Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Biographical Note
- Other Descriptive Information
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Ada and Emma Stillwell, Nez Perce Playmates, and Reservation School
- Edward Latham Photographs of People of the Colville Indian Reservation
- Edmond S. Meany Portrait and Photographs of Colville Indian Reservation made by Edmond Meany
- Ada Stillwell Dickson's visit To Colville Indian Reservation, circa 1940
- Names and Subjects
Ada Stillwell collection of Colville Indian Reservation photographs, 1897-1940
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Stillwell, Ada
- Title
- Ada Stillwell collection of Colville Indian Reservation photographs
- Dates
- 1897-1940 (inclusive)18971940
- Quantity
- 53 photograph prints (1 box) ; sizes vary
- Collection Number
- PH0766
- Summary
- Photographs of Chief Joseph's band of Nez Perce Indians on the Colville Indian Reservation in eastern Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access to originals restricted. Entire collection available on digital site. Permission of curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English, with Nez Perce names listed
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Ada Stillwell Dickson was one of two daughters of Barnett and Dema Stillwell, schoolteacher and housekeeper respectively, for the school at Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation, from 1897-1901. Ada and her younger sister, Emma, attended the reservation school, along with the Nez Perce children. At approximately 10 years of age, Ada learned the Sahaptian language of the Nez Perce, serving as an interpreter for Chief Joseph, as well as for University of Washington Professor Edmond S. Meany, who became one of Chief Joseph's champions. She married Frank Dickson in 1908. The family apparently moved to Chelan nearby the reservation after leaving.
Dr. Edward H. Latham (1843-1928) was the agency physician on the Sioux, Spokane, and Colville Indian Reservations, arriving at the latter in 1890. He was an amateur photographer and created a record of life on the reservation.
Edmond Stephen Meany (1862-1935) was a graduate of the University of Washington. He received a masters degree from the University of Wisconsin, and his thesis centered on Chief Joseph, which brought him to the Colville Indian Reservation. He became a professor at the University of Washington and an important Washington State historian.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of the Colville Indian Reservation, including images of students and teachers at the reservation school, members of the Nez Perce, Sinkiuse-Columbia, and Okanagan tribes in both traditional and formal dress, of Ada and Emma Stillwell, as well as images of Chief Joseph's house and property, and later views of the reservation made by Ada Stillwell Dickson, during her return visit to the reservation in 1940. The majority of the images were made by Edward Latham, with the remainder made by Edmond Meany and Ada Stillwell Dickson
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
All inscriptions on verso made by the photographer unless otherwise noted.
Many of these photographs appear in the Edward H. Latham Photographs, PH Coll 409. Some photographs were also duplicated by Thomas Prosch and may be found in the Thomas Prosch Indian Photographs Album.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Source: Larry Gottheim for Be-hold, Inc. Received in two parts: May 7, 2007 and November 28, 2007.
Processing Note
Processed by Christina Linclau, 2009.
The collection was accessioned as PH 2007-030 and PH 2007-031.
Bibliography
In Mick Gidley's book, 'With One Sky Above Us: Life on an Indian Reservation at the Turn of the Century' (1979) the images of Dr. Edward H. Latham, the reservation physician, and an accomplished amateur photographer, depict life on the Colville Indian Reservation, while 'Kopet: A Documentary Narrative of Chief Joseph's Last Years' (1981), also written by Gidley, focuses on Professor Edmond Meany.
Related Materials
Chelan albums
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Ada and Emma Stillwell, Nez Perce Playmates, and Reservation SchoolReturn to Top
Edward H. Latham ( photographer)Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 | circa 1900 | |
1/1 | 2 | circa 1900 | |
1/1 | 3 | circa 1899 | |
1/1 | 4 | circa 1901 | |
1/1 | 5 |
Five Nez Perce schoolgirls Written on verso by Ada Stillwell Dickson: Playmates 1.
