Edward Sheriff Curtis was born in Wisconsin in 1868. He moved to Seattle with his mother and siblings around 1890 and became a professional photographer. Through the decade, Curtis became a respected photographer across the United States. Edward's brother Asahel was also a well-known photographer, but they were permanently estranged after Edward claimed Asahel's work as his own.

In the early 20th century, Curtis started on what would become his life's work: documenting Native American cultures across the United States. Curtis' book was called "The North American Indian" and was published in 20 volumes over 30 years. In addition to Curtis' photographs, the project included motion picture, recorded sound, and recorded the history and culture of Native Peoples. Curtis recorded Native ceremonies and traditional ways of life, believing that Native Peoples would soon disappear.

Edward Curtis fell into financial hardship in the 1920s and was forced to give away copyright ownership of "The North American Indian" to secure funding to complete the project. He died in 1952. This portrait shows Edward Curtis at age 83.

Handwritten on mount: To Mrs Theodore Plestcheeff [sic], who for some years has been wanting my autograph for the Seattle Historical Society. The portrait was made on my Eighty Third birthday. Edward S. Curtis.
SHS category: Portraits

Caption information source: "Curtis, Edward S. (1868-1952)," by David F. Martin, HistoryLink.org Essay 8857, https://www.historylink.org/File/8857.