John Anderson

[dickmill]

Claes Jacobson, of Stockholm, who produced two books on the photography of John Anderson, is a friend. I have Anderson photos in my collection from my ancestor, Col. L.F. Spencer, the Indian Agent at Rosebud, 1886-1890. I recently ran across two Anderson photos that neither Claes nor I have been able to explain, so I ask for the help and opinions of the members here.



The photo on the left was for sale on-line and this is the best image I could capture. On top it says, in part, "Indians of North America" and I can't make out the rest. The photo on the right was also on-line and it says, "Published for J.A. Anderson Rosebud S.D."

What is interesting is that the barn and hill on the left photo have been "Photo-Shopped" away on the right (long before PhotoShop!) What's confusing is that Anderson's name appears on the photo with the barn missing, which certainly destroys the integrity of the photo! Does anyone have any insight into this?

[Henri]

Dick,
This indeed an Anderson image of a slaughter-house at Cutmeat Creek. I have scanned this picture from the Sioux People of the Rosebud by Paul Dyck and have send it to your private mail because I can't upload photo's.
Henri

[Dietmar]

Dick,

Jacobson´s book "Rosebud Sioux - A Lakota People in Transition" is absolutely wonderful. But what about his second book? Do you have information about it?

Thanks

[dickmill]

The first Jacobson book is entirely in Swedish. The second was published in 2004 in English (a NEW book -- NOT an English translation of the older book): "Rosebud Sioux: A Lakota People in Transition." I think that's the one you may be referring to.

The first was published (in Swedish) in 1989, entitled "Rosebud Sioux: ett Folk I Forvandling" (which, I believe also is "A People in Transition"!)

Both books are self-published by Claes. The first book in Swedish is 176 pages and has, of course, many Anderson photos and quite a bit of history on John Anderson. The second book in English has additional Anderson information and Rosebud history and is 207 pages.

Claes put a lot of effort into paper selection and photo reproduction in the second. The dual page photos are amazing. The first book in Swedish is good quality, but not the same (meaning cost of printing!) as the second.

[dickmill]

Henri -- I've uploaded your photo from "Sioux of the Rosebud" here:



And here's a little better image of the Anderson postcard:



I can't explain the "edits" that were made for the postcard!

[fillupe]

The edited postcard reads better as a photograph, this type of editing was easily and often done a long time before electronic editing had ever been thought of . . .

[dickmill]

FYI -- here are Claus Jacobson's two books (Swedish book 1989, English book 2004 -- two DIFFERENT books, NOT a translation of the first!)

[iron horse]

Here is a link to the Anderson collection at the Nebraska State Historical Society nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/photos/highlite/anderson.htm. Unfortunately not many of his pictures are available in digital form.