John Well-Off-Man's Collection of Photographs

John Well-Off-Man's Collection of Photographs, 1892-1933

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Well-Off-Man, John, b. 1950
Title: John Well-Off-Man's Collection of Photographs
Dates: 1892-1933 (inclusive)
18921933
Quantity: 109 photographs
Collection Number: Mss 924
Summary: John Well-Off-Man’s collection of photographs contains images of what is now the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While the images in the collection come from several sources, the majority are believed to have been taken by John Gable, the son of William Gable, the Lutheran Pastor on the Rocky Boy Reservation in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
Repository: University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions: Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Languages: visual, English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John Well-Off-Man is a member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe. Born in Havre, Montana in 1950, Well-Off-Man was raised on the nearby Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. In 1978, he received a degree in photography from the Ohio Visual Arts Institute after which he studied printmaking at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico where he received an Associate of Fine Arts degree in 1990. Continuing his education, Well-Off-Man earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of Montana in 2005 and a Master of Arts in Fine Arts, Integrated Arts, and Education from the University of Montana's Creative Pulse Program in 2007. Well-Off-Man has worked as a photographer, film developer, and artist.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

John Well-Off-Man's Collection of Photographs contains 109 images of people and events on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. The photographs were taken during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Well-Off-Man collected these images from Paul Mitchell, an elder from Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, as part of his research into the history of the Rocky Boy Reservation. Well-Off-Man made copy negatives from Mitchell's nitrate negatives.

A portion of the images in this collection have brief descriptions written on them, though it is not clear by whom. Almost all the images are undated and many currently lack identification of the individuals in them. Most are of Cree and Ojibwe (Chippewa) people. While the images in the collection come from several sources, the majority were likely taken by John Gable, the son of William Gable who was the Lutheran Pastor on the Rocky Boy Reservation in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. As a graduate student at the Philadelphia Seminary in the 1930s, John Gable was also responsible for a number of film productions including "Rocky Boy Mission In Action," a 1935 film about the Lutheran Mission on the Rocky Boy Reservation. While it is unclear whether the photos in this collection are associated with Gable's documentary project, the content of the images suggest that there is a connection between the two. According to Well-Off-Man other images were taken by Florence Bruckner.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

John Well-Off-Man's Collection of Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Images were maintained in the order in which they were received.

Custodial History

These images were held by John Well-Off-Man who acquired them from Paul Mitchell, an elder on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

Acquisition Information

John Well-Off-man donated these images to the Archives in 1988 and 1989.

Processing Note

These images were assigned photo numbers by the Archives when they were received. During processing in 2019 these image numbers were maintained. [Note, images 89.0027 and 89.0028 are not a part of this collection.]

