c1913 Native American Conference Wanamaker Store Philadelphia PA Photo for Sale

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c1913 Native American Conference Wanamaker Store Philadelphia PA Photo For Sale

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c1913 Native American Conference Wanamaker Store Philadelphia PA Photo:
$2500.00

In 1913, Lewis Rodman Wanamaker & his father John hosted thirty delegates to a New York City conference conceived as a fundraiser for their National American Indian Memorial.

The younger Wanamaker had been on a four year tour of reservations across the country with photographer Joseph Kossuth Dixon (which culminated in the book The Vanishing Race).Perhaps taking a cue from the popularity of Wild West Shows, Dixon requested the chiefs to wear as much ceremonial regalia as possible and even carry arcane tools as photo props to the event.

Exhaustive research shows two references to this private event held in the office, one held in archives and another available in a private gallery. Those images refer only to the men in traditional / ceremonial dress. In the key image Rodman shakes hands w/ Two Moons at center, conjuring 19thc peace treaty images.

In this companion image, clearly from the same photo shoot, the chiefs in traditional garb stay largely in their places & John Wanamaker is notably absent. Here, Lewis Rodman sits cross legged on the ground in act of solidarity with his guests - all 29, many of which wear modern / Westernized dress & cropped hair.

I can find no evidence of this rather progressive act / portrait documented online. The contrast is strong, dark even at the edges, which proves useful for details and identifications.

Unmounted 7.5 x 9.5” w/ extensive tears & chips. The damage does affect three men’s torsos at the far right edge. Ink has splashed on the office wall & there is obvious loss to the top right corner. Tears are stabilized by rice starch tape.

Exceptionally rich, possibly discovery, visual document.