Skip to main content

Edwards Curtis Collection (#8)

Edward S. Curtis: Capturing the Essence of Indigenous Cultures Step into the captivating world of Edward S

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Two Apache Indian women at campfire, cooking pot in front of one, c1903

Two Apache Indian women at campfire, cooking pot in front of one, c1903. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Two Apache Indian women at campfire, cooking pot in front of one, c1903

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: A child of the desert, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

A child of the desert, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A child of the desert, c1904. Head-and-shoulders portrait of Navajo Indian child, facing front, blanket around back of head and shoulders

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: The salmon stream, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

The salmon stream, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The salmon stream, c1923. Photograph shows man holding a spear while standing on rocks by a running stream

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Good morning-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Good morning-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Good morning-Hopi, c1906. Pueblo building with people

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Haschogan (House God) - The Yebichai Hunchback, 1904 Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Haschogan (House God) - The Yebichai Hunchback, 1904 Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Haschogan (House God) - The Yebichai Hunchback, 1904 Photograph shows a Navajo man, half-length, seated, facing front, wearing a ceremonial mask with feathers

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Chemehuevi modern home, c1907. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Chemehuevi modern home, c1907. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Chemehuevi modern home, c1907. Home constructed of logs (in vertical position), brush and mud

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Many Goat's son, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Many Goat's son, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Many Goat's son, c1904. Head-and shoulders portrait of Navajo boy, facing front, blanket wrapped around him

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Interior of Wichita grass-house, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Interior of Wichita grass-house, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Interior of Wichita grass-house, c1927

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: A policeman, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

A policeman, c1904. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A policeman, c1904. Photograph shows half-length portrait of a Navajo man identified as a policeman

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Cutting up a beluga-Kotzebue, c1929. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Cutting up a beluga-Kotzebue, c1929. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Cutting up a beluga-Kotzebue, c1929. Three women cutting up a beluga whale

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Wichita grass-house, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Wichita grass-house, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Wichita grass-house, c1927

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: The youth from the desert land-Navaho, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

The youth from the desert land-Navaho, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The youth from the desert land-Navaho, c1906

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Calling a moose-Cree, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Calling a moose-Cree, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Calling a moose-Cree, c1927. Cree man in woods blowing horn

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: A Blackfoot tepee, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

A Blackfoot tepee, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A Blackfoot tepee, c1927. Blackfoot Indian, (Bear Bull?) holding horse outside tipi

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Spokan camp, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Spokan camp, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Spokan camp, c1910. Five tipis and a tent in clearing among pine trees

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Gray Dawn-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Gray Dawn-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Gray Dawn-Cheyenne, c1910. Sun dance lodge with Cheyenne people standing inside

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Offering the pipe to the Earth-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Offering the pipe to the Earth-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Offering the pipe to the Earth-Cheyenne, c1910. Cheyenne woman holding pipe close to earth, during the sun dance ceremony

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: On the housetop-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

On the housetop-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
On the housetop-Hopi, c1906. Photo shows women seated and standing on pueblo buildings

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: A visitor, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

A visitor, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A visitor, c1905. Hopi adults gather outside doorway, children on roof, dogs and horse in foreground

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Cliff perched homes-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Cliff perched homes-Hopi, c1906. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Cliff perched homes-Hopi, c1906. Four Hopi women in front of pueblo buildings

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Joseph Dead Feast Lodge-Nez Percé, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Joseph Dead Feast Lodge-Nez Percé, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Joseph Dead Feast Lodge-Nez Perce, c1905

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Camp life, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Camp life, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Camp life, c1908. Four canvas covered tipis, Assiniboine women and children seated on ground, South Dakota

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Crazy dancers-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Crazy dancers-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Crazy dancers-Cheyenne, c1910. Cheyenne dancers around stick tripod

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: The scout in winter-Apsaroke, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

The scout in winter-Apsaroke, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The scout in winter-Apsaroke, c1908. Apsaroke man on horseback on snow-covered ground, probably in Pryor Mountains, Montana

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Praying to the Spirits at Crater Lake-Klamath, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Praying to the Spirits at Crater Lake-Klamath, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Praying to the Spirits at Crater Lake-Klamath, c1923. Klamath Indian chief in feather headdress standing on mountain overlooking Crater Lake, Oregon

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Klamath woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Klamath woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, c1923. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Klamath woman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, c1923

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Mandan earthen lodge, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Mandan earthen lodge, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mandan earthen lodge, c1908. Earthen lodge, with bull boat by doorway, North Dakota

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Kwakiutl house-frame, Memkumlis, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Kwakiutl house-frame, Memkumlis, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Kwakiutl house-frame, Memkumlis, c1910

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Crater Lake, 1923 Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Crater Lake, 1923 Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Crater Lake, 1923 Photograph shows an American Indian man wearing a headress, seated on a rock overlocking Crater Lake, Oregon

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Innocence, an Umatilla girl, full-length portrait, standing by tree, facing slightly right, c1910

