Images of Native Americans

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• Learn more about American history, American Indians, anthropology, and primary sources.

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The Bancroft Library presents Images of Native Americans, “a digital companion to an exhibit of rare books, photographs, illustrations, and other archival and manuscript materials. The panorama of images selected includes illustrations from rare books, pamphlets, journals, pulp magazines, newspapers, and ephemera in addition to selections of original photographs, including stereographs, lantern slides, and cyanotypes.The diverse scholarly treasures represented in this exhibition include materials that reflect European interpretations of Native Americans, scientific and anthropological research, United States military surveys, images of popular culture, literary and political observations, and artistic representations.The digital exhibit offers several enhancements, including additional images and text, a timeline to facilitate the viewing of materials in a chronological sequence, and a checklist of exhibit items.A special section is devoted to James Otto Lewis’ Aboriginal Portfolio, the first color plate book with images of American Indians published in the United States. The portion of the exhibit devoted to this historic volume includes an essay written by Anthony Bliss, Curator of Rare Books and Literary Manuscripts, detailing the intrigue often associated with the acquisition of rare items and an introductory essay on the publication history of this landmark work.”