Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Albert Tellier photographs, 1910-1921
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Tellier, Albert (1892-1973)
- Title
- Albert Tellier photographs
- Dates
- 1910-1921 (inclusive)19101921
- Quantity
- 50 photographs
- Collection Number
- Mss 874
- Summary
- This collection consists of fifty photographs taken and developed by Albert Tellier. The photographs are of his family on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana during the early 20th century.
- 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
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Albert Tellier was born August 21, 1892 on the Flathead Indian Reservation in St. Ignatius, Montana. He was one of eight children born to Isaac and Cecille Tellier and was an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. He spoke three languages: the Sahaptin language (Nez Perce), the Salish Indian language, and English. Although he spent part of his childhood on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Idaho, the majority of his youth took place on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. After being forced into a government education plan, Albert’s mother, Cecille, removed him from school and allowed him to be educated by the family thereafter.
Aside from being a farm worker and a laborer, Albert discovered photography in his early 20’s and became a self-taught photographer. He began documenting his family life in the early 20th century and developed his images in a makeshift darkroom built behind the Tellier home. During World War II, Albert Tellier was a shipward worker and migrated to Sacramento, California afterwards. In Sacramento, he landed a job as a warehouseman at The Globe Mills in the mid-1940’s and became a proud member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
Albert Tellier died in California in 1973 at the age of seventy-nine.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of fifty photographs taken and developed by Albert Tellier. The photographs are of his family on the Flathead Indian Reservation during the early 20th century and take place on the Tellier land in St. Ignatius, Montana from 1910-1921. Albert Tellier’s favorite subject was his only child, Violet Tellier, born in the Tellier home in 1916.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
These images have been digitized and are available online via the Montana Memory Project.
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Non-exclusive copyright transferred to the University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Photograph number], Albert Tellier Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The photographs have been arranged chronologically when dates were available. Undated photos are at the end of the collection.
Custodial History
These materials were in the position of Violet Tellier and then in the possession of her son, Richard A. Matt, until their donation to the University of Montana.
Acquisition Information
These images were donated to Archives and Special Collections by Richard Mett, grandson of the photographer, in 2015.
Processing Note
These photographs were foldered and the folders arranged chronologically during processing. Tellier had identified many of the photographs in hand writing on the backs of the images. This identification was transcribed. In some cases a notes field has been added with additional information about photograph contents.
Related Materials
Additional material from Albert Tellier was donated by the family to the Salish-Pend D'Oreille Culture Committee.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Christine Tellier photo number: 874.001
|
1910 |
| 1/2 | Bazil Matt photo number: 874.002
on horse
|
August 1911 |
| 1/3 | Cleofaus Tellier photo number: 874.003
on horse; several men on horses and teepee in background
|
July 1, 1913 |
| 1/4 | Albert Tellier and Bazil Matt photo number: 874.004
|
July 26, 1914 |
| 1/5 | Thomas McDonald photo number: 874.005
"taken in summer of 1914"
|
1914 |
| 1/6 | Alfred Lasero photo number: 874.006
in front of cabin doorway
|
November 1918 |
| 1/7 | Cecille Tellier and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.007
sitting in front of cabin
|
November 1918 |
| 1/8 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.008
sitting in rockingchair, cabin entryway with doll and dog
|
December 7, 1918 |
| 1/9 | Alex Curley and Cleofaus Tellier photo number: 874.009
on horse in open field
|
December 10, 1918 |
| 1/10 | Isaac Tellier and Napy photo number: 874.010
Tellier with dog, Napy
|
1918 |
| 1/11 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.011
"feeding the chickens"
|
1918 |
| 1/12 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.012
