Plains Indian Raiders

by Nye

From primary sources collected over some thirty years, both textual and photographic, Wilbur S. Nye tells the story of the military subjugation of the Plains Indians and their removal to reservations in Indian Territory. Complementing the text, which covers a segment of American history that has heretofore been told chiefly in fragments, are the superb photographs of William S. Soule. As fine a craftsman as Mathew Brady, Soule made many photographs of the aboriginal red men. These pictures, showing exactly how the Indian looked, what they wore, and how they lived, are published here in a relatively complete collection (some near duplicates are omitted) for the first time.

Genres: Native American, History

440 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1974

Reviews

[James Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. I find the awful collapse of the plains indian culture faced with the technology and power of the USA a moving story, with acts of treachery, bravery, and cruelty worthy of the epic stories of Greek tragedy, however, these, are actual history and not myth.

The photographs of these tribal participants demonstrate why they captured the imaginations of the entire world. Their nobility is written in every pose captured by the photographer.

[Damian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great pictures of Indians. The initial history is a bit too pro-US for my liking. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee provides a better history and narrative I believe.

As evidence for the bias against Indians: “her apparent beard in this picture is a flaw in the negative, but it is obvious that she is no beauty.”

[Cws]

AI 970.5