Analyzing History with Photographs

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Analyzing History withPhotographs
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Edward Curtis

• Grew up in Port Orchard, WA
• Commissioned by Teddy Roosevelt to make
  collection of pictures of Native Americans.
• Many in Sepia Ink (brownish in color)
• Mostly portraits
• Became famous on national level. Published over
  2,300 images of Native Americans.
• Controversy He often manipulated photos to give
  them a perspective. Example he would add props
  to convey a message. On one occasion he
  photographed a native warrior but it was taken
  long after that particular native group was on a
  reservation.

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Frank Matsura

• Japanese-American, live in Okanogan
• Photos portray a less biase view of native life
  than Curtis.
• Not on a national/international scale, but famous
  on a local Washington scale.
• His photos are mostly preserved at Washington
  State University.
• Died of tuberculosis at age 39 in 1913.

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TO THINK ABOUT

• Why do photographs often seem so powerful as we
  look back into the past?
• What kinds of biases to photos contain?
• What differences to you expect to see between
  Curtis and Matsuras photos?
• Be critical and enjoy this assignment!! These are
  some of the earliest photographs of the people of
  the PNW!