ExhibitsUSA Exhibitions

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In Citizen's Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans, 1889–1891

Picture of a Native American in Nontraditional Clothing

Click image for slideshow

The 1880s and 1890s were decades of tremendous upheaval for many Native American tribes. Numerous Indian reservations were opened in the Oklahoma and Indian Territories during this time and large-scale efforts were made to “civilize” the native peoples by forcing them to adopt Euro-American ways. In Citizen’s Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans, 1885–1891 explores how dress—and life—changed for the Kiowa and Comanche tribes as they gradually habituated themselves to the new life forced upon them by the United States government.

The 53 photographs that comprise this exhibition, modern restrikes made from original glass negatives, were taken from 1889 to 1891 by the team of William J. Lenny and William L. Sawyers. These enterprising businessmen set up shop in Purcell, Oklahoma, one of many towns that sprang up on former Indian lands.

Some of the photographs show obvious—yet no less powerful—details of the acculturation process. Images of Native Americans in both citizen and native dress reflect the transition occurring between the tribes’ past and their radically different future. Other details are subtler; a tipi constructed of store-bought canvas rather than of animal hides, for example, reflects a significant development in the material culture of the native peoples.

The exhibition is curated by John Hernandez, Director of the Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton, Oklahoma. The extraordinary images that make up In Citizen’s Garb provide an unparalleled window on the culture imposed on Native Americans a century ago.

Rental fee:
$1,200 for 5-week display

Regional fee:
$600 for 5-week display

Exhibition content:
53 gelatin silver prints from vintage glass negatives

Curator:
John Hernandez, Director, Museum of the Great Plains, Lawton, Oklahoma

Essayists:
Joe Hays, Director, Silent Wings Museum, Lubbock, Texas, and David Miller, Ph.D., Professor of History, Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma

Organized by:
Museum of the Great Plains

Security:
Limited

Shipping:
Common Carrier

Running feet:
200

Fee includes:

Catalogs
Educational materials:

Text panels

Narrative identification labels

Programming guide

Reproducible gallery guide

Publicity packet

Press release

Registrar's packet

Full insurance

Installation instructions

Custom designed and built crates

Tour Schedule:

Sept. 1, 2006–Oct. 5, 2006, Hutchinson Art Center; Hutchinson, Kansas

Oct. 21–Nov. 30, 2006,
Tulsa Zoo; Tulsa, Oklahoma

Dec. 15, 2006–Jan. 19, 2007, No Man's Land Historical Society; Goodwell, Oklahoma

February 3–March 10, 2007, Barrington Area Historical Museum; Barrington, Illinois

March 25–April 30, 2007, Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures; Aurora, Illinois

May 15–June 20, 2007,
UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum; Las Vegas, Nevada

July 5–August 16, 2007, Eastland County Museum, Eastland, Texas

Sept. 1, 2007–Jan. 15, 2008, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum; Austin, Texas

Feb. 3, 2008–March 10, 2008, Museum of the Southwest; Midland, Texas

March 25–April 30, 2008, Roland Park Country School; Baltimore, Maryland

July 5–Aug. 16, 2008,
Old Independence Regional Museum; Batesville, Arkansas

Sept. 1–Oct. 5, 2008, Wyoming State Archives & Museum; Cheyenne, Wyoming

Oct. 21–Nov. 30, 2008, Bosque Memorial Museum; Clifton, Texas

Dec. 15, 2008–Jan. 19, 2009 Red River Historical Museum;

Sherman, Texas

Feb. 3–Mar. 10, 2009

Gale Center; South Jordan City, Utah

March 25–April 30, 2009,
Clay County Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites; Kearney, Missouri

May 15–June 20, 2009
Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum; Arkansas City, Kansas

July 5–Aug. 16, 2009
No Man's Land; Goodwell, Oklahoma

Sept. 1–Oct. 5, 2009
Watkins Community Museum of History; Lawrence, Kansas

Oct. 21–Nov. 30, 2009
Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center;
Chadron, Nebraska

Dec. 15, 2009–Jan. 19, 2010
Available date

Feb. 3–March 10, 2010
Available date

March 25–June 20 , 2010
Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 5–Aug. 16, 2010
Available date

For the most current information e-mail or call Ramona Davis or Raina Heinrich at 800-473-EUSA (3872).