Tal-len-a-ka-loo, Jal-win-nun-my, 2. Pea-nu-wants-son-my, 3. Will-lie-a-loot,
4. Shu-poo-cake.
|
circa 1900 |
1/1 | 6 |
Students and teachers in front of Nespelem
school This photo was taken the year that the Stillwells arrived. Ada
(at right) was six and Emma was four.
|
1897 |
1/1 | 7 |
Students and teachers in front of Nespelem
school Barnett and Dema Stillwell are at left. Ada (to left) and Emma
Stillwell are at front right.
|
circa 1900 |
Edward Latham Photographs of People of the Colville Indian ReservationReturn to Top
Edward H. Latham ( photographer)Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 8 |
Charlie Will-pock'-en in ceremonial
dress with pinto horse Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Charlie Wil-pock-en
pinto horse for parade and special occasions.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 9 |
Brother of Charlie Will-pock'-en with a
coyote skin This is the brother of Charlie Wilpocken, Nez Perce. Coyote
skin is emblematic of service of a scout during war.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 10 |
Charlie Will-pock'-en with his wife and
brother The man at right is Charlie's brother.Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Charlie Wilpocken and
Wife.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 11 |
Charlie Will-pock'-en in dress
costume Wil-pock'en means "Swans on the Water."Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Dress Costume.Written on verso by Ada Stillwell Dickson: Charlie
Will-pock'en.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 12 |
Art Cercle and baby boy in a
cradleboard, both sons of Charlie Will-pock'-en Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Boy and papoose.Written on verso by Ada Stillwell Dickson: Larger boy-Art
Cercle.
|
circa 1903 |
1/2 | 13 |
Chief Moses of the Columbia
tribe Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Cheif Moses- of the
Columbia Tribe.
|
before 1899 |
1/2 | 14 |
Nez Perce Medicine Man Written on verso: Medicine man- Nez Perce
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 15 |
Men on horseback in dress
parade Written on verso by Edward H. Latham: Dress parade.
From left to right: 1. unknown, 2. unknown, 3.Joe Moses,
Sinkiuse, 4. Cool-Cool-a-Weela, Okanagan.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 16 |
Chief Joe Moses, Sinkiuse - nephew of
Chief Moses, whom he succeeded Eagle and Hawk feathers, at the end of the six foot long silk
ribbons, would spin and trail behind the wearer as his horse ran.Written on verso by Stillwell: Chief Joe Moses.Written on verso by Latham: Charley Melpalkin [crossed out
with pen] Nez Perce.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 17 |
Cool-cool-a-weela, Okanagan Both Latham and Stillwell identified this photo incorrectly.
This is actually an Okanagan named Cool-cool-a-weela.Written on verso by Latham: Nez Perce in Dress Costume.Written on verso by Stillwell: Kok shut George.
|
circa 1900-1905 |
1/2 | 18 |
Nez Perce girl Written on verso by Latham: Nez Perce Girl-Half-breed.
|
June 1905 |
1/2 | 19 |
Two Nez Perce girls,
Nespelem Written on verso by Latham: Squaws at Nespelem.
|
June 1905 |
1/2 | 20 | June 1905 | |
1/2 | 21 | circa 1905 | |
1/2 | 22 |
Four Nez Perce women on
horseback The woman second from right is possibly Mrs. Willie Nampoya,
identified as such from carrying the same beaded handbag as in another Latham
image held by UW Libraries: Latham 982. The woman on the far left is Mary Joe,
identified by Ada Stillwell Dickson.
|
circa 1900-1910 |
1/2 | 23 |
Four Nez Perce women on
horseback Ada Stillwell Dickson identified the women as Linda Paul,
Isabel Friedlander, Mary George and Mary Joe.
|
circa 1900-1910 |
1/2 | 24 | circa 1900-1910 | |
1/2 | 25 |
Susie Williams, one of the wives of
Chief David Williams, on horseback Written on verso by Ada Stillwell Dickson: Susie Williams.Written on verso by Latham: A Nez Perce girl.
|
circa 1900-1910 |
1/2 | 26 |
Nez Perce woman on
horseback Written on verso by Latham: Nez Perce Squaw.
|
circa 1900-1910 |
1/2 | 27 | circa 1901 |
Edmond S. Meany Portrait and Photographs of Colville Indian Reservation made by Edmond MeanyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 28 |
Chief Joseph's barn Edmond Meany (photographer)
Written on verso by Edmond Meany: Chief Joseph's barn.
