Chief Oshkosh Monument, Oshkosh, WI

Chief Oshkosh Monument, Menomonie Park, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012

Found: Chief Oshkosh Monument, Menomonie Park, Oshkosh, Wisc. by C.T. Photochrom circa 1930

Chief Oshkosh Monument (frontal view), Menomonie Park, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012

Chief Oshkosh Monument (with Rambler), Menomonie Park, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012

Little Oshkosh Park (with Chief Oshkosh Wood Carving), Menomonie Park, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012

Found: Chief Oshkosh, daguerreotype portrait, circa 1854

 from the collection of the Oshkosh Public Museum

Ever since archivist Scott Cross at the Oshkosh Public Museum showed us the gem like daguerreotype portrait of Chief Oshkosh (1795-1858) circa 1854, we've been fascinated by portrayals of the Chief. Cross authored a small volume on Chief Oshkosh titled Like a Deer Chased by the Dogs: The Life of Chief Oshkosh and did a superb job of presenting the portrait in the most riveting way when we visited the archive. The portrait can be nestled in the viewers hands and upon close scrutiny, the eyes of the Chief penetrate across time. One rainy autumn day, we made the pilgrimage to Oshkosh to find the monument to the Chief where his remains are allegedly buried as per a plaque on the ground that reads: A man of peace beloved by all. Presented by A.C. McComb. Another plaque on the monument reads:

OSHKOSH
A Chief of the Menominee Tribe of  Indians whose greaest achievement in his life was in giving to the City the name which will make it famous while one stone remains upon another.

Found: Chief Oshkosh Beer Can circa 1960s

 Chief Oshkosh was charged with the impossible task of negotiating a land deal with the U.S. Government to surrender most of his tribe's homeland while retaining some land in the new state of Wisconsin. The monument in Oshkosh, unveiled on May 25, 1925, by by Gaetano Trentanove depicts a defiant stud with rippling muscles and a triumphant stance in contrast to the daguerreotype made of the Chief the last years of his life. Lore has it that government officials plied him with western clothes (note the garb on the dag portrait), liquor, and weapons. There is a tragic yet heroic quality to the dag portrait. We find it perverse, given these anecdoates, that a beer was named for him and the eerie wood carving that marks Little Oshkosh Park has become a place where seagulls regularly landto poop.

Found: Chief Silvertongue, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: Chief Silver Tongue real photo postcard on Azo paper.
Note handwritten on back in ballpoint pen reads:
"Our guide at the Wisconsin Dells, Kilbourne, Wis. 7/15/31".

Found: Chippewa Indian Chief photographed and published by
Annabelle Gallagher Post Cards & Pub, Duluth, MN, circa 1960s.

Found: Indian Chief and Tepee, photo and published by
G. R. Brown Co., Route 5, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, circa 1960s.

Found: Chief Blow Snake in full ceremonial dress. Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Photo by Arthur Langford, Genuine Natural Color by Dexter Press circa 1950s.
Postmarked Merrill, Wis. June 30, 1955, 3 PM.

Found: Heap Big "Little Indian Chief".  Greetings from Lac du Flambeau, Wis.
Genuine Curteich Color postcard circa 1930s.
Postmarked Lac Du Flambeau, Jun 26, 1952 5 PM.

Found: Stand Rock. A trained dog leaps the chasm at Stand Rock.
Spectacular scenic formation at Wisconsn Dells.
He affords amateur photographers an unusual "shot" and is a thrill
to all visitors copyright H. H. Bennett Studio circa 1950s.

Found: Ink Stand. Lower Dells at the Wisconsin is like an old-style ink well.
The tall pine on top resembles a quill pen. Wisocnsin, Dells, Wisconsin.
Copyrighted by the H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin,
"Plastichrome" by Colorpictures, Boston, circa 1950s.

Found: The Sunrise Call at the Stand Rock Indian Ceremonial, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., is sun in the Zuni language.
The play of light on the feather headdress of the singer resembles the rising of the sun. Suitable for framing.
Copyrighted by H.H. Bennet Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis Foilex printed in W. Germany circa 1960s.

In mid-century Wisconsin Dells and elsewhere in Wisconsin, any picture was a good picture if it included an "Indian Chief". In the Dells, it was a gig involving a great amount of theater. Among the most renowned was Chief Silver Tongue (1882-1964) (a/k/a Oscar Norton), a Hopi.  He was an attorney turned singer on the vaudeville circuit who later staged an "Indian Pagent" that ran for 30 years each summer on Stand Rock in the Dells.

