Spotted Elk

[Californian]

and of course this one too

Feb 7, 2010 7:10:52 GMT -5 Dietmar said:

...and here are some photos of Spotted Elk, who was a delegate in Washington in 1891:



















I would agree that he looks like the same man as in the Huffman portraits.

[Californian]

and here is the one shown on the wikipedia page for Spotted Elk a.k.a. Big Foot, painting by Joseph Henry Sharp, dated 1905 and it is located at the Smithsonian American Art Museum - this is clearly the "other" Spotted Elk

[Dietmar]

Hi Californian,

all the pictures you have posted today show Richard aka Dick Spotted Elk, the son of Chief Spotted Elk (nicknamed Big Foot).

Richard Spotted Elk settled at Pine Ridge, which is the reason he is sometimes identified in delegation photos as an Oglala.


Ironically, the Oglala chief named Big Foot portraited by Alexander Gardner in 1872 until today is often confused with the Minikoju Spotted Elk (Big Foot).

[Californian]

hi Dietmar, sorry for the late answer, I was waiting for a reply from the Smithsonian. So this is a son of Spotted Elk (a.k.a. Big Foot) that was killed at Wounded Knee, thanks for clarifying. The National Anthropological Archives sent me this picture today asking for help to clarify the caption which they have as Spotted Elk. I would say it is safe to state that this is also Dick/Richard Spotted Elk, what do you think ? It was somewhat faded, I enhanced a small section of it for better viewing.

[Dietmar]

Yep, exactly. This is Richard Spotted Elk and his family. I think the photo was taken by James Mooney, I'll have to look that up.

[Diane Merkel]

Here's an excerpt from an article that mentions two items belonging to Spotted Elk were returned to the tribe:

Two of the items in the collection were of particular interest to the Mniconjou Lakota Sioux. Kaja Veilleux, owner of the gallery, with the approval of the consignor, facilitated the return of Chief Spotted Elk’s .45 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, along with his personal elk-handled knife, to the tribal elders for their collection at the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Spotted Elk participated in the Battle of Little Big Horn and was among those slaughtered at Wounded Knee. As the story goes, this knife was removed from Spotted Elk’s frozen body by a soldier after the massacre.

Link to article: www.antiquesandthearts.com/thomaston-place-sells-native-american-history/

Diane

[Californian]

approx. 1902 - currently for sale on eBay (29 July 2023) - photographer possibly the painter John Hauser en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hauser_(painter)

click onto image to enlarge

[Dietmar]

Thanks, Californian. Just in case someone is copying the picture and name from our boards... this is Richard Spotted Elk of Pine Ridge.

[calvinspottedelk]

Jun 19, 2020 22:28:30 GMT -5 Californian said:

hi Dietmar, sorry for the late answer, I was waiting for a reply from the Smithsonian. So this is a son of Spotted Elk (a.k.a. Big Foot) that was killed at Wounded Knee, thanks for clarifying. The National Anthropological Archives sent me this picture today asking for help to clarify the caption which they have as Spotted Elk. I would say it is safe to state that this is also Dick/Richard Spotted Elk, what do you think ? It was somewhat faded, I enhanced a small section of it for better viewing.

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Yes. that is Richard Dick Spotted Elk, Son of the Minneconjou Chief Spotted Elk the 1868 treaty signer (and son of Lone Horn) who was killed at Wounded Knee massacre in 1890. There is a photograph of Richard's brother John Weasel Bear in the same place. Dick Spotted was in Oglala with his wife at the time. He was, however, Minneconjou. There is a photo of him somewhere listed as a Head Minneconjou warrior. I think it was Huffman. Chief Spotted Elk was on his way to him and his family when he was killed, along with the Minneconjou and Hunkpapa people who had met up with him. There is an interview where he states he was on his way to visit his family in Ogallala. There is also an interview after Wounded Knee where he (Richard) Spotted Elk refers to the orphans in his father's band during meetings with the Oglala Bigfoot (Ste Sitanka, father of Plenty Bear and Sixfeathers) who, very sadly, continues to be confused with his father.

We have a rare Individual History Card which lists his all of his family members. Dick is not only on our family tree he is also on that card, which states that he is his son and the "Bigfoot" killed in the massacre. It has their probate #'s on it, as well.

[Californian]

thanks Calvin for your insights and clarifications. I will reach out to you separately through the "messages" option at the very top, for I recently found an unknown photograph of Dick Spotted Elk of which I can furnish you a high resolution scan.

[calvinspottedelk]

May 27, 2020 15:03:11 GMT -5 Californian said:

and here is the one shown on the wikipedia page for Spotted Elk a.k.a. Big Foot, painting by Joseph Henry Sharp, dated 1905 and it is located at the Smithsonian American Art Museum - this is clearly the "other" Spotted Elk

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That is a painting of Richard "Dick" Spotted Elk. I can't remember but I think it was done in New York. He traveled a lot. He was Chief Spotted Elk's son. He was a head Minneconjou warrior (see Hufman photos) later, he was transferred to Pine Ridge and settled there.

[calvinspottedelk]

Dec 21, 2015 9:00:12 GMT -5 kingsleybray said:

As a clue to why marriage relations can be so confusing, consider the marital history of Dick Spotted Elk's second wife, as revealed in the Army pension file documentation:

Widow of Spotted Elk, Pretty Cow, born winter 1852, of Oglala, SD.
Previous husbands: Red Shirt, 1871-1873.
White man named McBratton, 1874-1875.
Bear Lays Down, 1875-1877.
Sitting Bear, 1877-1878.
Afraid of Nothing, Yankton, 1878-1881.
Not Afraid of A Sioux, a Crow, 1884-1885.
Spotted Elk, 1886-1908.

That's seven husbands by the age of 34!

I don't think this is correct because it is not in our records and I am pretty sure she wouldn't marry a relative.
I find it strange she would marry a Crow, as well. Can you tell me where can we find the Army pension records?

[calvinspottedelk]

Jun 19, 2020 22:28:30 GMT -5 Californian said:

hi Dietmar, sorry for the late answer, I was waiting for a reply from the Smithsonian. So this is a son of Spotted Elk (a.k.a. Big Foot) that was killed at Wounded Knee, thanks for clarifying. The National Anthropological Archives sent me this picture today asking for help to clarify the caption which they have as Spotted Elk. I would say it is safe to state that this is also Dick/Richard Spotted Elk, what do you think ? It was somewhat faded, I enhanced a small section of it for better viewing.

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Yes, That is Richard "Dick" Spotted Elk.

He was a son of Chief Spotted Elk (unpan gleska) who was killed at Wounded Knee (and who the white people called Chief Bigfoot). I have his probate records.

[calvinspottedelk]

May 27, 2020 15:03:11 GMT -5 Californian said:

and here is the one shown on the wikipedia page for Spotted Elk a.k.a. Big Foot, painting by Joseph Henry Sharp, dated 1905 and it is located at the Smithsonian American Art Museum - this is clearly the "other" Spotted Elk

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View Attachment

Yes. Joseph Henry Sharp Painted several photographs of him. On the back of one of them is a funny remark to do with how he was always getting into trouble with the government but was very much admired by his people.