Alice Lewis Collection of Photographs of Native American Schools

Alice Lewis Collection of Photographs of Native American Schools, 1895-1900

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Lewis, Alice
Title: Alice Lewis Collection of Photographs of Native American Schools
Dates: 1895-1900 (inclusive)
18951900
Quantity: 0.25 Linear feet of shelf space, (1 Box)
Collection Number: PC 124 (collection)
Summary: The collection consists of 23 photographs, primarily of Native American students and schools circa 1895-1900.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Klamath Reservation was created in southern Oregon 1864; the Agency's first boarding school followed in 1873.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of 23 photographs, primarily of Native American students and schools circa 1895-1900. Several photographs are of unidentified buildings; based on the others in this collections we assume they're likely boarding schools, but this is not certain. At least 10 of the photographs can be identified as Klamath Agency schools (two dormitories, one for girls and one for boys). A number of the unidentified photographs include a listing on the back of those pictured; those names are noted here, although the faded and ornate handwriting makes it likely that many of these names, as transcribed here, are partially in error.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Alice Lewis Collection of Photographs of Native American Schools, 1895-1900 (PC 124)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is broken into two series - those recognized as Klamath, and those which are unidentified.

Acquisition Information

The Photographs of Native American Schools are identified as being donated to the Washington State University Libraries by Mrs. J.O. Lewis in 1971; nothing more is known about their provenance. Mrs. J.O. Lewis appears to be a misreading of Mrs. J.D. (Joseph Donald) Lewis; she was a Friends of the Library activist and a donor of several other collections. Mrs. J.D. Lewis is actually Alice Esther McElhinney Burford Lewis, a 1916 WSC graduate in Economics and History. This guide was updated in late 2024 to identify her by her name, not her husband's.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by University Archivist Mark O'English in April, 2009. Additional information was contributed in early 2024 by Kami Orton of Oregon Public Broadcasting, while in the process of working on a documentary on the Klamath Agency.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Klamath AgencyReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description
item
1	Class of 1897, of Klamath Boarding School
2	Klamath Boarding School. Eight native girls in "native" costume.
3	Klamath School, May 31, 1897. Male students with adults in front of signed school, Klamath Agency. The building is the boys' dormitory, which housed 64 boys this year, ages 6 to 23.
4	Boys' dormitory at Klamath Agency.
5	Female students with adults in front of girls' dormitory, Klamath Agency. This building burned down in 1927.
6	"School at Klamath where Frank and Allie taught." Girls' dormitory, Klamath Agency.
7	Six students on steps in front of girls' dormitory, Klamath Agency.
8	Man on horse in front of girls' dormitory, Klamath Agency.
9	"School at Klamath?" Nine native boys; two with baseball bats.
10	Fort Klamath - view of lake. This is not part of the school.

Series 2: Unidentified LocationsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description
item
11	8 people on two horse-drawn wagons, lakeside.
12	Native woman and child.
13	Unidentified three-story building. Not Klamath Agency.
14	Unidentified two-story building.
15	Unidentified two-story building (likely to be Klamath).
16	Unidentified two-story building with ornate cupola; same building as in item 17. Not Klamath Agency
17	16 native girls in witch costumes; same building as in item 16. Not Klamath Agency.
18	Four brick buildings behind fence with arched gate. Likely native boarding school, but not Klamath. Might be Teller Institute.
19	Teller Institute (Grand Junction, CO) band. Conductor and 27 native american band members in front of brick wall.
20	"King's Daughters pictured," April 6, 1895. 13 females. Mary Nystia, Lousie Rose, Ruth Cavathiua, Nellie Hanly, Dora Worchester, Carrie Vierrion, Gertrude Chuba, Alice May, Polly Verilta, Ita Kaslessi, Emma Natae, Maggie Mitchell, Eliza Gochna.
21	15 male students. George Washington, John Q Adams, Charles Dickens, Allan Thurman, George Hunt, James Lapaz, Albert Jones, Paul Dovezlie, Frank Pierce, Henry Notikoke, Charles Parnell, Dan Sekoogie, Edwin Letchen, Emanuel Victor, Lon Spircher.
22	11 female students, with dog. Rachel Murray, Flora Gilena, May Brown, Luartha Telvis, Ethel Katorah, Ita Vianni, Lissa Brown, Laura Gubaliyah, Amy Pitchilini, Edith Richardson, Emma Burrows.
23	10 children in costume. Roy Smith, Eddie Smith, Bonnie Smith, Fannie Montes, Joe Montes, Lottie Lofrez, Willie Upshaw, Lacy Brown, Lila Snyder, Vera Snyder.

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