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Up for sale is an incredibly rare, historically significant, and completely intact archive of three original turn-of-the-century cabinet card photographs documenting the family and children of Christine Moses Kywayputs of the Nez Perce (Nimíipuu) community of Idaho.
Unlike typical anonymous or unidentified Native American images of this era, this cohesive grouping features extensive family names, exact geographic locations, and official bureaucratic notations written in period cursive on the reverse sides.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDED
1. Brother John & Sister Agnes Kywayputs
• Photographer: Van Winkle Bro's. Photo, "Extra Finish" (Kendrick, Idaho)
• Subject: The two young siblings photographed together as infants/toddlers in soft studio garments.
• Reverse Inscription: "Brother John & sister Agnes Kywayputs / children of Christine Moses Kywayputs." (Features a secondary line cleanly crossed out).
2. Nez Perce Child in Full Traditional Regalia (Hand-Tinted)
• Photographer: Van Winkle Bro's. Photo, "Extra Finish" (Kendrick, Idaho)
• Subject: A young child standing proudly on a plaid blanket, dressed in striking traditional regalia. Includes a multi-strand dentalium or bead necklace, loop earrings, a decorated vest, and a sash. The child stands beside an exceptional, elaborately floral-embroidered textile or horse trapping display. Features original, delicate hand-tinted colored details on the cheeks, clothing, and background florals.
• Reverse Inscription: "Relative, Name unknown" written in the matching elegant family cursive script.
3. Daniel Kywayputs (With Extensive Lineage Field Notes)
• Photographer: J.W. Vaughan (Kendrick, Idaho)
• Subject: A striking close-up vignette portrait of young Daniel Kywayputs wearing a heavy, dark winter collared coat.
• Reverse Inscription: Densely marked with Bureau of Indian Affairs or Allotment Probate notes tracking lineage across generations. Inscribed: "Daniel Kywayputs son of Christine Moses Kywayputs / Brother Daniel Kywayputs", along with his brother's name "Moses Kymumputs" and the historic Native allotment locality of "Ashaka" (Ahsahka, Idaho). Features a clerical notation reading "died 7-1804", which is an early index case number or refers to a July 1904 timeline.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND & PROVENANCE
The family is rooted in the Clearwater River region of Idaho, specifically around Ahsahka—a critical historic Nez Perce camp, fishing site, and allotment ground. Their mother, Christine Kywayputs (sometimes indexed under Christine Thompson), appears in regional reservation census data and historical photographic archives alongside descendants of Chief Looking Glass.
The heavy governmental and legal annotations on the back of Daniel's photo indicate this archive was utilized as physical evidence in early 20th-century Indian Bureau allotment hearings or tribal land inheritance cases to visually verify sibling lineages and heirs.
This is an incredibly rare opportunity to own a beautiful piece of American history. Collections like this do not come to market often! These photos will be packed carefully for shipment and insured for final sale amount.
Please message us with any questions!
