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Post by rodthomas on May 10, 2014 11:55:58 GMT -5
Good morning everyone and hope all is well. After a far too long period of time I am now "full time" on completing the White Swan biography. Final research trips to Cody and Crow Agency this coming fall will hopefully help tie up some loose ends. The Dyck White Swan painting is now on public display and can be used in the biography. Given the "use fees" we should have all his known artwork, almost thirty photographs, as well all the portraits/drawings/sketches I've been able to locate. Bill Holm, Forrest Fenn, Bud Lake, and others have been incredibly sharing of their resources and knowledge. Those "loose ends" include historically situating the "attacking a US soldier" vignette, who painted the "pursuing two enemies" vignette on the Dyck muslin, and the progeny stories. "Conclusively" I hope. The provenances of some of the artwork are in some cases stories themselves.
For starters, White Swan was disembarked from the Far West before it started to Fort Abraham Lincoln with the wounded soldiers. Several witnesses and ship logs attest to this. He did not go to any hospital in 1876. In fact, he was discharged in September 1876 from the Seventh Infantry and re-enlisted in November 1876 as a scout for the Second Infantry! All the while in Montana.
More to follow and please enjoy a grand day!
Regards, Rod Thomas...
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Post by rodthomas on Nov 5, 2011 12:45:48 GMT -5
Shan, good morning...I've lost your email address somehow. Would you please email me at my Susney address? Thanks...
Hope the art show went well!
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 22, 2011 11:34:53 GMT -5
I spent a few hours listening to her interview and it was like she was right next to me. I wish there were more and that I had had an opportunity to listen to her in person. Wonderful lady.
Hope all is well and please have a great day.
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 20, 2011 15:34:14 GMT -5
LaDonna, thanks...I received the transcript of her interview with the staff at the SHSND and she related the same story. She also said he had arthritis in his hands and they were not frostbit nor wounded in battle.
Thank you and please have a great day...
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 20, 2011 15:24:58 GMT -5
Shan, thanks. According to the provenance information at the Museum the answer is yes. Maffet had different men draw in the book. I've not studied the drawings other than the ones indicated as possible LBH but no others. I believe, without the in-depth analysis needed to really conclude, that some were done by Wooden Leg. Once I'm done with White Swan research and others, I intend to spend some time with this ledger book. But for now, several different artists absolutely.
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 7, 2011 11:04:23 GMT -5
Shan, thanks...the publication of the "Maffet Ledger" by the Metropolitan Museum of Art provides most of the ones in discussion. There were three "tipi liners" that were sent but already published in Mauer's "Visions of the People" and one other book I can't remember at the moment. I was asked to help with analyzing a hide painting and not only was it not about the LBH it was also a fake. Once I get the White Swan bio off to press I'll try to get an article or two done about them and any others that come our way.
I don't have the link handy for the Maffet Ledger but a quick Bing should bring it right up.
Hope this helps and please have a great day!
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 6, 2011 10:28:36 GMT -5
Uh...make that Pennsylvania...first day back to work...Cheers!
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Post by rodthomas on Sept 6, 2011 10:25:23 GMT -5
Dietmar, thanks and look forward to these discussions. Some of the Bad Heart Bull images are in the "public domain" so if any one would like that list I'll be more than happy to post. What this means according to the laws of the land is that while one must pay a "reproducible image fee" the "use fee" may be waived. Well, that's the theory anyway.
I hope we get some discussion on this and the other drawings showing the fights with the Arikara and Crow scouts. I'm redoing my description of them for the White Swan biography and can always use a fresh perspective.
Shan, thanks and great question. Yes, about 20 some images have been sent to me most of which were not of the battle. There are five which more than likely are. This was one of the goals of the book was to help locate more art (any art) and especially art of the LBH. We are fairly certain of the artist and just need the time to place the vignettes with narrative.
One of the fun things in doing the book was tracking down rumors of artwork. It's how we found the White Swan painting in Arkansas and the Bad Heart Bull muslin painting in Pennslyvania. We have a few more "rumors" to check out now as well. The five mentioned above are in fact in a ledger collection whose rumored existence I was not able to confirm before the book was out. Six months later - viola!
Thanks again and everyone please have a great day!
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Aug 18, 2011 16:13:09 GMT -5
Carlo, thanks and double thanks for purchasing the book. Thanks for also posting the link on Red Hawk. Now that I'm "retired" one of my projects to go through this site and learn! Great stuff and information will make futher research more meaningful.
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Aug 17, 2011 13:30:58 GMT -5
Carlo, here is the Heard image from the Red Hawk ledger. Joyce Szabo first identified it as by Red Hawk. Regards, Rod... Attachments:
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Post by rodthomas on Aug 17, 2011 13:28:18 GMT -5
Carlo, thanks...I've included the Red Hawk chapter from Rubbing Out Long Hair for information. Since publication several folks have posited this drawing is or is not about the LBH. Even split. I'm keeping it in the LBH "pile" for now if only to encourage further research. Please cite "Red Hawk", Rubbing Out Long Hair: The American Indian Story of the Little Big Horn in Art and Word, Elk Plain Press, 2009, pages 125-126. I've not been able to find more than one person named Wasicun Sapa (Black Wasicu or Black White Man) identified in any literature other than Black Elk's cousin. Kicking Bear's painting identifies a "Black White Man" dying on the western slopes of the last stand area. I have no idea why the Miniconjou affiliation when everything suggests Oglala. John Doerner, the Chief Historian at the National Monument is now retired and I've not been able to talk with him lately. I've only got a low resolution image of the Red Hawk at the Heard. My research schedule is such that I'll probably start on these in earnest next year (got to get White Swan done!) but at least you'll have this to start. I'll send it in a follow on email. Regards, Rod... Attachments:
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Post by rodthomas on Aug 17, 2011 11:29:19 GMT -5
captfox, welcome. I am writing a biography of White Swan and you may contact me directly if you wish additional help with your article. The Bradley article is somewhat outdated but is a great place to start. My chapter on White Swan in my book, Rubbing Out Long Hair, deals with the Little Big Horn vignettes only.
The muslin painting in the Denver Art Museum contains six vignettes ALL of which occured at the Little Big Horn. Only one other painting, the one I found at the University of Arkansas Library, deals with only the Little Big Horn events. The Arkansas painting had been mis-attributed for a century to a Lakota warrior. As I noted in my book, it took about two years of work with the University to correctly identify White Swan as the artist.
You, and anyone else interested, may contact me directly at roddotthomasatsusneydotcom.
Again welcome and best wishes for your article...Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Aug 16, 2011 14:18:40 GMT -5
Carlo, here is a clearer image of the Red Hawk drawing. Regards, Rod... Attachments:
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Post by rodthomas on Apr 22, 2011 13:09:30 GMT -5
Jinlian, good morning...did you find the document you noted above with all the collected WS information and photos? If so, do you mind sharing?
Thanks and have a great weekend...
Regards, Rod...
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Post by rodthomas on Apr 22, 2011 13:05:48 GMT -5
Ladies, good morning...I responded to your email last week and just checking here to make sure it was received at the addresses on that correspondence. Hope all is well and please have a great weekend...
Regards, Rod Thomas...
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