Beschreibung:

Title: Autograph Letter, signed by Winter, to historian Benson J. Lossing, about the Indian interpreter Joseph Barron and related matters Author: Winter, George Place Lafayette, IN Publisher: Date: Jan. 21, 1861 Description: Eight pages, on two four-page letter sheets, in ink. 10x7¾. Important letter from the artist/historian George Winter "The Catlin of Indiana," containing much information about the Indian interpreter Joseph Barron, who was present at the meetings between William Henry Harrison and Chief Tecumseh before the Battle of Tippecanoe. George Winter who came to the U.S. in 1830 from his native England, spent a lifetime documenting the vanishing culture of Native Americans in Indiana, with numerous paintings and many notes and journals. Unlike his contemporary George Catlin however, he found little recognition during his lifetime. It wasn't until 1948 that the Indiana Historical Society published Winter's Indian Journals and Paintings. This generated little interest until, in 1993, after Winter's papers and drawings were donated by his family to the Tippecanoe County Historical Association, the Indiana Historical Society produced another volume, Indians and a Changing Frontier: The Art of George Winter Benson Lossing, to whom Winter writes, was researching a book on the War of 1812, and was particularly interested in "Tecumseh's War" which preceded it. Three of the principals in the conflict, Harrison, Tecumseh and Harrison's interpreter, Joseph Barron, were dead by the time Lossing was making his investigations, but he found a fine source of information in George Winter who had known Barron well. This long letter (closer to a manuscript) has dual interest, both because of its intrinsic historical content - there is much discussion of Joseph Barron and his tall tales in historical studies of Harrison and Tecumseh - and because of what it tells about Winter himself and his then-ignored art. A brief excerpt follows: "Perhaps you may not require many particulars of Baron's life. He has been In important positions as an interpreter, having been eighteen years in the service of Genl. Harrison - and when Governor of the Territory. He was interpreter for Harrison at the celebrated interview with Tecumseh at Vincennes... Baron was not a man of education, and as a consequence, it is probable that we have not always a good interpretation of the speeches delivered by the Indians at the various treaties and councils..." [Complete transcript available on request]. Lot Amendments Condition: Near fine to fine condition. Item number: 188716