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Biography |
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Began photographing Native Americans in 1895. Sold these photographs in his successful downtown Seattle studio. |
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Awarded grand prize at the National Photographic Convention for several sepia-toned images in 1899. |
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Planned to document tribes keeping native customs west of the Mississippi. |
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In 1904 began in earnest to photograph other tribes throughout the West. |
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Gained recognition and endorsement for his project from President Roosevelt as well as financial assistance from J. P. Morgan for his project. |
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His masterwork, The North American Indian, he and Morgan decided, would be a set of 20 books documenting the lifeways, mythology and ceremonies of over 80 tribes illustrated with high quality photoengravings taken from his glass plate negatives. |
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Although he had hoped to print a limited edition of 500 copies, Curtis was only able to find 222 subscribers for The North American Indian and thus printed less than 300 sets. |
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The North American Indian was "rediscovered" in the 1970s after a showing of Curtis' work at the Pierpont Morgan Library. |
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