Beschreibung:

Lot of 18 silver gelatin photographs, featuring seven images credited to Julia Tuell, each approx. 3.25 x 5.5 in. and titled and signed "Tuell" with her copyright (or blindstamp), all but one with extensive notations on verso believed to be in Tuell's hand. Subjects include: "'The Wolf' - Animal Dance - Cheyenne" with a detailed account of his actions including crying and howling at members of a particular tepee; "The Buffalo Man-Cheyenne" with description on verso indicating that this view, which captures part of the "Animal Dance," is one of the "only ones in existence of this ancient dance...taken in 1911 and...first held for 20 years; "Bearing the Sacred Buffalo Skull"; "Preparing the Sweat Lodge - Cheyennes"; "A primitive Indian Wedding - Sioux" with Tuell's blindstamp; "The Ancient Dog Travois-Sioux"; and "The Sacred Buffalo Skull used in Animal Dance," with detailed inscription on verso indicating that the skull was used at the beginning of the animal dance. Accompanied by three silver gelatin photographs, 4 x 6 in., copyrighted and dated in the negative, "B.L.B. Mott. N.D. - 1918," and titled "Trading with Sioux Indians Sept. 20.18," "Three Sioux Indian Chiefs / Black Parie [sic] Dog / Redfish," and "Mrs. Sam Killsatnight and her Pony"; and eight uncredited silver gelatin photographs, 3 x 5 in., documenting a celebration or parade involving American Indians on horseback. Julia Tuell (1886-1960) moved west accompanying her school teacher husband. Eventually settling at Lame Deer Agency, Montana, she developed an interest in photography and began taking images of the Northern Cheyenne. She became a keen observer of Cheyenne culture, and because of her status as a woman, was allowed access to scenes of daily and ceremonial life usually considered off limits to whites. Her photographs of the Sun Dance, for example, record scenes that were fast-fading on the Northern Plains. Condition: All photos are unmounted. Condition very good to near excellent, with some light corner/edge wear.