John Gregory Bourke Photographs of Native Americans

Captain John Gregory Bourke, ca. 1890 [RG2955.PH000002]

Captain John Gregory Bourke, ca. 1893 [RG2955.PH000002]

John Gregory Bourke was born in Philadelphia in 1846. He distinguished himself at the Civil War battle of Stones River, Tennessee, in 1862 and was awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1869 he was commissioned a second lieutenant with the Third U. S. Cavalry. He served as aide-de-camp to Gen. George Crook from 1871 to 1883. Although he served during the Indian wars in the American West, Bourke gained sympathy for the Indians and he fought for their rights. The volumes of notes he’d taken during his time in the West resulted in two works, “Medicine Men of the Apache” and “Scatological Rites of all Nations.” He also collected photographs of Indians, such as these. He died in Philadelphia in 1896.

 

Explore more of Bourke’s Collection online. 

 

 

Iron Crow, ca. 1877 [RG2955.PH000003]

RG2955.PH000003

Stereoview portrait of Sioux man, Iron Crow. Photographed by Mitchell, McGowan & Company, Omaha, Nebraska, 1877.

 

Little Wolf, ca. 1877 [RG2955.PH000018]

RG2955.PH000018

Stereoview portrait of a Cheyenne man, Little Wolf. Photographed by Mitchell, McGowan & Company, Omaha, Nebraska, 1877.

 

Dove Eye, ca. 1877 [RG2955.PH000022]

RG2955.PH000022

Stereoview portrait of Spotted Tail’s daughter, Dove Eye. Photographed by Mitchell, McGowan & Company, Omaha, Nebraska, 1877.

 

Chief Little Wolfe, ca. 1877 [RG2955.PH000026]

RG2955.PH000026

Stereoview portrait of Cheyenne Chief Little Wolf, leader of the Cheyenne Outbreak, 1878-79. Photographed by Mitchell, McGowan & Company, Omaha, Nebraska, 1877.

 

 

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