short nights of the shadow catcher by timothy egan

Around 1900 Curtis approached some influential contacts, Were being made by missionaries and governments to erase indigenousĬultures. World inhabited by Natives was rapidly changing. He paid her aĬurtis's interest in recording Native American faces,Ĭlothing, artifacts, and activities grew with the consciousness that the Princess Angeline (15-16, 21), who lived in a shack on the edge of theĮxpanding city, the last surviving child of Chief Seattle. His first Native American pictures featured He married and established himself as a successful portrait He took up photography as a way of making a living that did not require Wisconsin to Puget Sound, where land opportunities had opened following 'outdoors, the open country' Egan suggests, 'was a churchĮd Curtis could feel at home in' (3). Laborer and gathered food for the table while prowling the woods. The age of fourteen for supporting his family.

Gospel to Native Americans in the Midwest and assumed responsibility at Learned woodcraft during forays with his preacher father to spread the Photographer and a staunch advocate for indigenous rights.Ĭurtis terminated his formal schooling after the sixth grade. Short Nights of the ShadowĬatcher restores him to his rightful place as a sensitive master Motives, the difficulties and vicissitudes of his work, and the broaderĬontexts of his 'Big Idea' (41). Opportunist who paid subjects and sometimes resorted to bribery to gainĪccess to sacred objects not meant to be seen by the uninitiated.Įgan's new book does much to explain Curtis's methods and Who did not hesitate to stage scenes for the camera's lens and an Of ethnographic documentation, has also been criticized as a manipulator The incursion of European American land grabbers, railroads, fences, HisĪim (which became a full-blown obsession) was to document every NativeĪmerican 'tribe' that still adhered to traditions predating Photogravures and related materials published between 19. Life to The North American Indian, a twenty-volume set of brown-ink (18681952), the quixotic photographer who devoted thirty years of his Inspired such a wide divergence of opinion as Edward S. ISBN 9780618969029.įew researchers who have studied Native American cultures have Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis.' Retrieved from

2014 University of Nebraska Press 09 May. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis.' The Free Library.

Short nights of the shadow catcher by timothy egan