The Images section features photographs, postcards, and different types of artwork, as well as reproductions of images that appeared in newspapers, magazines, and other publications. These images all reflect the Carlisle Indian School students, facilities, and staff. Images available here are drawn from files housed at the U. S. National Archives, from collections of Carlisle Indian School materials housed at various archival repositories, and from a variety of published sources. Visitors to this website are also invited to share copies of photographs from their own personal and family collections; please contact us if you have images you would like to contribute.
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Studio portrait of two men in native clothing, probably visiting chiefs, and a third wearing a suit.
Format: Glass Plate Negative, Stereograph
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Portrait of five Sioux chiefs posed with two interpreters on the steps of the bandstand on the school grounds. The chiefs are Black Crow, Two Strike, White Thunder, Spotted Tail, and Iron Wing. The interpreters are Louis Roubideaux and Charles Tackett.
Note: The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH1-076c and CS-CH-086.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
A photograph of a studio portrait, identified as "Friday, a visitor to the Indian school."
This photograph was taken by J.N. Choate, but the photographer of the original portrait is unknown. It may have also been Choate.
Format: Glass Plate Negative, Photograph, Reproduction
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Ernest (Knocks Off) wearing a school uniform.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
This glass plate negative of Young Spotted Tail, eldest son of Chief Spotted Tail, seems to be an image of an earlier photograph. It is not clear if Young Spotted Tail ever visited Carlisle. John Choate may have taken this photographic print because he had lost or broken his own original negative of this image, but what is more likely is that the photographic print was the product of another photographer entirely, and Choate simply wished to make a copy for personal use or for sale.
Format: Glass Plate Negative, Photograph, Reproduction
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Sheldon Jackson (left), Harvey Townsend (center), and John Shields (right), all wearing native clothing.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Left Hand and his son, U.S. Grant (Grant Left Hand). Grant is wearing a school uniform.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Bob Tail with his son Joseph Bobtail, who is dressed in a school uniform.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of John Primaux.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Portrait of a group of visiting chiefs with some white men and one male student. The Cumberland County Historical Society's cataloging says they are Sac and Fox chiefs, and that the man wearing a hat on the right rear is Major James M. Haworth, an Indian agent.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Charles Kawboodle.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Frank Cushing (standing at left), Taylor Ealy (standing at right), Mary Ealy (seated in swing at left), and Jennie Hammaker (seated at right), all wearing school uniforms.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Frank Cushing (standing at left), Taylor Ealy (standing at right), Mary Ealy (seated in swing at left), and Jennie Hammaker (seated at right), all dressed in school uniforms.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Justine La Framboise.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Lucy Black Shortnose, Anna Laura, Justine La Framboise, and Nancy Renville, all wearing school-issued print dresses.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Alice Wynn (back left), Kisetta Roosevelt (back middle), Mabel Doanmoe (back right), Rebecca Big Star (front left), and Harriet Mary Elder (front right). All are wearing school uniforms.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Bernard (Hawk Charging Daylight) (standing at left), Horace (Horse) (standing at right), Reuben Quick Bear (Kills the Enemy) (seated at left), John Renville (seated at center), and Rufus (Strikes the Enemy) (seated at right). All are wearing school uniforms.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Portrait of chiefs Brother-to-All, Like the Bear, Poor Wolf (also known as Lean Wolf), Son of the Star, and American Horse posed with interpreters John Bridgeman and John Smith, standing in front of the bandstand on the school grounds.
Note: The other version of this image (Related Images), is the uncropped version which also has Richard Henry Pratt in the background.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has also a copy of this image: CS-CH-089.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Swedish National Museums of World Culture
Portrait of six visiting Sioux leaders posed in front of the bandstand on the school grounds. The title given to the image was "Sioux chiefs at the Carlisle Indian School," and they are identified as Joseph Cook, Medicine Bull, Philip Deloria, David Tatiyopa, Eli Abraham, and Pretty Youngest Child.
This is #13 on photographer J.N. Choate's list of photographs available for sale, published in 1881.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of three male students and two female students posed with a white woman. The caption identifies them as "Miss Spencer and class." School records list Miss Spencer as an "Industrial Teacher" who was employed in 1880. This image is #36 on the list of Choate photos for sale published in 1881.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
The individual in this carte de visite has not been positively identified, although there is speculation that it may be photographer John N. Choate himself.
This image was shared courtesy of Robert R. Rowe.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Robert R. Rowe Private Collection
Studio portrait of visiting chief Little Raven with his daughter, student Anna Raven.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Spotted Tail, a Sioux chief, described as being "after his return from Washington."
Note: This image was sold by photographer J.N. Choate (#23 on his list of photos being sold). It is there that it is described as "after his return from Washington."
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Portrait of chiefs Brother-to-All, Like the Bear, Poor Wolf (also known as Lean Wolf), Son of the Star, and American Horse posed with interpreters John Bridgeman and John Smith, standing in front of the bandstand on the school grounds. The man in the background on the left is probably Richard Henry Pratt.
Note: Identification of the chiefs is based on Cumberland County Historical Society's CS-CH-089.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Lucy Black Shortnose wearing a school-issued print dress.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution