Guide to the Samuel Gay Morse Native American Photographs
circa 1890-1900

Biographical Note

Samuel Gay Morse was born in Santa Cruz, California in 1859 and his family moved to Port Angeles, Washington when he was an infant. From 1892 to 1894, Morse was sheriff of Clallum County; later he served as an Indian agent for the Makah Indians at Neah Bay. The bulk of his photographs were made during this six-year period. He served as Clallum County commissioner from 1904 to 1905, then moved to Aberdeen, where he was captain of police. He next went to Mora and operated a fish cannery. In 1920, Morse returned to Port Angeles, where he operated a grocery store until his death in 1921.

Scope and Content

The collection contains photographic prints and glass plate negatives depicting Native American men and women, mostly of the Makah tribe. Both individual and group portraits are included. The photographs were made on the Washington coast between Neah Bay and Taholah in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions might exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details.

Restrictions on Access

Access to the original prints and the glass plate negatives is restricted; see the digital collection.

Processing Info

Processed by Shannon B. Lynch and Marion Brown, 2008.

Inventory

Box/Folder

Item

Date

1/1

1

Aschadaback, or Peter Brown, Chief of the Makah

1890-1900

2

Che-poo

circa 1890-1900

1/2

3

William Dick's mother

circa 1894-1900

4

Mrs. Dog

circa 1894-1900

5

Clallum Jackson seated on boat

circa 1900

Jackson's home was the village at Clallum Bay, but he later lived at Neah Bay.

6

Man known as General Jackson

circa 1894-1900

7

Mrs. Clallum Jackson wearing cap and blanket, Neah Bay

circa 1894-1900

8

Ketub or Mrs. David

circa 1898

1/3

9

Okutter with carved wooden figures

circa 1899

10

Owatta (Morse 51)

circa 1894-1900

11

Yadde bassa, a woodcarver, totem, or toy maker

circa 1890-1900

1/4

12

Yarlado

circa 1898

13

Makah man

circa 1894-1900

14

Man with downcast eyes

circa 1894-1900

15

Makah man

circa 1894-1900

1/5

16

Makah man, Neah Bay (Morse 44)

circa 1890-1900

Caption on photograph: "Flat-head Makah, Neah Bay."

17

Makah man

circa 1894-1900

18

Man wearing scarf around head

circa 1890-1900

19

Man wearing key around neck

circa 1890-1900

20

Woman weaving basket and rocking infant in cradle (Morse 40)

1902

Infant is Mrs. Colfax of Neah Bay.

21

Woman wearing scarf and earrings

circa 1890-1900

1/6

22

Woman, seated, with arms crossed

circa 1894-1900

23

Makah or Clallum couple; man is wearing sea captain's uniform

circa 1890-1900

24

Woman in fringed dress

circa 1890-1900

25a

Group of women with donkey (Morse 62)

circa 1890-1900

Front row, right to left: Ta-lo-ah, Chi-poo, Edwin Haight's mother-in-law, John Markishtum's grandmother, Edwin Haight's mother, Clako-kuk, Jennie Howe, unknown woman. Back row, right to left: Nora Barker's father's aunt, unknown, Queen Annie, Mrs. James Guy or Yarlado, Lida Colfax's great-grandmother, Ush-la-buht, three unknown women.

25b

Group of women with donkey

circa 1890-1900

Same as 24a, but reads "16 to 1".

26

Seven boys (Morse 183)

undated

Caption on photograph: "Some future citizens."

1/7

27

Quileute men with sea lions after a hunt

circa 1896

28

Fish-drying racks and smokehouse

circa 1898

29

Woman tending fish drying on racks, Neah Bay

circa 1890-1900

30

Group of Makah on the beach at Neah Bay

circa 1890-1900

Caption: Makah Indians Gambling. Neah Bay.

Subject Terms

Subjects:

Indians of North America--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Makah Indians--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Genre Headings:

Glass negatives.

Photographic prints.