Exhibits > Chief Washakie > Photos 1

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This photograph, c. 1865 and  by an unknown photographer, may be the earliest picture available of Chief Washakie.  He is seen with trade blanket, a pipe tomahawk (either forged iron or brass), an embroidered (possibly beaded) sash, and a scarf around his neck secured with a metal gorget/bolo (possibly an altered peace medal).  Washakie is often photographed with this kind of neckerchief & gorget, so these are probably his personal possessions.

This is a studio lithograph portrait of Washakie from the Salt Lake City studio of Charles Roscoe Savage (1832-1909) & George M. Ottinger (1833-1917).  Ottinger was a painter who hand-tinted Savage’s portraits.  Their partnership was formed in 1862 in Salt Lake City.  This picture may date to the 1860s, but certainly before 1880, as it was reproduced in George A. Crofutt's New Overland Tourist and Pacific Coast Guide (Overland Pub.,1880), p. 49.

Washakie wears moccasins, leggings, a blanket over his lap, a wide cloth bandolier, and a round medal around his neck. He holds a wide-brimmed hat and carries a pouch and powder horn around his neck. He sits on a heavily carved walnut or mahogany side chair that typified Victorian America.  His lap is covered by a striped wool trade blanket.  His pants also seem to be made from a trade blanket.

Here is the lithograph from Crofutt's New Overland Tourist and Pacific Coast Guide (Overland Pub.,1880), p. 49.

This is another early C. R. Savage photograph, c. 1862, printed on a cabinet card.  The caption incorrectly identifies them as "Ute Indians."  The photo shows Washakie sitting on the ground, along with what are probably at least one wife and either three or four children, one of whom is in a beaded cradleboard.  Washakie has on a striped shirt, side-seam moccasins, and a cloth vest.  The others all have trade blankets.  Courtesy of a private collection.

Washakie and family in front of his teepee.  William Henry Jackson took this photograph  at South Pass, 1870, where there was a large Shoshone camp.

Portrait of a seated Chief Washakie in 1870 by Charles Milton Bell (1848-1893).  Bell accompanied photographer William Henry Jackson and took this shot at South Pass.   Washakie wears a neckerchief with gorget/bolo [possibly a peace medal], a dress wool outer coat, wool pants, and holds a white hat.  His moccasins appear to be side-seamed and undecorated.