Nespelem Edmond S. Meany 1901.
|
1901 |
1/3 | 29 |
Chief Joseph's House Edmond Meany (photographer)
According to the collection guide for the Edmond S. Meany
Photograph Collection (PH Coll 132), this house was built for Chief Joseph by
the U.S. government.Written on verso by Edmond Meany: Chief Joseph's House.
Nespelem Edmond S. Meany 1901.
|
1901 |
1/3 | 30 |
Chief Joseph's "Ictas"
House Edmond Meany (photographer)
Written on verso by Edmond Meany: Chief Joseph's Ictas House,
Nespelem. Edmond S. Meany 1901. Ictas House where he kept his relics. Ictas =
things. Where Mrs. Frank Dickson interpreted Joseph for Prof. Meany He kept his
old gun, shield (rawhide) arrows old time. Note: Mrs. Frank Dickson = Ada
Stillwell
|
1901 |
1/3 | 31 |
Nespelem Mill Edmond Meany (photographer)
Written on verso by Edmond Meany: The Mills at Nespelem Edmond
S. Meany 1901.
|
1901 |
1/3 | 32 |
Ada Stillwell in front of her
house Edmond Meany (photographer)
Written on verso by Edmond Meany: Ada C. Stillwell, my
interpreter at Nespelem Edmond S. Meany 1901.
|
1901 |
1/3 | 33 |
Portrait of Edmond S. Meany LaRoche, Seattle (photographer)
Written on verso: Yours Faithfully Edmond S. Meany Seattle Wash
21 IX 1901.
|
1901 |
Ada Stillwell Dickson's visit To Colville Indian Reservation, circa 1940Return to Top
Ada Stillwell Dickson ( photographer)Written on the back of the front album cover: "Ada's visit 30 (?) years later." These photographs were processed by "Olds & King Camera Department" as indicated on the back of the original album cover. Olds & King, located in Portland, Oregon, was purchased in 1943 and the name changed, dating these photographs to prior to that time.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Album 1 |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/4 | 34A | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34B | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34C | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34D | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34E | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34F | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34G | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34H |
Ada Stillwell with older Native
American woman The Native American woman is wearing a beaded belt with
initials "LF" and carrying a beaded purse.
|
circa 1940 |
1/4 | 34I | circa 1940 | |
1/4 | 34J |
Native American man with bell cuffs
at his ankles and feather headdress, possibly a dancer The man is surrounded by people in modern dress. Automobile
in background has loudspeakers on roof.
|
circa 1940 |
1/4 | 34K |
Native American man with bell cuffs
at his ankles and feather headdress, possibly a dancer The man is surrounded by people in modern dress. Automobile
in background has loudspeakers on roof.
|
circa 1940 |
Album 2 |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/5 | 35A |
Young girl dressed in beaded outfit
and hat There is an automobile visible behind the girl, and people
in modern dress.
|
circa 1940 |
1/5 | 35B | circa 1940 | |
1/5 | 35C | circa 1940 | |
1/5 | 35D | circa 1940 | |
1/5 | 35E | circa 1940 | |
1/5 | 35F | circa 1940 | |
1/5 | 35G | circa 1940 | |
Teepees at Colville Reservation |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/6 | 36 | circa 1940 | |
1/6 | 37 | circa 1940 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Nez Percé Indians--Clothing--Photographs
- Nez Percé Indians--Photographs
- Nez Percé girls--Photographs
Personal Names
- Moses, Chief, approximately 1829-1899--Photographs
- Stillwell, Ada--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Colville Indian Reservation--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Nespelem (Wash.)--Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Latham, Edward H (photographer)
- Meany, Edmond S. (Edmond Stephen), 1862-1935 (photographer)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)