Chief Killer and his family, 1886

Studio portrait of Chief Killer, a Cheyenne chief, with his wife and five children. Chief Killer is seated at left and his wife is seated at right. Standing behind them are two young women and one young man, all dressed in Carlisle uniforms. One of the girls is almost certainly student Maud Chief Killer, who would have been sixteen years old when this photo was taken. The male student and the other female student are unidentified. Seated in front, leaning on Chief Killer, is a young girl, probably in Carlisle school uniform. This is probably student Nonie Chief Killer, who was six years old when this photo was taken. Standing in front, leaning on Chief Killer's wife is a young girl, also unidentified.

Handwritten caption information identifies the date of this photo as November 16, 1886. This date is confirmed by a mention in The Indian Helper of Chief Killer's visit "with his wife and child." This implies that four of the five children in the photo were Carlisle students, members of his family, with the other child being one who came with them for the visit. At this time we can only identify Maud and Nonie. 

Nation
Time Period
Location
NAA_74255; Photo Lot 81-12 06902600
Photographer
John N. Choate, Carlisle, PA