Faces of a Nation

Charles Milton Bell is perhaps best remembered today for his extensive collection of Native American photographs, a project he embarked upon in 1873. At that time, Ferdinand V. Hayden, director of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, enlisted Bell to continue an initiative aimed at photographing Native American dignitaries visiting Washington, D.C., during a period marked by significant treaty negotiations. Visiting Bell's studio became a customary honor for cooperative chiefs, allowing their portraits to be captured for posterity. Prior to Bell's involvement, photographers such as Alexander Gardner, A. Zeno Shindler, and brothers Julius and Henry Ulke had contributed to this endeavor. Charles Milton Bell is best known today for his extensive collection of Native American photographs, a project he began in 1873. At that time, Ferdinand V. Hayden, the director of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, enlisted Bell to continue an initiative focused on photographing Native American dignitaries visiting Washington, D.C., during a significant period of treaty negotiations. Visiting Bell's studio became a customary honor for cooperative chiefs, allowing their portraits to be captured for posterity. Before Bell's involvement, photographers such as Alexander Gardner, A. Zeno Shindler, and brothers Julius and Henry Ulke had already contributed to this initiative.

When Hayden's collection of negatives was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology in 1879, Bell's expertise remained invaluable. He produced photographs that served as foundational illustrations for Garrick Mallery's significant work, "Sign Language among North American Indians," which was featured in the Bureau's first annual report for 1879-1880. Bell's portraits not only documented the faces of these Native American leaders but also played a crucial role in preserving aspects of their cultural heritage during a transformative era in American history.Charles Milton Bell is best known today for his extensive collection of Native American photographs, a project he began in 1873. At that time, Ferdinand V. Hayden, the director of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, enlisted Bell to continue an initiative focused on photographing Native American dignitaries visiting Washington, D.C., during a significant period of treaty negotiations. Visiting Bell's studio became a customary honor for cooperative chiefs, allowing their portraits to be captured for posterity. Before Bell's involvement, photographers such as Alexander Gardner, A. Zeno Shindler, and brothers Julius and Henry Ulke had already contributed to this initiative.