Innocence, an Umatilla girl, full-length portrait, standing by tree, facing slightly right, c1910

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Street Scene-San Juan, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Street Scene-San Juan, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Street Scene-San Juan, c1927

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Giving the medicine-Navaho, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Giving the medicine-Navaho, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Giving the medicine-Navaho, c1905. Photograph shows aNavajo shaman giving medicine to participant sitting atop blanket(?) used in sweatbath, as two others look on

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: The old-time warrior-Nez Percé, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

The old-time warrior-Nez Percé, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The old-time warrior-Nez Perce, c1910. Nez Perce man, wearing loin cloth and moccasins, on horseback

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Lawyer-Nez Percé, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Lawyer-Nez Percé, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Lawyer-Nez Perce, c1905. Head-and-shoulders portrait profile of Nez Perce man

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Pojoaque, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Pojoaque, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Pojoaque, c1905. View of Pojoaque Pueblo, New Mexico, with adobe structures

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Acoma belfry, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Acoma belfry, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Acoma belfry, c1905

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Before the final journey-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Before the final journey-Cheyenne, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Before the final journey-Cheyenne, c1910. Cheyenne people gathered in open area, for Sun Dance ceremony; several tents and hills in background

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Hu ka-lowa pifire-carrier bringing the skull, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Hu ka-lowa pifire-carrier bringing the skull, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Hu ka-lowa pifire-carrier bringing the skull, c1908. Man in breechcloth, bending over buffalo skull

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: At the water's edge-Arikara, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

At the water's edge-Arikara, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
At the water's edge-Arikara, c1908. Young Arikara Indian standing in shallow water, wearing buckskin dress, with trees in background, North Dakota

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Lean Wolf-Hidatsa, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Lean Wolf-Hidatsa, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Lean Wolf-Hidatsa, c1908. Lean Wolf, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, wearing horn headdress trimmed in white fur and dark feathers, beaded buckskin shirt

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Chiefs in the Sun Dance parade-Cheyenne, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Chiefs in the Sun Dance parade-Cheyenne, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Chiefs in the Sun Dance parade-Cheyenne, c1927. Several Cheyenne chiefs on horseback in a row in an open field

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Mask of the octopus hunter-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Mask of the octopus hunter-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mask of the octopus hunter-Qagyuhl, c1914. Ceremonial mask worn by a dancer portraying the hunter in Bella Bella mythology who killed the giant man-eating octopus

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Yeibichai war gods, 1904, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Yeibichai war gods, 1904, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Yeibichai war gods, 1904, c1905. Photograph shows three Natives: Tonenili, Tobadzischini, and Nayenezgani, in ceremonial dress, photographed against dark rock background

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Mandan bull boat, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Mandan bull boat, c1908. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mandan bull boat, c1908

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Mission and church at Acoma, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Mission and church at Acoma, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mission and church at Acoma, c1905

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Modern Cupeño house, c1924. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Modern Cupeño house, c1924. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Modern Cupeno house, c1924

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: Visitors at Jicarilla, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

Visitors at Jicarilla, c1905. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Visitors at Jicarilla, c1905. Men and pack animals gathered outside Jicarilla tipi

Background imageEdwards Curtis Collection: The Wolf, animal dance-Cheyenne, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis

The Wolf, animal dance-Cheyenne, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The Wolf, animal dance-Cheyenne, c1927




For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Edward S. Curtis: Capturing the Essence of Indigenous Cultures Step into the captivating world of Edward S. Curtis, a renowned photographer and ethnologist who dedicated his life to preserving the rich heritage of Native American tribes. Through his lens, he captured moments that transcend time and offer a glimpse into the lives of these extraordinary people. In Kotzebue, Alaska, circa 1929, we witness an Eskimo muskrat hunter gracefully paddling through a marsh. The serenity of this scene is mirrored in our hearts as we contemplate the harmony between man and nature. Moving further south to encounter an Indian Chief from one of America's indigenous communities, we are struck by their regal presence. Curtis masterfully portrays their strength and dignity in every line etched on their weathered face. Traveling along the Selawik River in another timeless black-and-white photograph from 1929, we find ourselves immersed in a landscape where tranquility reigns supreme, and is here that Curtis captures not only nature's beauty but also its profound connection with those who call it home. Venturing deeper into history, we meet Wolf - Apsaroke (Absaroke), an Indian warrior whose gaze reflects both resilience and wisdom. This image comes from volume four of Curtis' encyclopedia on North American Indians – a monumental work endorsed by none other than Theodore Roosevelt himself. Our journey takes us to Arizona next, where young Qahatika girls reside just beyond Pimas Reserve. In volume two of Curtis' collection, these desert Indians come alive before our eyes – vibrant symbols of cultural diversity amidst arid landscapes. Black Eagle emerges from Dakota's plains; at only thirteen years old during his first war expedition in 1834 near Williston South Dakota – he embarked on a path destined for greatness or obscurity? Only history knows what became of this brave soul.