Arrangement and Access

Arrangement of the Photographic Prints

The Library of Congress staff organized the photographs into twenty-two groups (LOTs 12310 through 12331) primarily by geographical area and thereunder by tribal group and, when a Curtis number exists, numerically by the number Curtis assigned to the image. One LOT comprised of 11" x 14" and larger photographs was grouped together because of size and represents a number of different tribes (LOT 12331). A complete alphabetical list of tribal groups represented in the collection, followed by corresponding LOT number and corresponding North American Indian volume number is available in the Appendix found at the end of this document. It is also available in the Curtis finding aid in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room.

Automated Records for Individual Images and LOT Descriptions

Many Curtis images can be viewed in digitized form in the Prints and Photographs Division Online Catalog. The twenty-two LOTs are represented by catalog records that provide textual summaries of the contents of the group (accessible through the "Groups in High Demand" search screen). The records also provide a link that enables one to view any of the items from the LOT that have so far been cataloged online and digitized. Online searches across all categories in the online catalog for a specific tribal group (such as "Hopi" and "Cayuse") or subject (such as "ceremonies" and "baskets") will yield appropriate individual images as well as appropriate LOT descriptions.

Photographic Prints in LOTS 12310 through 12331

The original photographic prints can be viewed in the Prints and Photographs reading room by requesting one or more LOTs. The contents of each LOT (including the tribal groups represented, description summary, and number of items) are described in the online group records mentioned above. LOT descriptions and an alphabetical list of tribal groups represented in the collection are also available in the Curtis finding aid in the reading room.

The North American Indian

A reprint of the original Curtis work is housed in the Prints and Photographs Division reference book collection [LC call number: E77 C98 and E77 C98 suppl]. The first twenty volumes contain illustrations and text. Twenty supplemental sections consisting of large reproductions of the original photogravures are bound in an additional four volumes. The North American Indian volumes in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room have been marked with a LOT number and any existing Curtis file number and reproduction number when a corresponding photographic print can be found in a Curtis Collection LOT. A complete alphabetical list of tribal groups with corresponding LOT number and The North American Indian volume number is located at the beginning of each large supplemental volume.

Card Indexes in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room

The Edward S. Curtis shelflist by Curtis number is arranged by Curtis file number (by title for images without a number). Most cards note Curtis number, LOT number, title, copyright date, tribal group, geographical location, reproduction number, and description. If the image was published in The North American Indian, the volume and plate or page number are also noted. A second card index is arranged by LOT number and tribal group.