Found: Hiawatha Shopping Center, Menomonee Falls

Found: Hiawatha Shopping Center Center, Menomonee, Falls, Wis. photographed November 4, 1948 and
printed on Ilford IV RC Portfolio (purchased on eBay from the son of the photographer).

Found: Hiawatha Pioneer Trail. Recently established
Northwoods branch marking scenic wonders for thousands of tourists
who visit Wisconsin's Northwoods annually published by
Brown Postcard Co. Rhinelander circa 1964.
Postmarked Rhinelander, WI, September 2, 1978

Found: Hiawatha. This Indian is symbolic of all the Indians of the area
and is dedicated particularly to the braves of the Winnebagoes.
Among the most famous were Chief Decorah and his son Chief Winnesheik.
La Crosse started sa a trading post in Indian Territory.
Trail and river led to the prairie, a favorite gathering place for the Indians.
The French named it prairie La Crosse for a game they
saw the Indians playig which reminded them of their own game
of La Crosse. Riverside Park, La Crosse published by
Universal Photo Service La Crosse,
Wisconsin, Dexter Press, New York, circa 1960s

Known as a peacemaker and visionary, Hiawatha led the Onondaga or the Mohawk circa 16th century and may never have envisioned shopping centers, songs, trails and trains would be named for him. Centuries later, the American Petroleum Institute most famously concocted a scheme to mark the so-called Hiawatha Pioneer Trail traversing Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota not so much to honor Hiawatha as a way to sell more petroleum products. The trail wove through 1,500 miles of Wisconsin according to a Milwaukee Journal article dated October 10, 1967. The signs for the trail were eventually removed and a bike trail, named after the train, remains in Wisconsin, some signs turn up on eBay as oddities of a bygone era.

Found: Wisconsin Hiawatha Pioneer Trail map/booklet
and its Capitol, Northwoods, and Door branches.

Found: Hiawatha Pioneer Trail Sign, circa 1965

Found: Beautiful Indian Maidens, Eau Claire, WI

Found: Two Beautiful Indian Maidens photographed and published by
G.R. Brown Co., Rt. 5, Eau Claire, Wis circa 1950s

Found: Greetings - Eau Claire, Wisc. Winnebago Indian Maiden photographed by Arthur Langford genuine
Natural Color Made by Dexter Press with "Pray for Peace" postmark dated June 30, 1958(?)
with Thomas Jefferson two cent stamp

Found: Beauty of the Dells: An Indian maiden wading in the Rocky Island Region of the Lower Dells 
of the Wisconsin River
Photograph by John A. Trumble. Published by Dells Photo Service,
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. circa 1960s

Now part of the American kitsch landscape, the "Beautiful Indian Maiden" won't go away. These mid-century postcards fetishize the fringed suede and beaded form fitting attire, feather head dress and braids. The maiden gazes ponderously at the landscape--there to be consumed by the postcard recipient. A simple alteration of the Land O Lakes Butter box (still available at your local grocery store) turns an Indian maiden's knees into knockers (albeit hidden behind a box of butter on a tray). Directions for the alteration appear online. Land O Lakes, Inc. corporate office, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, apparently evolved from a co-op named Minnesota Co-Operative Creameries Association with "new ideas about producing butter" in sticks (rather than tubs in the early 1920s). The LOL website offers no background on the adoption of a "beautiful Indian maiden" as part of its logo. Disney's Pochahontas 1995 film further perpetuates the Indian princess in popular American culture. "Indian Maiden" wigs and "very sexy-looking" Sacajawea costumes are abundantly available on the Interwebs and the fashion world continues to include such imagery only to be reprimanded.

 

Found: Land O Lakes Sweet Cream Butter Indian Maiden altered packaging

Found: The Peace Pipe, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: THE PEACE PIPE. When white men first explored this region, they found it inhabited by several Indian tribes,
one of which was the Winnebago. A remnant of this tribe is still found in the Dells country"
copyright by H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
genuine Curteich-Chicago, C.T. American Art post card, circa 1908 (reprinted 1930s)

Found: UNITED STATES FUR FACTORY - 1 816. Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
This diorama portrays the fur factory established in Prairie du Chien in 1816 with John W. Johnson as factor
and John P. Gates as interpreter. These fur factories or stations were erected at strategic points.
Here the U.S. Government supplied a side range of goods to the Indians and received from them
furs, feathers, lead and maple sugar. Color by J. A. Fagan, Fagan Publishing Co., Madison, Wis., circa 1970.

