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Fred R. Meyer Photographs, circa 1905-1915

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Meyer, Fred R., 1874-1939
Title
Fred R. Meyer Photographs
Dates
circa 1905-1915 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.0 linear feet, (86 glass plate negatives)
Collection Number
Mss 894
Summary
The Fred Meyer photograph collection contains 86 glass plate negatives, almost entirely of Native Americans, which likely date from around 1910. The collection was left in Browning, Montana by the photographer Fred Meyer. Although the collection is attributed to Meyer, it is evident that some of the plates are copies from other photographers. The majority of images are currently unidentified.
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
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Biographical Note

Fred R. Meyer (1874-1939) was from Buffalo, New York. A butcher by trade, he was also known as an amateur photographer who traveled throughout the West between 1890 and 1915. According to the guide to the Fred R. Meyer photograph collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, "it has...been suggested that he was associated in some way (perhaps as a clerk) with the Indian agencies that served the Apsáalooke, Pikuni, and Numakiki reservations. He apparently also photographed in Pine Ridge in 1907 and collected objects in Wyoming and Montana."

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Content Description

This collection contains 86 glass plate negatives. The collection was apparently left by Fred Meyer with J. L. Sherburne or at the Sherburne Mercantile in Browning, Montana, possibly in 1908-1909 (though some images have later dates written on their envelopes). Although the collection is attributed to Fred Meyer, it is evident that some of the plates are copies of other photographs, and it is probable that some images were taken by other photographers. A small number of images have identification or dates written on the original negative sleeve, including identification of the subjects as Crow or Blackfoot, but it is not known who identified the images; the donor of the collection indicates the identifications may be inaccurate.

Images 894.001 through 894.028 are 5x7 plates. Images 894.029 through 894.045 are 8x10 negatives. Images 894.046 through 894.086 are smaller (usually 4x5) and many of these are or appear to be copies.

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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

Fred R. Meyer Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection was sorted by negative size and then the negatives were numbered.

Custodial History

This collection is believed to have been in the custody of the Sherburne Family until it was transferred to William E. Farr.

Acquisition Information

The collection was given by William E. Farr to the University of Montana Archives and Special Collections in December 2016, along with a collection from the Sherburne Family.

Processing Note

Glass plate negatives were rehoused in four flap envelopes during processing. Original envelopes with descriptive text were retained, although the author(s) of those descriptions is not known. Descriptive information was provided for some images by the archives in a notes field. Duplicate images were removed during processing.

Related Materials

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West each hold a collection of photographs by Fred R. Meyer.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Untitled

    horse, tipi, man with headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.001
  • Description: Untitled

    woman in beaded dress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.002
  • Description: Untitled

    young male

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.003
  • Description: Untitled

    man with robe

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.004
  • Description: Untitled

    man with fringed sleeve

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.005
  • Description: Untitled

    man with war bonnet

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.006
  • Description: Untitled

    man sitting in chair

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.007
  • Description: Untitled

    man with war bonnet

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.008
  • Description: Sioux, Two Lance, Porcupine, South Dakota, 73 years old
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.009
  • Description: Sioux, Two Lance, Porcupine, South Dakota, 73 years old
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.010
  • Description: Untitled

    burial platform

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.011
  • Description: Untitled

    man with feathered headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.012
  • Description: Sioux, Two Lance, Porcupine, South Dakota, 73 years old
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.013
  • Description: Sioux, Two Lance, Porcupine, South Dakota, 73 years old
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.014
  • Description: Untitled

    child with headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 1/894.015
  • Description: Untitled

    man in Hudson Bay coat

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.016
  • Description: Untitled

    man carrying feathered fan

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.017
  • Description: Untitled

    woman with shell earring

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.018
  • Description: Untitled

    calvary horses with flag

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.019
  • Description: Untitled

    people with horses

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.020
  • Description: Blackfoot, Little Dog Tribe
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.021
  • Description: Untitled

    woman in jacket with painted nails

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.022
  • Description: Untitled

    man with interesting headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.023
  • Description: Untitled

    family scene with tipi and cart

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.024
  • Description: Untitled

    faded, man with headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.025
  • Description: Untitled

    picture faded

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.026
  • Description: Pine Ridge

    men on horseback

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.027
  • Description: Untitled

    man with hat and hand drum

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 2/894.028
  • Description: Crow

    men in field with two tipis

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.029
  • Description: Chippewa, 103 yrs old
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.030
  • Description: Blackfoot

