800 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



C. W. PEALE'S COLLECTION. 



Philadelphia, 1785-1854. 



Philadelphia being for many years the seat of government for the 

 Confederation and the nation, delegations of Indians were almost con- 

 stantly present. A building was erected for their accommodation at 

 the two corners of Fifth and Sixth streets, on Ohesnut, on the State 

 House square, before the Bevolution. Large wooden sheds were put up, 

 as seen in Peale's picture of Independence Hall, as it stood in 1778. One 

 of them was used as a place of shelter for the Indians visiting the city 

 as deputations.— (Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, vol. 3, page 220.) 



The indefatigable 0. W. Peale, whose museum was at one time in the 

 State House, began to single out and paint individual chiefs and head 

 men as far back as 1774. His museum contained one of the first, if not 

 the first, American collection of Indian curios, lay figures, and portraits. 



The advertisement of the museum (1S05-1811) contained : 



"Philadelphia museum enlarged, including the mammoth Indian figures, ^c. — The pub- 

 lic are respectfully informed that the new arrangements are at length completed. 

 The mammoth Indian figures, dresses, etc., being removed to the State House. The 

 museum contains * * * various Indian chiefs and other figures, in appropriate 

 dresses," etc. 



The collection of portraits was begun in 1779. Many Indian delega- 

 tions visited Philadelphia in colonial times and afterwards, and Mr. 

 Peale painted the members and obtained from them dresses, etc. Among 

 the portraits of chiefs was that of Brant. 



Several of the Indian portraits were sold at the final dispersion of 

 the Peale museum gallery of paintiugs by auction, at Philadelphia, Oc- 

 tober 6, 1854. 



p. t. barnum's collection. 



Barnum's American Museum, corner of Ann street and Broadway) 

 New York City, contained a valuable and interesting collection of por- 

 traits of American Indians, some by Catlin and Stanley. It was the 

 result of many years of collecting by Mr. P. T. Barnum. They were 

 destroyed by fire, along with the museum, July 13, 1865. No complete 

 catalogue of this collection is in existence. 



PRESENT COLLECTIONS, 1886. 



Almost all of the historical societies of the several States, and, in 

 some cases, the State libraries, museums, &c, now contain collections 

 of Indian portraits either in oil or photographic. Within ten years past 

 the desirability of preserving American history has become apparent, 

 and the interest in it almost general. Many gentlemen have private 

 collections as well. 



LEWIS'S INDIAN PORTFOLIO. 



The first of the Indian folios of colored plates in the United States 

 was issued by J. O. Lewis, of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1835. He preceded 

 McKenney and Hall, and his work was subsequently consolidated with 

 theirs. 