Related Materials

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America holds the John W. Gable motion picture film collection.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	photo_number
1	89.0001	Man Standing Beside Teepee	undated
1	89.0002	Bob Small "Bob Tail" KES-KAH-YO Bob Small 'Bob Tail' KES-KAH-YO in full Indian dress on Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. The boy wears leggings, moccasins, and a beaded choker. He stands in front of a tipi. (Name of photographer and date of photograph from Montana Historical Society.) Photographer: Peeso, F. E. (Frederick Edwin), 1881-1970	1906
1	89.0003	Portrait of Little Bear (Cree) Photo portrait of Little Bear of the Cree.	undated
1	89.0004	Portrait of Chief Kenawash. Photo Portrait of Chief Kenawash. He wears a beaded belt. Photographer: Fritz Studio	undated
1	89.0005	Portrait of Little Bear with pipe Photo portrait of Little Bear with pipe on Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	circa 1895
1	89.0006	Studio portrait of Little Bear and an unidentified man Studio portrait of Little Bear and an unidentified white man with a large mustache. Little Bear wears leggings and a headdress. He stands with his hand on the seated man's shoulder. A dog stands between them.	undated
1	89.0007	Portrait of Left Hand Boy Studio portrait of Left Hand Boy on Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	circa 1919
1	89.0008	Portrait of Chief Kenawash Studio portrait of Chief Kenawash on Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. He wears a headdress. Photographer: Fritz Studio	undated
1	89.0009	Studio Portrait of Jim Denny Family Studio photo of Jim Denny, "Maggie" Denny, William Denny, and Florana Denny on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0010	White Bear Claws with his horse White Bear Claws with his horse on the Rocky Boy Reservation.	undated
1	89.0011	Old Boy O-CHA-SE-MAS A picture of 'Old Boy' O-cha-se-mas, wrapped in a blanket, on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. He stands on a blanket in front of what appears to be a tipi.	undated
1	89.0012	Church chapel	undated
1	89.0013	Indian family A picture of an unidentified Indian family, likely on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. A woman and six children stand in front of a tipi. Library note: The family is identified in a Montana Historical Society photo in MMP as the Smallboy family. The boy in the front row on the right side of the photo wearing decorative leggings is Robert Smallboy (Bobtail).	undated
1	89.0014	Edward Arkinson, Baptiste Samatt, and Edward Eagleman Indian man and two boys in full dress: Edward Arkinson, Baptiste Samatt, and Edward Eagleman on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. They stand in front of painted tipis.	undated
1	89.0015	Indian family standing in front of building	undated
1	89.0016	Indian man standing with a shovel	undated
1	89.0017	Indian standing in front of building in winter	undated
1	89.0018	Indian family standing in front of a teepee	undated
1	89.0019	Two workers making a support for a structure	undated
1	89.0020	Havre, Montana Scene in Havre, Montana. A group of Native Americans are in a circle in the street with people gathered around. A number of horse-drawn wagons are in the circle. Broadwater Brothers Drugs storefront is visible.	undated
1	89.0021	Family in front of car	undated
1	89.0022	Rosie Two Teeth beading a bag and a belt Rosie Two Teeth beading a bag and a belt on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0023	Portrait of Charlie Chippewa Portrait of Charlie Chippewa, brother of Chief Rocky Boy.	undated
1	89.0024	People standing in front of building	undated
1	89.0025	Portrait of Grace Crazy Boy of the Rocky Boy Reservation	undated
1	89.0026	Portrait of Chief Rocky Boy Rocky Boy, Ojibwa Chief. Deer Lodge, Montana	undated
1	89.0029	Big Rock Picture of Big Rock, medicine man of the Chippewa, in front of teepee or lodge furnished by Charles M. Russell on a lot at the rear of Theodore Gibson's home in Great Falls, Montana.	circa 1916
1	89.0030	Native Americans	undated
1	89.0031	Portrait of George Watson (White Head). Studio portrait of George Watson (White Head). He wears a beaded vest and other beaded clothing.	circa 1916
1	89.0032	Sun Dance Structure Sun dance structure on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. Several Native Americans are in and around the structure. One is on horseback. Two others sit in a wagon.	undated
1	89.0033	Cross mounted on a stone structure	undated
1	89.0034	Indian children eating lunch	undated
1	89.0035	Pioneer town and wagons Pioneer town with wagons, likely in Montana. The town sits in a valley. The wagons and at least one automobile are on a hill above the town. An American flag flies near the wagons.	undated
1	89.0036	Chief Little Bear Portrait of Chief Little Bear of the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. He sits on a blanket with a blanket covering his legs. Part of a pole-framed structure can be seen, and one of the poles casts a shadow across Chief Little Bear's face and torso.	undated
1	89.0037	Mary Chief Out Mary Chief Out holding a baby, Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. She stands in front of a log building.	undated
1	89.0038	Council Sun Dance Camp Council sun dance camp, Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. A group of Native Americans sit in a circle. Several men on horseback are just outside the circle. Many of the men wear Native American attire; some wear headdresses.	undated
