.O. Lewis
Published: 1836
Place of publication: Philadelphia
Language: eng
Number of pages: 72
Subjects: Tenskwatawa, -- Shawnee Prophet -- Portraits; Little Crow, -- d. 1863 -- Portraits; Indians of North America -- Portraits; Indians of North America -- Northwest, Old -- Portraits; Dakota Indians -- Portraits; Menominee Indians -- Portraits; Ojibwa Indians -- Portraits; Winnebago Indians -- Portraits; Fox Indians -- Portraits; Sauk Indians -- Portraits; Shawnee Indians -- Portraits; Miami Indians -- Portraits; Iowa Indians -- Portraits; Ottawa Indians -- Portraits; Lithography, American -- Specimens; United States -- History -- 1825-1829 -- Pictorial works
Genres: Portraits; Specimens; Pictorial works
Other titles: Collection of portraits of the most celebrated chiefs of the North American Indians; Aboriginal portfolio
Notes: Lithographed by Lehman & Duval; No. 7 Bank Alley, Philadelphia

Plates represent early work of pioneers in American lithography. Color washed in by hand

This publication composed of 1st 9 pts. Originally announced there would be 10 pts. (80 plates) to be issued monthly. Later an 11th pt. planned (an historical and biographical description of the Indians). The 10th pt., long thought not to exist, was published but contains pictures by other artists. The 11th part is not known to have ever been published.--Cf. J.F. McDermott, Magazine antiques, v. 51 (May 1947), p. 322 and Minnesota History, v.33 (Spring 1952), p. 20-21

Some portraits with signature: J. Barincou

Tribes represented are: Sioux (Dakota), Menominee, Potawatomi, Chippewa (Ojibwa), Winnebago, Fox, Sauk (Sac), Shawnee, Miami, Iowa, and Ottawa

Per descriptions on each plate, majority of drawings done at following treaties: Prairie du Chien, 1825 [Treaty with the Sioux, etc., 1825]; Fond du Lac, 1826 and 1827 [Treaty with the Chippewa, 1826]; Massinnewa (Mississinewa), Indiana, 1827 [Treaty with the Potawatomi, Oct. 16 1826]; Fort Wayne, 1827 [Treary with the Miami, Oct. 23, 1826]; Green Bay, 1827 and Butte des Morts, 1827 [Treaty with the Chippewa, etc., 1827]. Names in brackets are those used in: Indian affairs; laws and treaties : Washington, Government Printing Office, 1904. Green Bay was an earlier stop before Butte des Morts

Inaccuracies occur in descriptions accompanying portraits

Employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lewis made 4 separate excursions: 1) Prairie de Chien, Aug. 1825 with Gov. Cass; 2) Fond du Lac (Lake Superior), summer 1826 with Gov. Cass and T.L. McKenney; 3) treaties in Indiana with the Potawatomi and the Miami, October 1826 with Gov. Cass; and 4) Butte des Morts on Fox River in Wisc., Aug. 1827 with Gov. Cass and T.L. McKenney.--Cf. J.F. McDermott, Magazine antiques, v. 51 (May 1947), p. 320-321

Three scenes included among portraits: View of the Great Treaty held at Prairie du Chien, 1825; View of the Butte des Morts Treaty Ground, 1827; and scene of a pipe dance and a tomahawk dance of the Chippewa

Earliest painting dated 1823, latest 1833, and 3 without dates, but majority of paintings sketched in the field (1825-1827) and finished in Detroit, 1827-1833. Printing on some plates state that painting was done on location. Other artists preceded Lewis in the painting of Native Americans (Chester Harding and Charles Bird King), but J.O. Lewis was the first to paint/draw them in their natural environment. None of the original paintings exist.--Cf. J.F. McDermott, Magazine antiques, v. 51 (May 1947), p. 320-321 and J.D. Horan : McKenney-Hall portrait gallery of American Indians (1972)