February 17, 2025

This Week in the West: Edward Curtis

5 minutes

🤠This Week in the West

🎙️ Episode 16: Edward Curtis

📢 Episode Summary:

This episode of This Week in the West explores the life and legacy of Edward Curtis, a photographer whose work documented Native American cultures in the early 20th century. Curtis’ career took a defining turn when he photographed Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Seattle. This led to his lifelong mission of capturing images of Indigenous people before their traditions disappeared.

Funded by J.P. Morgan, Curtis embarked on an ambitious project, The North American Indian, producing 40,000 photographs and 10,000 audio recordings. However, his dedication came at a significant personal and financial cost, leaving him in obscurity until his work was rediscovered decades later.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

Preserving Indigenous Culture: Curtis’ work, though controversial, remains an invaluable record of Native American traditions, languages, and ways of life from the early 20th century.

The Cost of Passion: Despite securing funding, Curtis’ unwavering dedication to his project led to financial struggles, personal loss, and professional hardships.

Rediscovery and Legacy: Although largely forgotten at the time of his death, Curtis’ work gained recognition in the mid-20th century and is now considered a significant contribution to photography and cultural history.

👥 Behind the Scenes

Host: Seth Spillman

Producer: Chase Spivey

Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

The Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/collections/edward-s-curtis/articles-and-essays/edward-curtis-and-the-background-of-the-collection

The Smithsonian: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/edward-sheriff-curtis

The International Center of Photography: https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/edward-sheriff-curtis

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By The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

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