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Albert Tellier photographs, 1910-1921

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Tellier, Albert (1892-1973)
Title
Albert Tellier photographs
Dates
1910-1921 (inclusive)
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
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Biographical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Christine Tellier

    photo number: 874.001

    Dates: 1910
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1
  • Description: Bazil Matt

    photo number: 874.002

    on horse

    Dates: August 1911
    Container: Box/Folder 1/2
  • Description: Cleofaus Tellier

    photo number: 874.003

    on horse; several men on horses and teepee in background

    Dates: July 1, 1913
    Container: Box/Folder 1/3
  • Description: Albert Tellier and Bazil Matt

    photo number: 874.004

    Dates: July 26, 1914
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4
  • Description: Thomas McDonald

    photo number: 874.005

    "taken in summer of 1914"

    Dates: 1914
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5
  • Description: Alfred Lasero

    photo number: 874.006

    in front of cabin doorway

    Dates: November 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6
  • Description: Cecille Tellier and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.007

    sitting in front of cabin

    Dates: November 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.008

    sitting in rockingchair, cabin entryway with doll and dog

    Dates: December 7, 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/8
  • Description: Alex Curley and Cleofaus Tellier

    photo number: 874.009

    on horse in open field

    Dates: December 10, 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/9
  • Description: Isaac Tellier and Napy

    photo number: 874.010

    Tellier with dog, Napy

    Dates: 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/10
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.011

    "feeding the chickens"

    Dates: 1918
    Container: Box/Folder 1/11
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.012

    holding a newspaper in front of cabin

    Dates: January 17, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/12
  • Description: Teresa Curley and Cecille Tellier

    photo number: 874.013

    wrapped in blankets under a tree

    Dates: February 2, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/13
  • Description: 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

    Dates: February 2, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/14
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.015

    posed with camera

    Dates: February 14, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/15
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.016

    holding camera

    Dates: March 20, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/16
  • Description: Cleofaus Tellier, Thomas McDonald, Alex Curley, Louie Curley, Mores (?) Tellier, and Isaac Tellier

    photo number: 874.017

    Left to Right: working in the garden

    Dates: June 23, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/17
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.018

    sitting in small wagon with puppy

    Dates: June 25, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/18
  • Description: Albert and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.019

    dog in background

    Dates: July 3, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/19
  • Description: Cecille Tellier and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.020

    in front of cabin doorway

    Dates: August 24, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/20
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.021

    posed with rifle

    Dates: August 24, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/21
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.022

    Dates: September 2, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/22
  • Description: Isaac Tellier and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.023

    Isaac cleaning lamp

    Dates: September 29, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/23
  • Description: Violet Tellier and her teddy bear

    photo number: 874.024

    posed with teddy bear in chair

    Dates: October 7, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/24
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.025

    Christmas Day

    Dates: December 25, 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/25
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.026

    holding camera

    Dates: 1919
    Container: Box/Folder 1/26
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.027

    (1/25-F8-clear) film exposure

    Dates: February 28, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/27
  • Description: Christine Curley, Cecille Curley, Louie Curley, and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.028

    Dates: February 29, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/28
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.029

    laughing while standing in barrel

    Dates: May 13, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/29
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.030

    in yard petting large dog, smaller dog present

    Dates: June 13, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/30
  • Description: Isador Woodcock and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.031

    sitting on ground behind horse

    Dates: June 13, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/31
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.032

    by old Rube the horse

    Dates: June 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/32
  • Description: Albert Tellier

    photo number: 874.033

    color technique

    Dates: June 27, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/33
  • Description: Albert Tellier

    photo number: 874.034

    self portrait

    Dates: October 1, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/34
  • Description: Isaac Tellier

    photo number: 874.035

    Dates: November 14, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/35
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.036

    holding doll (1/2 sec - F11)

    Dates: November 18, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/36
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.037

    color technique (1/25 - F8)

    Dates: November 30, 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/37
  • Description: Cecille Curley, Christine Curley, and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.038

    "in summer of 1920"

    Dates: 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/38
  • Description: Alfred Lasero

    photo number: 874.039

    "a uncle to Violet Tellier on Rube" (Rube is a horse)

    Dates: 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/39
  • Description: Annie Tellier, Christine Curley, Amelia Tellier, Pauline Tellier, Violet Tellier, and Cecille Curley

    photo number: 874.040

    Dates: 1920
    Container: Box/Folder 1/40
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.041

    Dates: March 23, 1921
    Container: Box/Folder 1/41
  • Description: Pete Smith's Children and Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.042

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/42
  • Description: Albert Tellier

    photo number: 874.043

    in car with four others, including Violet Tellier

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/43
  • Description: Christine Tellier and Albert Tellier

    photo number: 874.044

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/44
  • Description: Christine Tellier, Teresa Curley, and Cecille Tellier

    photo number: 874.045

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/45
  • Description: Cleofaus Tellier, Joe McClure, Alex Curley

    photo number: 874.046

    "pouring water" standing by car, deer catch tied to vehicle

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/46
  • Description: Louie Tellier

    photo number: 874.047

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/47
  • Description: Mose Tellier

    photo number: 874.048

    first name illegible

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/48
  • Description: Violet Tellier

    photo number: 874.049

    sitting in chair wearing oversized boots, puppy by her side

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/49
  • Description: Violet Tellier and her little white dog

    photo number: 874.050

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/50

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

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

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