Edward S. Curtis Portraits The Many Faces of the Native American

by Youngblood, Wayne

• ISBN13: 9780785835592
• ISBN10: 0785835598
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2017-10-24
• Publisher: Chartwell Books

Summary

In 1906 J.P. Morgan commissioned Edward S. Curtis to produce a series of books depicting Native American life. Curtis’ goal was to not just photograph but to document as much of traditional Native life as possible before it disappeared.

During his project, Curtis made over 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Native languages and music, and took over 40,000 photographs of peoples from over eighty tribes.

He recorded tribal lore and history, and he described traditional foods, housing, garments, recreation, ceremonies, and funeral customs. He wrote biographical sketches of tribal leaders, and his material, in most cases, is the only recorded history of these amazing peoples.

Curtis had a remarkable knack for portraiture. His skill at capturing the intensity of his subjects, the grim reality of their surroundings, and the unquenchable spirit of the people was second to none. From Alaska to Mexico, Edward S. Curtis Portraits: The Many Face of the Native American features over 250 portraits in a compact volume.

Author Biography

Wayne Youngblood is a freelance author and editor with a broad variety of interests. He has written books on a range of subjects from colonial history and American Indians to stamps and stamp collecting. In addition, he has authored thousands of columns and features covering historical and collectible subjects. His specific awareness of Mathew Brady's work came from a longtime interest in early photography, the American Civil War, and US postage stamp design, for which numerous attributed and unattributed Brady photos have been used as sources.Ray Bonds has been a defense journalist, editor, and publisher during a career spanning over thirty five years, covering periods and activities as wide ranging as the American Civil War, anti-ballistic missile systems, stealth warfare, and modern military intelligence gathering. He has written and edited scores of well respected titles on the world's major armed forces, their battles, weapons, and organization, with a specialty in the armed services of the United States.