2018 Confluence Fall: Curtis

$3.00 The CONFLUENCE Publication of Wenatchee Valley Museum Vol. 34, No. 3 & Cultural Center Fall 2018 Seattle Public Library and Library of Congress Photographer Brothers Edward and Asahel Curtis Wenatchee Valley From the Curator of Exhibits Edward Curtis Photos Reveal Philosophical Agenda Kasey Koski M w U w S w E w U w M by Chris Rader I received a phone call in 2015 asking & Cultural Center Edward Curtis devoted his life to a if the Wenatchee Valley Museum would moments in midmorning when the fog lifted, “Inspiring dynamic connections to the unique project that some of his contemporaries be interested in an exhibit of the work or breaks in the afternoon between rain heritage of the Wenatchee Valley” considered an expensive folly: documen- of Edward Curtis. My intuitive response showers, when he could see the spectrum 127 S. Mission Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801 ting the lifestyles of more than 80 Native of the rainbow in a single drop held by a (509) 888-6240 v www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.org was “yes!” While my gut said yes, my American groups through photographs, 2 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. mind asked, “Who is Edward Curtis?” rhododendron leaf. audio recordings and anthropological text. First Fridays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., free admission A few seconds of keyboard research A 16-year-old neighbor girl, Clara He pursued his goal for 30 years despite Member brought me up to speed as beautiful Phillips, came by often to help nurse Ed American Alliance of Museums bankruptcy, divorce and ill health. Re- images of Curtis’ photography filled my back to health. When he recovered, he American Association for State and Local History gardless of the high toll to Curtis’ personal screen. Many of them were familiar. moved to Seattle and found work as a Cascade Loop Association life, the end result – a 20-volume book Great Northern Railway Historical Association I immediately picked up a copy of Timothy Egan’s photographer. Clara joined him there, collection titled The North American Indian Museum Store Association Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher and found Curtis to be and they married in 1892. By 1895 Ed’s National Trust for Historic Preservation – is a priceless contribution to history. an incredibly interesting character. His passion and vision photography business, Curtis and Guptill: Upper Columbia Museum Association Edward Sheriff Curtis was born Washington Museum Association were admirable; however, his motivation may have been a Photographers and Photoengravers, was Wikipedia, public domain February 16, 1868 in Whitewater, Wis- Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society little misguided. In his perception, Native Americans were a thriving. He and Clara bought a large Wenatchee Downtown Association consin. He was the second of four children “vanishing race.” Native populations had declined through house on Eighth Avenue and invited Wenatchee Rotary Club born to Civil War veteran and itinerant widespread disease introduced by European contact and Edward Curtis adopted a mother Ellen, siblings Eva and Asahel, an Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce preacher Johnson Curtis and his wife Ellen. violent deaths through skirmishes with settlers and the U.S. Van Dyke-style beard in the aunt and two other relatives to live with Johnson, debilitated by his war experiences, “Linking the Past to the Future” Army in disputes over land. But the Native Americans would 1890s and kept it the rest of them. Asahel became an apprentice in the was never able to support his family and not vanish into the sunset as he predicted. Curtis’ work is his life. studio. they lived in poverty, sometimes subsisting Board of Trustees cited as the impetus for many of the misconceptions that live There was plenty of photo work in the Don Gurnard President on potatoes for weeks at a time. After his older brother on across the globe today. His subjects were not nameless bustling city of Seattle: portraits of prominent citizens, Linda Haglund Vice President Raphael left home, Ed quit school at age 12 and became savages or braves or squaws, but people with names that were scenes of construction, awe-inspiring landscapes. Kathleen McNalty Secretary the family caretaker when his father was too ill to work Lisa Dahlgreen Treasurer part of sophisticated societies with their own values who had But Edward Curtis found himself fascinated by the or find food. Lyle Markhart City of Wenatchee Liaison lived on the American continent since time immemorial. Duwamish and other native peoples who were being Chuck Johnson City of East Wenatchee Liaison In his early teen years Ed became interested in In today’s world, we are fortunate to still have the rich pushed out of their homeland. He found opportunities Ken Cramer, Carol Hofmann, Lorna Klemanski, photography, building a camera from a stereopticon tapestry of Native American cultures present in our society. to photograph them along the shores of Puget Sound Lisa Parks, Eliot Scull lens his father had brought back from the Civil War plus They lead the way in many forms of environmental activism gathering