General James Sanno photograph collection

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sova.nmai.ac.211

Culture: Inunaina (Arapaho); Southern Inunaina (Arapaho); Hopi Pueblo; Hopi-Tewa; Diné (Navajo); Taos Pueblo; Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan); San Ildefonso Pueblo; Oglala Lakota (Oglala Sioux); Northern Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne); Hopi [Walpi]; Jicarilla Apache; Sicangu Lakota (Brulé Sioux); Kitchai Wichita; Iowa; K'apovi (Santa Clara Pueblo); Apache

Summary: This collection includes 24 photographs taken by Edward Curtis, Heyn Photograph Co., Adolph Muhr, and Frank Rinehart from 1898-1921 among Native communities in the United States and collected by James Sanno.

Biographical / Historical: James Madison Johnston Sanno (1840-1907) was born in New Hampton, New Jersey. In 1863 he graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 7th Infantry Regiment. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1869, Sanno began frontier duty at Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming. He took an active part in the American Indian Wars during the Yellowstone expedition 1876 and led his company during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Sanno also took part in the Nez Perce War. From 1890 to 1892, Sanno served in South Dakota as commander of a battalion during expeditions against the Sioux and was in charge Sitting Bull's band following their surrender. In 1896, when he took part in the deportation of Cree Indians from Montana to their reservation in Canada. He received the Medal of Honor and other commendations for his efforts to remove Native People. He was promoted to brigadier general, then retired in 1903.

Type: Collection descriptions; Archival materials; Photographic prints; Copy negatives

Citation: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); General James Sanno photograph collection, image #, NMAI.AC.211; National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.

Processing Information: Collection record written by Mattie Lewis, Archives Technician in 2025.

Rights: Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not modified in any way, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use and NMAI Archive Center's Digital Image request website.

Scope and Contents: This collection contains 26 black and white photographs ranging in size from 5x7 inches to 12x16 inches, taken by Edward Curtis, Heyn Photograph Co., Adolph Muhr, and Frank Rinehart and collected by General James Sanno. Images primarily depict individual studio portraits. Also included are pictures of Native people in everyday life. Individuals identified in the photographs include Iahla (Ban Yita), Tapa (Antelope Water), Yan-tsire (Yalm Tsedih), Chetan-luta (Red Hawk), Little Wolf, Meator, Vash Gon, Nampeyo, Mahpina Luta (Red Cloud), Tatanka Ptieela (Short Bull), Three Fingers, Nasuteas, Mosteose (Holy Rabbit), Pedro Cajete, White Buffalo, Little Chief, and Afraid of Eagle. Image numbers P13680-P13705. Negative numbers N38021-N38023

Restrictions: Access to NMAI Archives 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).

NMAI.AC.211

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv45f45f131-629c-4079-b72d-3172778516ed

NMAI.AC.211

NMAIA