Years ago, while digging through our old family trunk in the attic, I discovered photos my great-uncle had taken of Native Americans while he lived in Gordon, Nebraska. Unlike most of our family who are farmers and teachers, James Miller chose a different path and became a photographer with a studio in this sandhills town in the northwest part of the state. All the photos are mounted on cardboard with “Miller, Gordon Neb” imprinted in the lower right corner. The subject pictured above has strong, handsome, symmetrical features. The fine bead work in his vest is the same type of vest Geronimo requested and wore for his burial.
Unfortunately, the photos are not dated, but I would guess they were taken between 1895 and 1920. Gordon is fifteen miles from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Est 1889 for indigenous prisoners of war) in South Dakota. The Oglala Lakota tribe is part of the Sioux people and were confined to this reservation of two million acres, among the largest in the country. Perhaps the subjects in his photos were from the reservation or lived elsewhere, but it appears they all came to the studio in Gordon for portraits.
You can almost make out “Yellow Hawk brothers” written at the bottom of this photo. I asked a friend knowledgeable in Indian lore about their attire. Their breast plates are made from the bones of large birds such as eagles. They also made whistles from them which were part of the Sun Dance, an offering of self-suffering to the sun god. Because they are wearing bells, the brothers are dressed for dancing.
About thirty years ago I took these photos to the Nebraska State Archives where they were photographed and digitally stored. Still, I would love to know more about how these treasures came to be, especially what was the interaction between my great-uncle and these subjects. Were they eager participants? Skeptical? Whatever that conversation was like, I’m grateful these photos remain today, an insight into our past. Thank you, Uncle Jim, for preserving a piece of our history.
Jane, these are so interesting and I’m glad you had them digitally preserved in Nebraska and hope they will be displayed. So much lost history of the Native Americans. These are priceless and don’t you wish you also had writings about his time there and the people he photographed. Thank you so much for sharing
Hi Carole,
Yes, so much lost history of Native Americans. I have so many questions about these photos that won’t be answered. Thanks for following and reading!
Thanks for sharing these. I really enjoy the Native American history.
Jane those phots are so cool! What a great piece of history that is part of your famiy. We need to do some history sluething again soon.