    Blackfoot camp

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.031
  • Description: Blackfoot

    portrait of woman with robe

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.032
  • Description: Untitled

    portrait of man with medalian

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.033
  • Description: Untitled

    man on horse

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.034
  • Description: Blackfoot, Wades-in-Water

    portrait of man with painted dots on face

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.035
  • Description: Blackfoot, Montana, Albert Mad Plume

    portrait

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.036
  • Description: Crow, Three Bears

    portrait

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.037
  • Description: Untitled

    portrait of man with big headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.038
  • Description: Blackfoot, Montana

    portrait of man

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.039
  • Description: Untitled

    portrait of man with headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.040
  • Description: Untitled

    landscape with village, numerous painted tipis on prairie

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.041
  • Description: Crow, Three Bears

    portrait of man

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.042
  • Description: Untitled

    portrait of young woman

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.043
  • Description: Blackfoot, Chief Little Plume (Wolf Plume)

    portrait

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.044
  • Description: Untitled

    man with hand drum

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 3/894.045
  • Description: Untitled

    braided hair?

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.046
  • Description: Untitled

    studio portrait of people (copy of photo)

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.047
  • Description: BAE photo [Bureau of American Ethnology]

    portrait of man with breastplate

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.048
  • Description: BAE Photo [Bureau of American Ethnology]

    portrait of man

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.049
  • Description: Untitled

    portrait of young man

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.050
  • Description: Untitled

    line of people in the distance on the prairie

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.051
  • Description: Untitled

    oration by chief?

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.052
  • Description: Red Cloud

    portrait

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.053
  • Description: Untitled

    totem pole? (clearly a copy negative)

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.054
  • Description: Untitled

    circle of men with their backs to camera. some wear western hats

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.055
  • Description: Untitled

    line of riders on prairie. Some in headdresses

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.056
  • Description: Untitled

    line of riders on prairie. Some in headdresses

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.057
  • Description: Flat Head's Sweat House

    man seated near structure

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.058
  • Description: Untitled

    line of riders

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.059
  • Description: Untitled

    line of riders. Negative envelope is dated 1913.

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.060
  • Description: Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Dakota

    reproduction of cartes de visite from Spenser studio in Chicago

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.061
  • Description: Untitled

    chief orating (?)

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.062
  • Description: Untitled

    group of men and women in a circle

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.063
  • Description: Untitled

    sky and a cross (?)

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.064
  • Description: Untitled

    man sitting in front of a picket fence. buildings in background

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 4/894.065
  • Description: Untitled

    two men in front of picket fence

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.066
  • Description: Fred Meyer with other whites

    three white men standing on prairie. Tipis in background

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.067
  • Description: Fred Meyer (?)

    in front of tipi

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.068
  • Description: Blackfoot parade, 1913

    line of riders. Tipis in background

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.069
  • Description: Jack Big Moon and Fred Meyer
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.070
  • Description: Untitled

    person seated

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.071
  • Description: Untitled

    looks like a big meeting in a shelter

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.072
  • Description: Untitled

    group of tipis with horses in front

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.073
  • Description: Little Bear, 1913
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.074
  • Description: Blackfoot parade, 1913
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.075
  • Description: Untitled

    People sitting on ground. In far background are tents. In very far background is a butte.

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.076
  • Description: Untitled

    large group of riders

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.077
  • Description: Untitled

    people in a line. Tipis and wagons in background. Looks like a ceremony

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.078
  • Description: Untitled

    young woman, seated, in elk tooth dress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.079
  • Description: Untitled

    line of tipis, tents and wagons

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.080
  • Description: Little Bear, Cree
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.081
  • Description: Curly Bear
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.082
  • Description: Blackfoot Parade, 1913
    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.083
  • Description: Untitled

    line of people walking. Mountains in background

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.084
  • Description: Untitled

    man with feathered headdress

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.085
  • Description: Untitled

    looks like a big meeting in a shelter (same as image 894.072)

    Dates: circa 1905-1915
    Container: Box image 5/894.086

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America--Montana--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Meyer, Fred R., 1874-1939--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Donna McCrea and Katherine Weist
2017

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

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