Native Americans
Original Caption: Eskimo dance orchestra, including drumheads made from whale stomachs, Point Barrow, Alaska. Local Identifier: 111-SC-103683; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 531119
The collections of the Still Picture Branch include several series that illustrate the experiences of Native Americans in the United States. The bulk of these images can be found in the Record Groups associated with 15 principle agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of American Ethnology, and the United States Army. Though relevant materials may be clustered in these record groups and in a small group of donated collections, related series may be found throughout Still Picture Branch holdings.
Captions provided with these images were created at or about the time each image was made. Consequently, some of the terms used may now be considered outdated, inaccurate, derogatory, disrespectful, or culturally insensitive. Spellings used may also be outdated or no longer considered accurate. NARA does not alter, edit, or modify original captions, as they are part of the historical record and reflect and document the standard language, attitudes, and biases at the time. To learn more about this topic researchers should contact the individual tribal archives, museums, or libraries. For a list, see the National Directory of Tribal Archives, Museums and Libraries.
A curated listing of digitized Still Picture holdings related to Native Americans was created in the late 1980s/early 1990s and is available online, however the images listed are only a small subset of the materials available.
Some record groups with high concentrations of records related to Native Americans along with some of the relevant series within those record groups are listed below. While some of these series are fully digitized and available online, others are only partially digitized or not yet available online. Please note that generally these images document federal activities as related to Native Americans, and therefore include images of Native Americans, Native American activities, federal officials, and the activities of federal officials. These records are in no way representative of the Native American experience as a whole.
Original Caption: Salmon drying. Aleut village, Old Harbor, Alaska. Local Identifier: 22-FA-264; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 513089
RG 22:
Photographs in this record group consist of images of fishing, food preparation and other activities of Native Americans. A notable series in this record group is
RG 29:
Though images related to the Native American experience may be found in multiple series in the records of the Census, the majority of the relevant records can be found in
RG 30:
Original Caption: Pueblo Indian. Local Identifier: 30-N-36694-A; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 135797814
Photographs in this record group include a wide range of images of Native American people, activities and associated sites. It is worth noting that while most of the images depict activities within the United States, some photographs depict international locations associated with indigenous communities such as Inca ruins in Peru. A relevant series from within the Records of the Bureau of Public Roads is
RG 48:
Photographs contained within record group 48 include views of notable personalities, handicrafts and education (), Indian Affairs Commissioners (), Secretaries of the Interior visiting reservations and schools as well as signing various acts pertaining to Native Americans such as the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Settlement Act in 1992 () and more.
RG 56:
A notable series within the Records of the Department of the Treasury is , which contains portraits of representatives from the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Klamath, Modoc, Seminole and Siletz tribes, including Toby Riddle of the Modoc.
Original Caption: A Paiute drawing his bow and arrow; two others in festive costume. Local Identifier: 57-PE-4; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 517727
RG 57:
Photographs in record group 57 include many images taken during various surveys conducted during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Photographs of Native American people, homes, activities and culturally significant locations from throughout the United States such as the Hovenweep National Monument can be found within this record group. Notable series include
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RG 75:
Record Group 75 contains, by far, the most photographs relating to Native Americans in the Still Picture Branch of the 威尼斯人娱乐场. Images in RG 75 depict many aspects of Native American life and culture in many settings and across various eras. Some of the series in RG 75 are organized by tribe and/or location and can be searched accordingly, such as in series . Researchers can also explore over 18,000 RG 75 photographs through an engaging and easy-to-use online experience: the Bureau of Indian Affairs Photographs Finding Aid.
Original Caption: Salvadora Valensuelo, a Mission woman, making lace, Pala Mission, California. Local Identifier: 75-N-MISS-60; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 519157
RG 79:
Although Native Americans are not the primary focus of the photographs in RG 79, the record group does contain many relevant photographs including images of tribal leaders of the Apache, Shoshoni, Pueblo, Cherokee and Navajo. Two portraits of Geronimo can be found in series . Another series of note is , which is fully digitized and available online. This series contains photographs taken between 1890 and 1935 and depicts many tribal communities including the Hopi, Pueblo and Kiowa among others.
RG 80:
The photographs in RG 80 are useful for researching Native American men and women who served in the United States Navy.
RG 83:
Photographs in RG 83, specifically series , document agricultural and animal husbandry practices throughout the U.S., including reservations.
Original Caption: One-Called-From-A-Distance (Midwewinind), a Chippewa from White Earth Reservation, Minnesota. Local Identifier: 106-INE-1; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 523834
RG 106:
Photographs in RG 106 were primarily collected by the Smithsonian Institution and the Bureau of Ethnology and cover a wide range of subjects relating to Native Americans mostly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Relevant series within Record Group 106 include:
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106-FAA:
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106-IN:
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106-INE:
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106-WA and WB:
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106-YX:
RG 111:
Original Caption: Miner, Cpl. George, a Winnebago from Tomah, Wisconsin. Local Identifier: 111-SC-48488; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 530786
Photographs from RG 111 are primarily of the military activities of the U.S. Army. In some cases, photographs of individual Native Americans who served in the U.S. Army can be located in this record group. However, not all photographs are of a military nature. Many images of Native American people and activities located within this record group are unrelated to the military. Some relevant series within record group 111 include:
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111-SC:
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111-B:
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111-AG:
RG 115:
Photographs in this record group, specifically series , document Native American tribes of the Western United States, their customs, culture and way of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Original Caption: Navajo Indian Code Talkers Preston Toledo and Frank Toledo. Local Identifier: 127-MN-57875; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 100378007
RG 126:
The photographs in RG 126 depict people and scenery from U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. Photographs of Native Americans in Alaska can be found in series
RG 127:
As with the records of the Army and Navy, photographs of individuals who served in the U.S. Marine Corps can sometimes be found in record group 127. Photographs of Navajo 鈥淐ode-Talkers鈥� can be found in series
RG 165:
Original Caption: Comanche Buffalo hunters and their tepee lodges. August 1871. Local Identifier: 165-AI-15; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 533056
The photographs in record group 165, relative to Native Americans, mostly consist of individual and group portraits from the late 19th century. The following series are all fully digitized and available online.
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165-MM 鈥�
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165-MS 鈥�
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165-MH 鈥�
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165-AI 鈥�
RG 208:
Original Caption: Dancers' Rock, Walpi, Arizona. Local Identifier: 391-JKH-3; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 542440
Record group 208 contains photographs of Americans, particularly during WWII, and depict images from articles and stories focused on those that served in the armed forces and that helped the war effort in a variety of ways, with some stories focusing specifically on Native Americans. Relevant series within this record group are and
RG 391:
One notable series contained in record group 391 is . This series contains images of Native American pueblos, and dancers in Canon de Chelley and Canon del Muerte, Arizona.
RG 330:
Original Caption: Native American White Eagle dancer Corey Reeder, performs a men's "hoop" dance. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DF-SD-04-12477.jpeg; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 6631873
Photographs in series are fully digitized and available online. Photographs include Native American service members and celebrations of Native American History Month on military bases in the United States and internationally.
RG 435:
RG 513:
RG VGT: .
Series contains photographs and artwork depicting battles, camps, councils and portraits. This series is fully digitized and available online.
Original Caption: Photograph of an Indian Village. Local Identifier: VGT-VGG-29; 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 70168741
To Request Information about Records
For further information about the photographs and graphic works held in the Still Picture unit at College Park, contact:
Mail: Still Picture Reference
Special Media Archives Services Division
威尼斯人娱乐场 at College Park
Room 5360
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
Telephone: 301-837-0561
Fax: 301-837-3621
E-Mail: stillpix@nara.gov
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