Exhibits > Traditional Art >
Introduction
Traditional Art of the Northern
Arapahoe and Eastern Shoshone
of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming |
|
Introduction
 These
Northern Arapaho artifacts and the Eastern Shoshone painted hide
were given as gifts to Royal H. Balcom, warden of St. Michael's
Mission at Ethete, Wyoming, between the years 1917 and 1925. The
twenty-six items, including the beaded bags, parfleche containers,
 pipes,
horn spoons, breastplates, and flute, are the work of the Northern
Arapaho of the Wind River Reservation in northwestern Wyoming. The
painted elk hide was made by Charles Washakie, son of the famous
Shoshone leader Chief Washakie. Royal Balcom inventoried the collection
in the 1920s.
Royal and Carolyn (Cottle) Balcom, his wife whom he had met at
St. Michael’s Mission, moved to California in 1927. The Balcoms
lived in Santa Barbara from 1932-1943. Royal died at the age of
63 in June of 1943. Carolyn died in 1946. Mrs. Balcom divided up
the collection in 1943 among their three daughters, Elisabeth, Margaret,
and Barbara. The Western Heritage Center’s part of the collection
comes through Elisabeth.
On the death of Elisabeth (Balcom) Dunn in 1998, her husband, Cecil
L. Dunn, donated the collection to the Western Heritage Center.
Royal H. Balcom’s original descriptions are given for each
item displayed.
Thanks to the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone artisans who
used traditional materials, unique designs and colors to create
the beautiful beadwork, quill work, stone cutting, and wood carving
seen in this on-line presentation. Thanks to the Cecil and Elisabeth
(Balcom) Dunn for the donation to the Western Heritage Center. Thanks
to the Wind River Historical Center and the Lucius Burch Center
for Western Tradition for funding this on-line exhibit.
|
