Native Americans
Original Caption: Eskimo dance orchestra, including drumheads made from whale stomachs, Point Barrow, Alaska. Local Identifier: 111-SC-103683; National Archives Identifier: 531119
The collections of the Still Picture Branch include several series that illustrate the experiences of Native Americans in the United States. The bulk of these images can be found in the Record Groups associated with 15 principle agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of American Ethnology, and the United States Army. Though relevant materials may be clustered in these record groups and in a small group of donated collections, related series may be found throughout Still Picture Branch holdings.
Captions provided with these images were created at or about the time each image was made. Consequently, some of the terms used may now be considered outdated, inaccurate, derogatory, disrespectful, or culturally insensitive. Spellings used may also be outdated or no longer considered accurate. NARA does not alter, edit, or modify original captions, as they are part of the historical record and reflect and document the standard language, attitudes, and biases at the time. To learn more about this topic researchers should contact the individual tribal archives, museums, or libraries. For a list, see the National Directory of Tribal Archives, Museums and Libraries.
A curated listing of digitized Still Picture holdings related to Native Americans was created in the late 1980s/early 1990s and is available online, however the images listed are only a small subset of the materials available.
Some record groups with high concentrations of records related to Native Americans along with some of the relevant series within those record groups are listed below. While some of these series are fully digitized and available online, others are only partially digitized or not yet available online. Please note that generally these images document federal activities as related to Native Americans, and therefore include images of Native Americans, Native American activities, federal officials, and the activities of federal officials. These records are in no way representative of the Native American experience as a whole.
Original Caption: Salmon drying. Aleut village, Old Harbor, Alaska. Local Identifier: 22-FA-264; National Archives Identifier: 513089
RG 22: Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Photographs in this record group consist of images of fishing, food preparation and other activities of Native Americans. A notable series in this record group is 22-FA: Albatross Cruises from the West Indies through the Strait of Magellan then to Northern California and Along the West Coast to Alaska, 1887-1893
RG 29: Records of the Census
Though images related to the Native American experience may be found in multiple series in the records of the Census, the majority of the relevant records can be found in 29-NR: Navajo Indian Enumeration
RG 30: Records of the Bureau of Public Roads
Original Caption: Pueblo Indian. Local Identifier: 30-N-36694-A; National Archives Identifier: 135797814
Photographs in this record group include a wide range of images of Native American people, activities and associated sites. It is worth noting that while most of the images depict activities within the United States, some photographs depict international locations associated with indigenous communities such as Inca ruins in Peru. A relevant series from within the Records of the Bureau of Public Roads is 30-N: Historical Photograph Files, 1896-1963
RG 48: Records of the Department of the Interior
Photographs contained within record group 48 include views of notable personalities, handicrafts and education (series 48-RS), Indian Affairs Commissioners (series 48-P), Secretaries of the Interior visiting reservations and schools as well as signing various acts pertaining to Native Americans such as the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Settlement Act in 1992 (series 48-CF) and more.
RG 56: Records of the Department of the Treasury
A notable series within the Records of the Department of the Treasury is 56-ID, Photographs of Indian Delegates, 1875, which contains portraits of representatives from the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Klamath, Modoc, Seminole and Siletz tribes, including Toby Riddle of the Modoc.
Original Caption: A Paiute drawing his bow and arrow; two others in festive costume. Local Identifier: 57-PE-4; National Archives Identifier: 517727
RG 57: Records of the U.S. Geological Survey
Photographs in record group 57 include many images taken during various surveys conducted during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Photographs of Native American people, homes, activities and culturally significant locations from throughout the United States such as the Hovenweep National Monument can be found within this record group. Notable series include
- 57-PE: Powell Survey, Joseph Wheat Album of River, Land, Ethnographic and Miscellaneous views, 1873-1874 and
- 57-GH: Photographic Albums Documenting Geological and Hydrological Survey Expeditions, 1894-1959
RG 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Record Group 75 contains, by far, the most photographs relating to Native Americans in the Still Picture Branch of the National Archives. Images in RG 75 depict many aspects of Native American life and culture in many settings and across various eras. Some of the series in RG 75 are organized by tribe and/or location and can be searched accordingly, such as in series 75-N, General Photographs of Indians, 1900-1957. Researchers can also explore over 18,000 RG 75 photographs through an engaging and easy-to-use online experience: the Bureau of Indian Affairs Photographs Finding Aid.
Original Caption: Salvadora Valensuelo, a Mission woman, making lace, Pala Mission, California. Local Identifier: 75-N-MISS-60; National Archives Identifier: 519157
RG 79: Records of the National Park Service
Although Native Americans are not the primary focus of the photographs in RG 79, the record group does contain many relevant photographs including images of tribal leaders of the Apache, Shoshoni, Pueblo, Cherokee and Navajo. Two portraits of Geronimo can be found in series 79-G, General Photographs of the National Park Service - Historic Photographs File, ca. 1880 - ca.1962. Another series of note is 79-HPS: Henry Peabody Collection, 1959-1960, which is fully digitized and available online. This series contains photographs taken between 1890 and 1935 and depicts many tribal communities including the Hopi, Pueblo and Kiowa among others.
