Charles B. Cory collection of copy prints and copy negatives

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Topic: Indians of North America -- Florida; Seminole Indians -- Florida -- Photographs

Provenance: In 1959, Cory's heirs apparently permitted the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation to print and retain photographs from Cory's original negatives. The present location of the original negatives is unknown. Historically, the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation managed all photographic materials separately. This collection description represents current management practices of organizing and contextualizing related archival materials.

Summary: This collection contains 119 gelatin silver prints and 10 black-and-white negatives taken by Charles Barney Cory between 1877-1896. The images depict scenes of everyday life among the Seminole Indians of Florida.

Biographical/Historical note: A wealthy Bostonian, Charles B. Cory (1857-1921) began collecting ornithological specimens as a young man. Eventually he amassed a superior collection of birds of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, which he donated to Chicago's Field Museum. In 1883, he was one of forty-eight ornithologists invited to establish the American Ornithologists' Union.

Extent: 10 Acetate negatives (black and white, 5 x7 inches.); 119 Photographic prints (gelatin silver.)

Type: Collection descriptions; Archival materials; Acetate negatives; Photographic prints; Gelatin silver prints; Photographs; Black-and-white negatives

Citation: Charles B. Cory collection of copy prints and copy negatives, 1959, National Museum of the American Indian Archives, Smithsonian Institution (print or negative number).

Arrangement note: Prints: organized in folders; arranged by image number. Negatives: organized in individual sleeves; arranged by image number.

Processing Information note: Processed by Heather Shannon, Photo Archivist, 2012.

Rights: Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the archivist for further information.

Scope and Contents: The collection contains 119 gelatin silver copy prints and 10 copy negatives made in 1959 from Cory's original prints. (The original prints likely date from 1877 to 1896, and some of these appear as illustrations in Cory's 1896 book Hunting and Fishing in Florida.) The photographs primarily consist of informal, outdoor portraits of individual and groups of Seminole men, women, and children. In addition, some photographs depict villages and dwellings and people playing games, boating, and tending domestic animals.

Restrictions: Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).

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