In Celebration of a Gift

 The University of  Rhode Island Special Collections has on display  a volume of  a facsimile edition of  Souvenir of the North American Indians by George Catlin.given to the University Library among other institutions  in March 2004, by the Gilcrease Museum on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Roath. Souvenir of the North American Indians, 1849, contained fifty of Catlin’s watercolors accompanied by handwritten descriptions of the people and events portrayed.  In the 1940s Thomas Gilcrease, founder of the  Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa , Oklahoma ,  bought the original volume.  Thanks to benefactors Henry and Joanne Roath, who wanted to make this treasure available to scholars, students and collectors, a facsimile edition was created.

This volume will be on display along with an 1841 and 1913 edition of Catlin's North American Indians from our Rare Book collection  until May 31, 2004.

 

I-RO-QUOIS.

 One of the most numerous and powerful tribes that ever existed in the Northern regions of our country, and now one of the most completely annihilated.  This tribe occupied a vast tract of country on the River St Lawrence , between its banks and Lake Champlain ; and at times, by conquest, actually over run the whole country, from that to the shores of Lakes Erie , Huron, and Michigan . But by their continual wars with the French, English, and Indians, and dissipation and disease, they have been almost entirely annihilated. The few remnants of them have long since merged into other tribes, and been mostly lost sight of.  Of this tribe I have painted but one, Not-o-way (the thinker, Fig. 206). This was an excellent man, and was handsomely dressed for his picture. I had much conversation with, him and became very much attached to him. He seemed to be quite ignorant of the early history of his tribe, as well as of the position and condition of its few scattered remnants, who are yet in existence. He told me, however, that he had always learned that the Iroquois had conquered nearly all the world; but the Great Spirit being offended at the great slaughters by his favourite people, resolved to punish them; and he sent a dreadful disease amongst them that carried the most of them off, and all the rest that could be found, were killed by their enemies--that though he was an Iroquois, which he was proud to acknowledge to me, as I was to "make him live after he was dead "; he wished it to be generally thought, that he was a Chippeway, that he might live as long as the Great Spirit had wished it when he made him.
                                                             ---North American Indians; being letters and notes on their manners, customs, and conditions, written during eight years travel amongst the wildest tribes of Indians in North America, 1832-1839, by George Catlin. With three hundred and twenty illustrations, carefully engraved from the author's original paintings; Philadelphia, Leary, Stuart and Company, 1913, p 121-122. In Special Collections

GEORGE CATLIN (1796-1872)  

Although educated as a lawyer, George Catlin preferred canvas and brushes to law and, by 1821, had taught himself portrait painting.  Catlin enjoyed great success and, in 1824, was elected to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  His focus later shifted after witnessing a delegation of Native Americans traveling to Washington .  Catlin became determined to document the costumes, customs, and traditions of a vanishing race.   

Returning to New York in 1837, Catlin opened The Indian Gallery to critical acclaim and large audiences.  Hoping to sell his collection to the government, Catlin was disappointed by the U.S. Senate’s refusal to buy his gallery.  Apparently, Catlin’s negative message depicting the corruption of the Native Americans by white man’s civilization disturbed many individuals and Catlin’s Gallery failed to draw large crowds again in America .  Moving his collection to England , Catlin enjoyed limited success, but, in 1852, faced bankruptcy and was forced to sell his Gallery to pay creditors.  

Catlin’s emphasis on firsthand observation and experience continues to influence art today.  Catlin was greatly influential in bringing the cultural life of Western Native Americans to European eyes.

-  Biographical information gleaned from Biography Resource Center, accessed online

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