1	89.0039	Group of people listening to sermon	undated
1	89.0040	Group of Indians doing a dance	undated
1	89.0041	Mr. and Mrs. Joe Black Tongue standing in front of a log house, Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana	undated
1	89.0042	Old Council Hall A picture of the old Council Hall built before 1920 on the Rocky Boy Reservation. Snow is visible on the ground and on parts of the wooden structure.	undated
1	89.0043	Sun Dance Structure Group of men and women around the Sun Dance Structure. Probably at Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana. Structure is partially covered with canvas and wooden poles are visible.	undated
1	89.0044	Teepee Cooking utensils displayed in front of teepee.	undated
1	89.0045	A group of Native American women and children A group of Native American women and children pose in front of a building. Library note: The building is probably the Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana. Many of the women in the photograph are wrapped in blankets. The children wear coats and hats. Other buildings can be seen behind the group. The soft-top of a buggy or an old car is visible behind the women on the left side of the photograph, and two horses, presumably hitched to a buggy, are on the right side of the photograph. A hillside is visible behind the buildings. This is the same group of people that appear in image umt010861.	undated
1	89.0046	A child standing in front of a car	undated
1	89.0047	Native Americans in field. Arrow on negative points to "Dad"	undated
1	89.0048	Native Americans. Male, female, and child in full dress	undated
1	89.0049	Two Indians performing a dance in full dress in front of a wooden cross	undated
1	89.0050	Native Americans and others standing in front of a building, Frank Linderman far right. Left to Right: Chief Little Bear, Kinnewash, William Bole, Franklin K. Lane (Secretary of the Interior), Jim Denny, Other Person, Pat Raspberry, Frank Bird Linderman in front of Placer Hotel, Helena, 1913. During the conference on securing land for Chief Little Bear and his tribe (description from Image 48 in Frank Bird Linderman Collection, University of Montana.) Photographer: Taylor Studio (Helena, Montana)	1913
1	89.0051	Mrs. Alec Denny and grandson during a circle dance	undated
1	89.0052	The Medicine Lodge on Rocky Boy Reservation>	undated
1	89.0053	Going after the Sun Dance Tree on horseback	undated
1	89.0054	Clothing Give-Away For Women. A group of unidentified women and children stand outdoors. The large building on the right behind the group is Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on the Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana. Many of the women are wrapped in blankets. The children wear coats and hats. Several dogs wander in front of the group. Another building can be seen behind the group on the left side of the photo. A soft-top vehicle is visible behind the women on the left side of the photo. A hillside rises behind the buildings. This is the same group of people that appear in umt011117. Image is titled: Clothing give-away for women.	undated
1	89.0055	People parked in cars outside a house at a clothing give-away for women on the Rocky Boy Reservation	undated
1	89.0056	Indian looking at a structure	undated
1	89.0057	Our Saviour's Lutheran Church original building The log building in the center of the photo is the original log chapel of Our Saviour's Lutheran Mission Church on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. A large number of parked cars is parked near the buildings. The vintage of the cars in the photograph suggest the photo was taken in the early to mid-1930s. A number of people, perhaps the congregration, stand outside the chapel. The chapel is near Boxelder Creek.	circa 1930s
1	89.0058	Decoration Day	undated
1	89.0059	The first Rocky Boy School and the first Superintendant of the reservation, Mr. Parker, in the cap The first Rocky Boy School and the first Superintendent of the reservation, Mr. Parker, wearing the cap. A group of adults and children pose for the photographer in front of a log building.	circa 1927
1	89.0060	Cecilia Parker and Bessie Well-Off-Man Cecilia Parker and Bessie Well-Off-Man standing in front of a house.	undated
1	89.0061	Group of Indian people resting and watching	undated
1	89.0062	Decoration Day Celebration during Decoration Day. Young girls holding ribbons around a tree. Possibly on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0063	Indian Peace Flag of 1803 Two Native American men and Frank Linderman hold an Indian Peace Flag of 1803 with Frank Linderman on the right. Library note: The man on the left is Jim Gopher (Loud Thunder), and the man in the middle is Frenchman. The flag is thin, and the bodies of the men holding the flag can be seen through it. Another man can be seen though the flag kneeling on the ground and holding the bottom of the flag beside Linderman. What appears to be a Sun Dance structure is being erected in the background. Same as image umt010345.	June 1933
1	89.0064	A group of Indians sitting inside the Sun Dance structure	undated
1	89.0065	People using farm equipment	undated
1	89.0066	Two couples standing beside a log house	undated
1	89.0067	Group of Indian men and women standing in front of a clump of trees>	undated
1	89.0068	Sun Dance Structure	undated
1	89.0069	Men standing in front of an unfinished house	undated
1	89.0070	Indians in full dress in the middle of a town street	undated
1	89.0071	Indians standing on a platform for building a structure	undated
1	89.0072	Portrait of an Indian	undated
