Native American culture is rich with magical customs and captures the spirit of living free, but during the 20th century it was quickly vanishing. Because of this, Edward Sheriff Curtis dedicated decades of his life to capturing and recording the lifestyle of indigenous tribes in North America and his extensive work includes some of the most captivating photos from that era.

In 1906, wealthy financier and banker J.P. Morgan provided Curtis with $75,000 to produce a series on Native Americans. Together they produced a 20-volume series, called The North American Indian. Edward spent more than 20 years traveling across the continent and made over 40,000 images of over 80 tribes. He also recorded songs and language, transcribed oral stories and biographies.

Curtis’ methods to record the disappearing way of life were later criticized by some anthropologists. He occasionally posed individuals from unrelated tribes in the same clothing, removed them from natural settings and used overly romantic ones, and so on. Nonetheless, his work still features a lot of authenticity and is regarded as one of the biggest Native American research.

More info: edwardcurtis.com (h/t: mashable)

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#1 A Klamath Chief Stands On A Hill Above Crater Lake, Oregon, 1923

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#2 An Apsaroke Man On Horseback, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#3 A Jicarrilla Girl, C. 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#4 A Group Of Navajo In The Canyon De Chelly, Arizona, 1904

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#5 An Apsaroke Mother And Child, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#6 Sioux Chiefs, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#7 A Tewa Girl, 1906

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#8 Piegan Tepees, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#9 Hollow Horn Bear, A Brulé Man, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#10 Mohave Woman, 1903

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#11 Apache Girl And Papoose, 1903

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#12 A Kwakiutl Wedding Party Arrives In Canoes, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#13 Nakoaktok Dancers Wear Hamatsa Masks In A Ritual, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#14 Eskadi, Of The Apache Tribe, 1903

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#15 A Kwakiutl Shaman Performs A Religious Ritual, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#16 Apache Woman, 1906

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#17 A Smoky Day At The Sugar Bowl, 1923

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#18 A Qagyuhl Man Dressed As A Bear, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#19 Walpi Maidens, 1906

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#20 A Qahatika Girl, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#21 Navajo Man, 1904

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#22 Crow Encampment With Tipis, Tents, Wagons, Horses And Men As Seen From The Distant Shore Of The River, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#23 Navajos, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#24 A Qagyuhl Woman Wears A Fringed Chilkat Blanket And A Mask Representing A Deceased Relative Who Had Been A Shaman, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#25 Piegan Girls Gather Goldenrod, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#26 A Koskimo Man Dressed As Hami (“dangerous Thing”) During A Numhlim Ceremony, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#27 A Hidatsa Man With A Captured Eagle, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#28 Medicine Crow, Of The Apsaroke Tribe, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#29 Hakalahl, A Nakoaktok Chief, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#30 Indian Woman Holding Rushes, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#31 A Young Member Of The Apache Tribe, C. 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#32 A Wishran Girl, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#33 Apsaroke Man Wearing Medicine Hawk Headdress, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#34 A Kwakiutl Man Wearing A Mask Depicting A Man Transforming Into A Loon, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#35 A Kwakiutl Gatherer Hunts Abalones In Washington, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#36 A Hupa Spear Fisherman Watches For Salmon, 1923

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#37 Kwakiutl People In Canoes In British Columbia, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#38 Ron Breast, A Piegan Man, 1900

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#39 A Cahuilla Woman, 1924

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#40 A Kwakiutl Chief’s Daughter, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#41 Members Of The Qagyuhl Tribe Dance To Restore An Eclipsed Moon, C. 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#42 Qagyuhl Dancers, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#43 Iahla, Also Known As “willow,” Of The Taos Pueblo, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#44 Luzi, Of The Papago Tribe, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#45 A Kutenai Duck Hunter, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#46 Kwakiutl People In Canoes In British Columbia, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#47 A Hupa Woman, 1923

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#48 A Mariposa Man On The Tule River Reservation, 1924

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#49 A Maricopa Woman, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#50 A Cahuilla Child, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#51 Spearing Salmon, 1923

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#52 A Qagyuhl Dancer Dressed As Paqusilahl (“man Of The Ground Embodiment”), 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#53 Nayenezgani, A Navajo Man, 1904

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#54 The Hopi Maiden, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#55 A Zuni Woman, 1903

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#56 A Papago Woman, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#57 Hopi Bridal Costume, 1900

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#58 Vash Gon, A Jicarrilla Man, C. 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#59 A Maricopa Woman With Arrow-brush Stalks, 1907

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#60 Nesjaja Hatali, Navajo Medicine Man, 1904

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#61 At The Old Well Of Acoma, 1904

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#62 Two Dakota Men Playing Hand Drums Outside Of A Tipi, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#63 A Kwakiutl Shaman, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#64 A Dancer Kisses The Grandfather, 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#65 An Apache Woman Reaps Grain, C. 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#66 Skokomish Couple Outside House Made Of Reed Mats, One Seated Beside Canoe That Has Been Pulled Onto The Riverbank, The Other Standing Holding A Paddle, 1913

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#67 A Sioux Hunter, 1905

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#68 Group Of Arikara Women. 1908

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#69 Piegan Chiefs, 1900

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#70 Mowakiu, A Tsawatenok Man, 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#71 Mnainak, A Yakima Chief, 1910

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

#72 A Kwakiutl Person Dressed As A Forest Spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, (“bringer Of Confusion”), 1914

© Photo: Edward S. Curtis

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