RG 80: General Records of the Department of the Navy
The photographs in RG 80 are useful for researching Native American men and women who served in the United States Navy. 80-G: General Photographic File of the Department of the Navy
RG 83: Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Photographs in RG 83, specifically series 83-F: Photographs Relating to Farm Management Investigations, 1896-1921, document agricultural and animal husbandry practices throughout the U.S., including reservations.
Original Caption: One-Called-From-A-Distance (Midwewinind), a Chippewa from White Earth Reservation, Minnesota. Local Identifier: 106-INE-1; National Archives Identifier: 523834
RG 106: Records of the Smithsonian Institution
Photographs in RG 106 were primarily collected by the Smithsonian Institution and the Bureau of Ethnology and cover a wide range of subjects relating to Native Americans mostly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Relevant series within Record Group 106 include:
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106-FAA: Photographs of Ranch Life and Arizona Territory, 1887-1889
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106-WA and WB:Geographic Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th
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106-YX: Yellowstone Expedition of 1873, Northern Pacific Railroad Survey
RG 111: Records of the U.S. Army Signal Corps
Original Caption: Miner, Cpl. George, a Winnebago from Tomah, Wisconsin. Local Identifier: 111-SC-48488; National Archives Identifier: 530786
Photographs from RG 111 are primarily of the military activities of the U.S. Army. In some cases, photographs of individual Native Americans who served in the U.S. Army can be located in this record group. However, not all photographs are of a military nature. Many images of Native American people and activities located within this record group are unrelated to the military. Some relevant series within record group 111 include:
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111-SC: Photographs of American Military Activities, ca. 1918 - ca. 1981
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111-B: Mathew Brady Photographs of Civil War-Era Personalities and Scenes, 1921 – 1940.
RG 115: Bureau of Reclamation
Photographs in this record group, specifically series 115-L: Indian Lectures, 1899-1915, document Native American tribes of the Western United States, their customs, culture and way of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Original Caption: Navajo Indian Code Talkers Preston Toledo and Frank Toledo. Local Identifier: 127-MN-57875; National Archives Identifier: 100378007
RG 126:Records of the Office of the Territories
The photographs in RG 126 depict people and scenery from U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. Photographs of Native Americans in Alaska can be found in series 126-ARA: Views of the U.S. Government Alaska Railroad and Other Alaskan Pictures, 1915 - 1920
RG 127: Records of the United States Marine Corps
As with the records of the Army and Navy, photographs of individuals who served in the U.S. Marine Corps can sometimes be found in record group 127. Photographs of Navajo “Code-Talkers” can be found in series 127-MN: Photographs of Navajo Indian "Code-Talkers" in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1943 - 1948
RG 165: Records of the War Department and General Staffs
Original Caption: Comanche Buffalo hunters and their tepee lodges. August 1871. Local Identifier: 165-AI-15; National Archives Identifier: 533056
The photographs in record group 165, relative to Native Americans, mostly consist of individual and group portraits from the late 19th century. The following series are all fully digitized and available online.
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165-MM – Stereographs of Modoc Indians, Army Camps, and Lava Beds, 1873-1873
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165-MS – Stereographs of Modoc Indians, Army Camps, and Lava Beds, 1873-1873
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165-MH – Stereographs and Victoria Cards of Modoc Indians, Army Camps, and Lava Beds, 1873-1873
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165-AI – American Indians, 1881-1885
RG 208: Office of War Information
Original Caption: Dancers' Rock, Walpi, Arizona. Local Identifier: 391-JKH-3; National Archives Identifier: 542440
Record group 208 contains photographs of Americans, particularly during WWII, and depict images from articles and stories focused on those that served in the armed forces and that helped the war effort in a variety of ways, with some stories focusing specifically on Native Americans. Relevant series within this record group are 208-LU: Photographs Depicting “Life in the United States”, 1942-1946 and 208-N: Photographs of Allied and Axis Personalities and Activities, 1942-1945
RG 391: Records of the U.S. Regular Army Mobile Units
One notable series contained in record group 391 is 391-JKH: J.K. Hillers Prints of the Southwest, 1879 - 1879. This series contains images of Native American pueblos, and dancers in Canon de Chelley and Canon del Muerte, Arizona.
RG 330:Department of Defense
Original Caption: Native American White Eagle dancer Corey Reeder, performs a men's "hoop" dance. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DF-SD-04-12477.jpeg; National Archives Identifier: 6631873
Photographs in series 330-CFD: Combined Military Service Digital Photographic File are fully digitized and available online. Photographs include Native American service members and celebrations of Native American History Month on military bases in the United States and internationally.
RG 435: Indian Arts and Crafts Board
RG 513: Indian Health Service
RG VGT: Papers of Archivist Victor Gondos, Jr.
Series VGT-VGG: Photographs Relating to Indian Wars, 1851-1922 contains photographs and artwork depicting battles, camps, councils and portraits. This series is fully digitized and available online.
Original Caption: Photograph of an Indian Village. Local Identifier: VGT-VGG-29; National Archives Identifier: 70168741
To Request Information about Records
For further information about the photographs and graphic works held in the Still Picture unit at College Park, contact:
Mail: Still Picture Reference
Special Media Archives Services Division
National Archives at College Park
Room 5360
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
Telephone: 301-837-0561
Fax: 301-837-3621
E-Mail: stillpix@nara.gov
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