Native American Photographs Collection
Collection Overview
Subject matter: There are 1,627 Oklahoma affiliated Native American Photographs in the Thomas Gilcrease Library and Archive. The photographs have been acquired continuously since the museum's opening in 1949 and have developed into a significant independent collection over the years. These unique photographs provide a glimpse into tribal life and customs after removal into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, and visually illustrate the process of adaptation to European customs juxtaposed with attempts to retain unique cultural identities. Prominent individuals with ties to Oklahoma history featured in this collection include Cherokee Chief John Ross (and family), Principal Chief during the Removal Period and after (1820 – 1866); Choctaw Chief Peter Pitchlynn (and family), Choctaw political leader from 1830 through election as Principal Chief (1864 – 1866) and after; and the important Creek Artist Acee Blue Eagle, to name a few.
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Access Restrictions
Available by appointment only at the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR) with the exception of materials with donor restrictions. Contact Library staff in advance to inquire if materials exist pertaining to your research interests.
Use Restrictions
Please contact the Rights and Reproduction Department for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Gilcrease Museum as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.
Provenance
The Gilcrease Foundation acquired these materials before 1964 and is housed in the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR). The library currently receives most materials through community donation, board members, artists and the acquisition of manuscript collections.
Staff, interns, and volunteers of the Thomas Gilcrease Library and Archive have contributed to the organization and maintenance of the files since the collection passed to the City of Tulsa in the 1950s.