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Glacier Studio Photographs of Niitsitapi (Blackfeet), 1890-1988

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Glacier Studio
Title
Glacier Studio Photographs of Niitsitapi (Blackfeet)
Dates
1890-1988 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.6 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 995
Summary
This collection contains print photographs and negatives that were a part of the Glacier Studio photography business in Browning, Montana. The images include portraits of individuals and photos of families, teepees, groups, ceremonies, and other aspects of Niitsitapi (Blackfeet or Blackfoot) tribal life and culture. The images were taken by T. J. Hileman from 1890 through 1945 and D. J. Schmidt from 1942 through 1988.
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.

Some images in this collection are currently restricted pending review by the Blackfeet Tribal Historic Preservation Office to ensure that sensitive content is not shared.

Languages
English, visual.
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Historical Note

Glacier Studio, a photography business in Browning, Montana, was owned by Donald Johnson "D.J." Schmidt and Clifford “Cliff” Pehrson. The studio opened around 1940 and specialized in portraits. Sometime around the time Schmidt started the studio, he acquired the glass plate negatives of renowned Glacier National Park photographer Tomar Jacob “T.J.” Hileman, making prints of Hileman’s work and selling them along with his own. Both Hileman and Schmidt took images of the Niitsitapi (Blackfeet or Blackfoot) people; their photos cover some of the same subjects at different moments in time. Schmidt sold Glacier Studio in the early 1990s.

T.J. Hileman was a prominent Montana photographer, known for his photos of Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet people. He was born in 1882 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He studied photography at the Illinois School of Photography, in Effingham, Illinois, and moved to Kalispell, Montana, in 1911, where he opened his first photography studio. In 1913, he married Alice Georgeson; they were the first couple to be wed in Glacier National Park. In 1924, Hileman was hired as the official photographer of the Great Northern Railway, tasked with taking landscape photos to encourage tourists to visit Glacier National Park. In 1926, Hileman opened photography labs in the Glacier Park Lodge and the Many Glacier Hotel, to provide tourists an opportunity to have their film developed. Hileman was passionate about photographing the Blackfeet people and took hundreds of photos, including portraits of prominent tribal leaders. Hileman died in Kalispell, Montana, in 1945.

D.J. Schmidt was born in Hazey, North Dakota, in 1911. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a World War II veteran. He moved to Browning, Montana, sometime around 1940 and worked as a photographer and co-owner of Glacier Studio, a business that included the commercial sale of photography. He ran his business alongside his wife, Kathryn Schmidt. D.J. Schmidt took many photographs of Blackfeet people, as well as of lodges (teepees) and traditions. He died in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2004.

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Content Description

This collection contains images of Blackfeet people taken by D.J. Schmidt while he lived in Browning, Montana, as well as photographs by T.J. Hileman. The images from both photographers depict portraits of tribal members, families, lodges (teepees), events, and ceremonies relating to the tribe. Most of the images were taken in and around Browning, Montana. Schmidt’s images were captured between 1940-1980, while Hileman’s were created between 1890 and 1945. Some, if not most, of the images were commercially distributed by Glacier Studio.

Hileman’s photographs in this collection are specific to his interests in the Blackfeet tribe; his professional photos of Glacier National Park are not included. There are a few images of interest taken in Washington, D. C., portraying a group of Blackfeet tribal members at the White House. There are also several photographs of notable tribal members in Glacier National Park.

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Use of the Collection

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

Glacier Studio Photographs of Niitsitapi, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into three series. Series I and II have been further divided into subseries.

Series I: D. J. Schmidt Photographs, 1940-1980, 1.6 linear feet

Subseries 1: Prints, 1940-1970, 1.0 linear feet

Subseries 2: Mounted Photographs, 1940-1978, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 3: Negatives, 1941-1980, 8 folders

Subseries 4: Index, undated, 1 folder

Series II: T. J. Hileman Photographs, 1890-1945, 1.6 linear feet

Subseries 1: Prints, 1920-1945, 1.0 linear feet

Subseries 2: Mounted Photographs, 1890-1945, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 3: Negatives, 1890-1945, 7 folders

Series III: Unattributed Photographs, undated, 0.4 linear foot

Custodial History

The contents in this collection were held by D.J. Schmidt’s son, Edward Schmidt, until they were donated to Archives and Special Collections in 2017.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ed Schmidt, 2017.

Processing Note

D.J. Schmidt's and T.J. Hileman’s original numbering systems and captions were maintained during processing.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America--Montana--History

Personal Names

  • Hileman, T. J. (Tomar Jacob), 1882-1945--Archives (creator)
  • Schmidt, D. J. (Donald Johnson), 1911-2004--Archives (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana--Photographs
  • Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana--Social life and customs
  • Browning (Mont.)--Photographs
  • Glacier National Park (Mont.)--Photographs
  • Washington (D.C.)--Photographs

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Glacier Studio (Browning, Mont.) (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Lauren Kimzey
2024

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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