Novel portrayals of Wisconsin Native Americans date mainly to the late 1800s to mid-20th century until a reframing of the issues at last bubbled up in the white American consciousness. Driven from their homeland of Wisconsin literally in railroad cards, many natives returned on foot to the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin that had provided sustenance for generations. The "Peace Pipe" card text above refers to the "tribes" as a "remnant....still found in the Dells Country." The diorama illustrates natives receiving a "wide range of goods" (steel tips for arrows, cooking utensils, guns) for furs, feathers, lead, and maple sugar. The 21st century observer is left knowing it was not a fair trade.

Found: Wa-ben-o-qua, She-we-ta-gis-in, Qua-bas-en-oqua, Antigo, Wis

Found: Wa-ben-o-qua, She-we-ta-gis-in, Qua-bas-en-oqua, Antigo, Wis. by A.J. Kinsbury copyright 1908.
"Dear Lena -- We are in the Northern part of Wis. Fishing is low this week, we didn't get any fish.
We expect to be back home the end of the week. Will write a letter as soon as we get home.
With love too all from Aunt and Uncle"
 Azo 7 EKD real photo postcard postmarked July 24, 1920 State Line, Wis.

We have come upon references to A.J. Kingsbury's un-politically correct portrayals of Native Americans: "Due to issues of cultural sensitivity, only 144 photographs, glass plate negatives, and postcards have been deemed appropriate by the Ojibwe and Menominee communities for display online." Still there are many that have been published in a small book titled Langlade County: Images of America by Richard Prestor and Joseph Hermolin published by Arcadia Publishing (April 2012). Would this portrait of Ojibwe or Menominee American Indians, possibly made near Antigo, be considered culturally insensitive? How'd that glistening barrel shot gun, glimmering Iron Cross (the punctum for us) and other western medals get there? Why is the central figure shrouded as if hiding? There is something haunting about the details even the text inked on to the negative so carefully--all of which seem obscure 110 odd years later. More mysteries are revealed upon close study of poses and personal construction of the subjects and pondering the text....

Found: Ready, Aim, Greetings from Crivitz, Wis.

Found: Greetings from CRIVITZ, WIS., "Ready, Aim -- but hold your fire. The deer is in the velvet and to shoot at one like him will make you a violator. Be a true sportsman an shoot only at legal game. That way we'll all have more legal game to shoot at." Vactionland Scene copyright The L. L. Cook Co.. Milwaukee, "A Genuine Kodachrome Reproduction," 1954.

Found: Silver Street at Night, Hurley, Wis., all rights reserved the L.L. Cook Co. Milwaukee. Written on back in ballpoint pen "Dear Nel: It looks better at night. Ken" posted marked Hurley, WI, May 1, 1956 5PM

On opening day of "gun hunting season" in Wisconsin, men in pickups wearing blaze orange fill the the roads heading north they populate typically tranquil rural side roads. Weeks before the season, Fleet Farm displays show off blaze orange fashions, scent elimination sprays, and products like Buck Bomb Doe-in-Estrus Aersol Fogger and Code Blue Whitetail Doe Urine. The press operators at the local printing plant used to get so distracted preparing for the hunt that we found it imperative to avoid scheduling runs in around the season. Hunter friends describe the sublime symbiosis with nature experienced while sitting for hours in a tree-stand pondering the landscape awaiting the perfect buck.  Fresh air and meditation counter the complexities of 21st century hunting -- the Chronic Wasting Disease some believed would wipe out Wisconsin's deer herd and high-tech gizmos like Stealth Cam Rogue Digital Video Scouting Cameras and GPS. The "Ready Aim" postcard illustrates the uninformed photographer's naive misunderstanding of the issues. A summertime Kodachrome portrays a hunter taking aim at a buck "in velvet" (note: didactic postcard caption above). The legendary night time post-hunt activities include tales of strippers around Manitowoc heading up north with the hunters to dance at the Boom Bay Bar in Rhinelander or on the strip in Hurley a/k/a  Sin City (note: density of bars in postcard above).  These days, liquor stores hang "welcome hunter" banners while meat market parking lots are bumper to bumper with pickups waiting to drop off their  wild game for processing.

Wayside, Millhome, WI

Wayside, Highway 57 at 32, Millhome, Wisconsin, August 2, 2012

Placid waysides appear along Wisconsin roadsides offering shade trees, picnic tables, grills and often a scenic view--in this case of the Sheboygan River. The passerby feels compelled to pull over and take a stroll in these often uninhabited places. Millhome is near Kiel in the town of Schleswig in Manitowoc County.

