THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 801 



A mention of this work is considered of importance here. Such au- 

 thorities as Field and Sabin confess ignorance of its history. 

 In Field's catalogue, 1875, page 191, is the following : 

 1348. Lewis, J. O. Aboriginal portfolio. 



After giving data as to the two folios of the series which were offered, 

 Mr. Field writes : 



They have the appearance of being authentic, although no voucher or explanation 

 of the circumstances under which they were executed acccompanies the plates. 



The originals of these plates were done in colors. 



In May, 1835, Mr. J. O. Lewis, artist, published at Philadelphia the 

 first numbers of a Portfolio of colored plates of American Indians from 

 drawings made by himself. He was employed by the Indian Depart- 

 ment from 1823 to 1834 to make portraits of the Indians, which was in 

 furtherance of the plan of Hon. J. A. Barbour, Secretary of War. He 

 accompanied Governor Lewis Oass and Colonel H. L. McKenney in 

 their western tours, 1819 and 1829, and was present at the several treat- 

 ies made by these gentlemen with the Chippewas, Winnebagoes, Sioux, 

 Pottowatamies, and others. The lithographing was done in colors by 

 Lehman & Duval, No. 7 Bank Alley, Philadelphia. Mr. Lewis was at 

 the treaty with the Chippewas at Fond Du Lac in 1823, at the treaty 

 at Butte Des Morts in 1827, and in 1833 painted Black Hawk at Detroit 

 for General Cass. One of the folios contained a letter from General 

 Cass in September, 1835, to Mr. Lewis, confirming the correctness of 

 his pictures and commending him to the public. 



The sketches made by Mr. Lewis were deposited in the Indian Office, 

 War Department, at Washington, and many of them were afterwards 

 copied by C. W. King, and again by Henry Inman, for the work of 

 McKenney and Hall. 



Most of the originals were destroyed in the fire at the Smithsonian 

 Institution along with the Stanley and King collections, in 1865. 



Mne numbers of the Portfolio, containing seventy-two portraits and 

 landscapes in all. were issued, the first one dated May, 1835, and the 

 last one January, 1836. They contained no descriptive text. On the 

 back of several of the later numbers were some certificates and letters 

 of commendation. The title of this work was " The Aboriginal Port- 

 folio." Philadelphia, May, 1835. By J. O. Lewis. 



Mr. H. E. Schoolcraft writes of Mr. Lewis, March 4, 1836 : 



Mr. J. O. Lewis, of Philadelphia, furnishes me several numbers of his Indian Port- 

 folio. Few artists have had his means of observation of the aboriginal man in the 

 great panorama of the West, where he has carried his easel. 



The results are given in this work with biographical notices of the common events 

 in the live3 of the thiefs. Altogether, it is to be regarded as a valuable contribution 

 to this species of knowledge. He has painted the Indian lineaments on the spot, and 

 is entitled to patronage, not as supplying all that is desirable or practicable, perhaps, 

 but as a first and original effort. We should cherish all such efforts. Personal Me- 

 moirs, Thirty Years with the Indian Tribes. Page 531. H. R. Schoolcraft. 

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