1910 Portrayal of Native American Men

From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information

About this item

This photograph by Frances and Mary Allen was probably taken during a 1910 pageant in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The appearance of the white actors portraying Indigenous warriors is highly stereotypical and although it might not have been offensive to many White people at the time, it would have been to Indigenous people, and it is certainly considered offensive by most people today. The actors are performing an “Indian Hunt Dance.”  They wear long underwear dyed brown to simulate the organizers’ idea of Native American skin color, and long, shaggy wigs. Scenes from the pageant also appear in the 1910 Edison Company silent movie, “Ononko’s Vow.”

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Details

Item typePhotograph
PhotographerAllen, Frances and Mary
Date1910
PlaceDeerfield, Massachusetts
TopicSocial Activities, Entertainment, Recreation
Native American
EraProgressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
MaterialPaper
Process/FormatPhotography
Dimension details.01, .02, .05: 3.12 x 5.25″, border .03: 3.12 x 5.37″, no border
Catalog #1996.14.2171.01-.05
View this item in our curatorial database →
Allen, Frances and Mary, photographer. 1910 Portrayal of Native American Men. Photograph. 1910. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/1996-14-2171-01-05/. Accessed on December 5, 2024.

Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.