Found: Lingering by the Lake

Found: Lingering by the Lake "Vacationland Scene". When summer's greens give way to autumn's gold, the vacationer has many happy memories of his summer holiday. A Kodachrome Reproduction by the L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, circa 1959

Found: Greetings from Lac Du Flambeau, Wis. from color transparencies by Curteich Color (CK220), circa 1959.
Message written in fountain pen on the back: "Hi Mother-Fishing has been good. Ate 10 lbs.
 of filet for dinner the other day. Have been swimming quite a bit. Rain yesterday but sunshine
the rest of the time. Be back Friday night. Love, Alice" postmarked June 22, 1959, 5 PM

Found: Greetings from Lake Tomahawk, Wis. from color transparencies by Curteich Color (CK 220), circa 1959.

Found: Greetings from Black River Falls, Wis. Wisconsin's Jackson County, offers the finest in diversified recreation.
Scenic fishing, streams, the lakes, trails in the woods, and the resort areas call you back frequently to 
Wisconsin's vacationland by Speltz Studio, Black River Falls, Wis. made by Dexter, circa 1967.
Message written in ball point pen in Polish on the back postmarked July 19, 1967

Found: Lake Noquebay at Marinette County Park, Crivitz, Wisconsin. From a Ektachrome Transparency.
The L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, Wis. copyright 1961

Post cards became a way to learn about and vicariously experience a depicted place described by a friend in a personalized hand written message. We've found numerous mid-20th century postcards showing both individuals and groups of people absorbed by staring at the landscape while fishing, sitting, strolling or lingering. The stance is often meditative and the activities near the water are never gasoline powered.

Cedar Lake with Raft near Manawa, WI

Cedar Lake with Raft near Manawa, Wisconsin, August 4, 2012

This is our friend Cathy's sublime view of Cedar Lake. The water is crystal clear and the sacred silence is broken occasionally by motor boats and hunting rifles.

Found: Kiwanis Park, Sheboygan, WI

Found: Kiwanis Park on the Sheboygan River, Sheboygan, Wisconsin distributed by Nery Sons, Sheboygan, Wis.,
Color by R. Nery, Curteich 3-D Natural Color reproduction, circa 1966

Wooded Fox River Shore, Appleton, WI

Wooded Fox River Shore, Old Green Bay Road, Appleton, Wisconsin, August, 10, 2012

Found: Lac La Belle Moonlight, WI

Found: Lac La Belle Moonlight, Village of Lac La Belle, Wisconsin by W. F. Groose, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin,
Velox 7 real photo post card circa 1905. Postmarked Oconomowoc July 30 9.30 AM and Green Bay July 30 6 PM

Farm near Fox River, Wrightstown, WI

Farm near Fox River, County Trunk ZZ, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, June 30, 2012

Found: A View of Fox River, WI

A View of Fox River, Wisconsin, Velox 6 , EKD, Real Photo Post Card, circa 1904

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, September 5, 2010

It's not often that the Great Lakes and Midwest become haunting, poetic subject matter in a pop song. Though the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in Lake Superior, we always sang the line "Old (Lake) Michigan steams like a young man's dreams" from Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" as we biked along the shore on foggy days. There was another pop song on 45 RPM about the fog and waves of Lake Michigan and the "lonesome moaning" of the light houses in Manitowoc, two Rivers, Kewaunee, and the Two Creeks Nuclear plant called "T.R. Special" by The Nite-Cappers (performed in a Johnny Cash style). It was a favorite on the local AM radio studio in the 1970s and can sometimes be found on YouTube.

Found: Evening Scene Near Eagle River, WI

Found: Evening Scene Near Eagle River, Wisc. copyright 1909 by A.J. Kingsbury, Antigo, Wisconsin
postmarked July 23, 1910. Printed on verso: "This post card is a real photograph"

The photographer, Arthur J. Kingsbury (1876-1956), from Antigo, Wisconsin photographed scenes around northern Wisconsin in the early part of the 20th century.  A "classy new book" called Langlade County by Joe Hermolin includes his postcard photographs and we could find it only on eBay. According to researchers, Kingsbury photographed exclusively in the real photo post card format and operated a Kodak store for decades.  His photographic subjects included "local Indians" (mainly members of the Menominee and Ojibwa tribes), logging camps, the railroad, and growing tourism industry. A fire destroyed his studio in 1967 along with 60 years of photographs yet the nearby county historical society is working to preserve and disseminate his work.

Photographer Arthur J. Kingsbury of Antigo, Wisconsin travelled extensively
 in northern Wisconsin and Michigan to photograph everyday using
the real photo post card format, circa 1900

Kingsbury with Big Pat, Big George Sky and Na Wa Kwe of Lac du Flambeau
 and their wigwams  circa 1910

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, September 28, 2010, 3.75x5.75 palladium print