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Little Robe
A wonderful and dignified photograph portrait of Little Robe (Ski-o-mah), AKA Takkeeomah, a prominent Southern Cheyenne warrior turned peace advocate. He is shown wearing a military coat with brass buttons.
Little Robe (Ski-o-mah) (c. 1828–1886) was a Cheyenne chief who first gained distinction as a young warrior, notably honored after a 1852 battle with the Pawnee. Rising to leadership around 1863, he survived the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, contrary to claims of his death, and initially waged war against settlers before becoming a key advocate for peace. He participated in the 1867 council with General Hancock and supported the Medicine Lodge Treaty. In 1868, after Black Kettle’s death at the Washita River, Little Robe met with Custer to negotiate the release of captives and eventually led the Cheyenne peace faction. A delegate to Washington, D.C., in 1871 and 1873, he met President Grant, advocating for his people's rights while refusing to send Cheyenne children to white schools. Little Robe’s life was marked by his efforts to balance resistance and diplomacy, and he died peacefully in 1886.
Jeremiah Gurney (1812–1895) was a pioneering American photographer whose work transitioned from the daguerreotype era to advancements in albumen prints and cartes de visite. Renowned for his technical skill and artistic compositions, Gurney's later career included significant contributions to the photographic documentation of Native Americans during the Hayden Geological Survey in the 1870s. His portraits of Native American leaders and individuals, produced as part of this federally sponsored exploration, combined ethnographic detail with a sensitivity to his subjects, offering a vital visual record of indigenous cultures during a time of profound change. These photographs were widely distributed and remain an important historical and artistic legacy.
Hayden Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories was led by Ferdinand V. Hayden between 1867 and 1879. It was one of four major surveys of the American West authorized by Congress in the post-Civil War era, aiming to document the region's geology, geography, and natural resources. Hayden’s work focused on the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, producing detailed maps and scientific reports that significantly contributed to westward expansion and the nation's understanding of its western territories. The survey's findings were instrumental in the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the first national park in the world. Hayden's comprehensive and visually compelling publications, including contributions from artists and photographers like Thomas Moran and William Henry Jackson, were critical in shaping public support for preserving the natural wonders of the West.
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, known to the Sioux as "man-who-picks-up-stones-running," stands among the pantheon of eminent geologists of the 19th century.
Hayden's academic career commenced at Oberlin College, and he furthered his education at Albany Medical College, where he received his M.D. in 1853. Despite his medical training, Hayden was primarily engaged in geology, a field to which he would dedicate his life's work.
Hayden commenced his geological career with a survey in the Nebraska Territory in 1856. In 1859 and 1860, he conducted further exploratory work in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado, which was then part of the Nebraska and Kansas territories. His early work in the field earned him the respect of Native American tribes, with the Sioux reportedly dubbing him "man-who-picks-up-stones-running" due to his avid and energetic collection of geological samples during his expeditions.
By the 1860s, Hayden had risen to prominence as a geologist and was appointed the United States Geologist for the Geological Survey of the Territories. This role would define his career, leading numerous surveys in the Western United States. Notably, from 1871 to 1872, Hayden led a survey into the region that would become Yellowstone National Park, and his reports significantly contributed to the establishment of Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872.
Hayden's most significant contribution to geological literature was the Geological Atlas of Colorado, published in 1877. This work was the result of comprehensive surveys conducted across Colorado, meticulously documenting the state's geography and geology. The atlas offered detailed maps on a scale previously unseen, encompassing not only Colorado but adjacent areas, including parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Hayden's influence extended to academia, as he was affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania for a period, where he held the position of professor of geology. His academic and field work combined to form a substantial body of knowledge that would be used by future scholars and explorers.
Ferdinand V. Hayden passed away on December 22, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His enduring legacy is reflected in the numerous natural features named after him, including Hayden Valley in Yellowstone and Mount Hayden in Colorado. His contributions to geology during the 19th century remain a cornerstone of American geological and geographical sciences.
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