Figure 1.--This cabinet portrait shows Theodore Red Eagle dressed in his summer clothing. The portrait was taken by Oscar Drum at the Parsons Gallery in Pawhuska, Oklahoma Territory. Pawhuska was in the northern area assigned to the Osage Nation. There is a pen description on the back, "Theodore Red Eagle. That is the way Indian children drill in summer". Also added on the back was "From Bruce to Paj???". The reference to drill suggests that Theodore was in a school group. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1890s.

This cabinet portrait shows Theodore Red Eagle dressed in his summer clothing. The portrait was taken by Oscar Drum at the Parsons Gallery in Pawhuska, Oklahoma Territory. Pawhuska was in the northern area assigned to the Osage Nation. Today this is Osage Couhty. The portrait was indexed number 39 in pen on the front of the card mount. Numbers like that are unusual on cabinent cards. We suspect that the photographer made portraits of a school or some other group. There is a pen description on the back, "Theodore Red Eagle. That is the way Indian children drill in summer". Also added on the back was "From Bruce to Payson", although the second name is indestinct. The reference to drill suggests that Theodore was in a school group. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1890s. The Olkahoma Territiry was organized in 1890. And as the mount style was common before 1900, the portrait was taken in the 1890s. He looks to be wearing a kind of tunic without pants. We can't tell if there is a long clothing hanging down behinf him or if it is some kind of pole. Drill was a common activity in schools during the 1890s. It was seen as both beneficial physical exercise and useful discipline.

Created: 5:32 PM 5/28/2007
Last edited: 7:36 PM 8/28/2008