holding a newspaper in front of cabin
|
January 17, 1919 |
| 1/13 | Teresa Curley and Cecille Tellier photo number: 874.013
wrapped in blankets under a tree
|
February 2, 1919 |
| 1/14 | Violet Tellier, Armien Sio Ploufe, Adeline girlie Ploufe, Christine Curley, and Cecil photo number: 874.014
Left to right: Ploufe and Curley children pose for Violet
|
February 2, 1919 |
| 1/15 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.015
posed with camera
|
February 14, 1919 |
| 1/16 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.016
holding camera
|
March 20, 1919 |
| 1/17 | Cleofaus Tellier, Thomas McDonald, Alex Curley, Louie Curley, Mores (?) Tellier, and Isaac Tellier photo number: 874.017
Left to Right: working in the garden
|
June 23, 1919 |
| 1/18 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.018
sitting in small wagon with puppy
|
June 25, 1919 |
| 1/19 | Albert and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.019
dog in background
|
July 3, 1919 |
| 1/20 | Cecille Tellier and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.020
in front of cabin doorway
|
August 24, 1919 |
| 1/21 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.021
posed with rifle
|
August 24, 1919 |
| 1/22 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.022
|
September 2, 1919 |
| 1/23 | Isaac Tellier and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.023
Isaac cleaning lamp
|
September 29, 1919 |
| 1/24 | Violet Tellier and her teddy bear photo number: 874.024
posed with teddy bear in chair
|
October 7, 1919 |
| 1/25 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.025
Christmas Day
|
December 25, 1919 |
| 1/26 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.026
holding camera
|
1919 |
| 1/27 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.027
(1/25-F8-clear) film exposure
|
February 28, 1920 |
| 1/28 | Christine Curley, Cecille Curley, Louie Curley, and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.028
|
February 29, 1920 |
| 1/29 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.029
laughing while standing in barrel
|
May 13, 1920 |
| 1/30 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.030
in yard petting large dog, smaller dog present
|
June 13, 1920 |
| 1/31 | Isador Woodcock and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.031
sitting on ground behind horse
|
June 13, 1920 |
| 1/32 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.032
by old Rube the horse
|
June 1920 |
| 1/33 | Albert Tellier photo number: 874.033
color technique
|
June 27, 1920 |
| 1/34 | Albert Tellier photo number: 874.034
self portrait
|
October 1, 1920 |
| 1/35 | Isaac Tellier photo number: 874.035
|
November 14, 1920 |
| 1/36 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.036
holding doll (1/2 sec - F11)
|
November 18, 1920 |
| 1/37 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.037
color technique (1/25 - F8)
|
November 30, 1920 |
| 1/38 | Cecille Curley, Christine Curley, and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.038
"in summer of 1920"
|
1920 |
| 1/39 | Alfred Lasero photo number: 874.039
"a uncle to Violet Tellier on Rube" (Rube is a horse)
|
1920 |
| 1/40 | Annie Tellier, Christine Curley, Amelia Tellier, Pauline Tellier, Violet Tellier, and Cecille Curley photo number: 874.040
|
1920 |
| 1/41 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.041
|
March 23, 1921 |
| 1/42 | Pete Smith's Children and Violet Tellier photo number: 874.042
|
undated |
| 1/43 | Albert Tellier photo number: 874.043
in car with four others, including Violet Tellier
|
undated |
| 1/44 | Christine Tellier and Albert Tellier photo number: 874.044
|
undated |
| 1/45 | Christine Tellier, Teresa Curley, and Cecille Tellier photo number: 874.045
|
undated |
| 1/46 | Cleofaus Tellier, Joe McClure, Alex Curley photo number: 874.046
"pouring water" standing by car, deer catch tied to vehicle
|
undated |
| 1/47 | Louie Tellier photo number: 874.047
|
undated |
| 1/48 | Mose Tellier photo number: 874.048
first name illegible
|
undated |
| 1/49 | Violet Tellier photo number: 874.049
sitting in chair wearing oversized boots, puppy by her side
|
undated |
| 1/50 | Violet Tellier and her little white dog photo number: 874.050
|
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Indians of North America--Montana--Photographs
- Nez Percé Indians--Montana--Photographs
- Salish Indians--Montana--Photographs
Personal Names
- Tellier, Albert, 1892-1973--Family--Photographs
- Tellier, Violet, 1916-1993--Photographs (creator)
Geographical Names
- Flathead Indian Reservation (Mont.)--Montana--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Occupations
- Photographers--Montana--Saint Ignatius
Finding aid prepared by Alyssa Corrigan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