shellfish, weaving baskets, cooking, playing Ex-Officio Members $1.25 for the remaining parts.1 He moved to St. Paul, Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz through their rich connection to Mother Earth. They draw with their children. On the action shots he would tell Minn. at 17 and apprenticed as a photographer, soon East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy strength from their connection and provide teachings for them, “Don’t pose! I want people to see you as you are.” becoming very proficient. Wenatchee City Council: Jim Bailey, Ruth Esparza, those of us of European descent to learn from, despite their Linda Herald, Keith Huffaker, Mark Kulaas, Mike Poirier In 1887 Ed accompanied his father to Puget Sound in history of unfair treatment at our hands. East Wenatchee City Council: Jerrilea Crawford, Tim Detering, search of a climate that might restore Johnson’s health. Our exhibit honoring the 150th birthday of Edward Matthew Hepner, Shane Magdoff, Harry Raab, John Sterk They established a homestead near Port Orchard, across Curtis, opening Oct. 5, gives us the opportunity to examine Museum Staff the water from Seattle. Ed cut down trees and built Darrell Dickeson Interim Executive Director his legacy, the positive and negative impact of his undeniably a cabin for the family, the rest of whom arrived the Dawn Collings Wells House/Facilities Rental Coordinator beautiful work, and ponder: Can we live together with our Vacant Education & Volunteer Director following year. Rev. Curtis died shortly after the family native brothers and sisters in a peaceful, collaborative way to Linda Davis Bookkeeper relocated. Ed and his younger brother Asahel (see page Vacant Facilities Coordinator benefit all of humanity? Lyn Kelley Special Events Coordinator 10) fished for salmon, picked berries and dug shellfish; Kasey Koski Curator of Exhibits Ed did odd jobs for cash to keep the family alive. This photo Cami Ostrom Membership/Digital Engagement Coordinator Table of Contents While logging, Ed took a bad fall and seriously Debbie Sawyer Education/Volunteer Assistant of Princess Jill Sheets Education/Volunteer Assistant injured his spine. He was confined to his bed for nearly Angeline, Ashley Sinner Outreach/Public Relations Coordinator Editor: Chris Rader a year. Timothy Egan, in his award-winning biography daughter of Anna Spencer Administrative Assistant Edward S. Curtis ....................................................3 Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher, describes how Edward Chief Seattle, Marriah Thornock Interim Finance/Operations Director Curtis used the time to hone skills that would help his Melanie Wachholder Curator of Collections was Curtis’ Asahel Curtis ......................................................... 10 photographic career. The Confluence is published for members of the Wenatchee first Indian Valley Museum Association. All rights reserved. Nothing may Frank Matsura ....................................................... 15 It was awful not being able to get around, watching his portrait. be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission of Cover: In British Columbia c. 1914, Edward Curtis photo- mother put together a meal of boiled potatoes and bacon the publisher. Publisher: Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cul- grease. Out the window, though, was a world that gave tural Center; (509) 888-6240; [email protected]. Editor: Chris graphed Kwakiutl dancers in masks and costumes during a Rader, [email protected]. winter ceremony. flight to his spirit. He became a close observer: how the color of the land would change subtly in shifting light, the University Wikipedia, public domain; Northwestern Confluence 2 Fall 2018 The Confluence 3 Fall 2018 This desire to document Indians in their traditional had led Curtis to but to listen and be humble. The younger man took Roosevelt called the project “a bully idea,” and gave habitat became Curtis’ lifelong obsession. formulate what became this advice – and followed it for the next 30 years in him a written letter of endorsement (though no cash). Mountaineering trip leads to useful contact his “Big Idea.” As his dealings with Native Americans. He later wrote in Buoyed by the president’s and Grinnell’s public Grinnell later described his memoir, As It Was: “To ask the Piegan … any direct support, Curtis continued to approach potential sponsors Both Edward and Asahel Curtis fell in love with the it, “Here was a great question bearing on the subject of religion yields scant in between trips to photograph Southwest tribes. Finally Cascade Mountains, so different from the Midwestern country in which still light. It is necessary to learn, rather, from the everyday in 1906 he hit pay dirt with J.P. Morgan. The banker- landscape of their childhood. Both became skillful live hundreds of tribes life of the people.”5 Over time he observed Piegans financier behind General Electric and U.S. Steel, Morgan climbers and took many photographs of mountain and remnants of tribes, fasting for three days before praying to the sun, Sioux had less interest in Native Americans than in profiting scenes most people would never encounter.

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