1	89.0073	Sun Dance Camp A picture of the Sun dance camp on the plain. Location unknown (probably Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.)	undated
1	89.0074	Unidentified building	undated
1	89.0075	Sun Dance Structure	undated
1	89.0076	Celebrating at the Sun Dance Camp Indians celebrate at the sun dance camp, likely on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana. Men, women, and children can be seen in the foreground. Some are on horseback; others are in wagons. Most of the people stand. Several automobiles are parked near the crowd. The sun dance structure can be seen in the middle of the photograph, and tents or tipis are in the background.	undated
1	89.0077	Indians cooking at a cooking fire	undated
1	89.0078	A person with clothing all around	undated
1	89.0079	Buildings on the plain	undated
1	89.0080	Charley Black Tongue and (?) Sleek with horses in front of building	undated
1	89.0081	Unidentified men standing in front of building	undated
1	89.0082	Jim Gopher (Loud Thunder), Frenchman and Frank Linderman (right) holding an American flag Two Native American men and Frank Linderman hold an Indian Peace Flag of 1803 with Frank Linderman on the right. Library note: The man on the left is Jim Gopher (Loud Thunder), and the man in the middle is Frenchman. The flag is thin, and the bodies of the men holding the flag can be seen through it. Another man can be seen though the flag kneeling on the ground and holding the bottom of the flag beside Linderman. What appears to be a Sun Dance structure is being erected in the background. Same as image umt010345.	undated
1	89.0083	Group on Street in Havre, Montana A group of men and women gather on the street in Havre, Montana. Some are on horseback, most are standing. Many (all?) are Native American.	1892
1	89.0084	Sun Dance Camp Indians celebrating at the Sun dance camp. The sun dance structure, an open, circular framework of logs, is seen in the mid background. Tents are visible farther back. (Probably Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.)	undated
1	89.0085	People helping to build the first jail on the Rocky Boy Reservation	undated
1	89.0086	Three buildings	undated
1	89.0087	Indians standing in front of cooking fire	undated
1	89.0088	A saw used for making lumber	undated
1	89.0089	Group of Indians standing in front of a building	undated
1	89.0090	Rocky Boy Mission and Post Office Rocky Boy Mission and Post Office. Montana. Log-sided building set at the base of a mountain. Signs on front of building read US Post Office and Rocky Boy Mission. A second building can be seen in the background on right of photograph.	undated
1	89.0091	Women at Council Hall Women and children pose for a photo in front of Council Hall. Many of the women wear blankets. The hall is a log building. Probably at Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0092	Men at Council Hall Men and boys pose for a photo outside of Council Hall. The men wear traditional Native American garb, and most have some form of headdress. The hall is a log building. Probably at Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0093	Bringing in the Sun Dance Pole A group of people on horses. Image is entitled: Bringing in the sun dance pole. (Probably Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.)	undated
1	89.0094	Four babies on a blanket Four babies sitting on a blanket. A woman is visible in the far right of the image. Infants appear to be Native Americans. Background appears washed out due to sunshine.	undated
1	89.0095	Lumber Yard Men and horses working in a lumber yard and mill on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0096	Woman inside an Indian Reservation car	undated
1	89.0097	The Plains Teepee, tent and people on plains of Montana. Mountains in background.	undated
1	89.0098	Unidentified town	undated
1	89.0099	Summer homes on the flat	undated
1	89.0100	Sun Dance Pole A picture of the Sun Dance Pole. Men seated and standing near it.	undated
1	89.0101	Winter homes on the flat	undated
1	89.0102	Indians at the Sun Dance Camp	undated
1	89.0103	Tommy Oats on his horse	undated
1	89.0104	Sun Dance structure Sun Dance structure. Men seated and standing nearby. Two men on horseback. Army-style tents and hills in background.	undated
1	89.0105	Structures abandoned	undated
1	89.0106	Indian children Group of Indian boys and girls of various ages stand in front of a building that may be a schoolhouse. Probably at Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0107	Celebrating at the Sun Dance	undated
1	89.0108	Going to the Mission by sled People on a horse-drawn sled going to the Mission on the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana. Several women sit on the sled. A man and a women stand. The people appear to be Native American.	undated
1	89.0109	Man in house with buffalo skin	undated
1	89.0110	Larry Spotted Blanket and Bill Watson Larry Spotted Blanket and Bill Watson. Watson sits on a horse-drawn disk plowing a field. Location is probably Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana.	undated
1	89.0111	Father and son in full Indian dress	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

Little Bear Cree chief, 1851-1921--Photographs
Rocky Boy (Ojibwa chief)--Photographs (creator)
Well-Off-Man, John Phillip, 1950---Archives

Corporate Names

Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana--Photographs

Geographical Names

Rocky Boy's Reservation (Mont.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

Photographs

Archives West Finding Aid

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