Photographs of Red Cloud and Principal Chiefs of Dacotah Indians

First published in 1872, Alexander Gardner’s Photographs of Red Cloud and Principal Chiefs of Dacotah Indians stands as one of the most powerful visual chronicles of Native American leadership, diplomacy, and endurance during the 19th century.

Created during the historic visit of Oglala Lakota leader Red Cloud and other Dacotah (Dakota) chiefs to Washington, D.C., Gardner’s portraits capture the commanding presence and quiet resolve of men negotiating for their people’s future amid the growing pressures of westward expansion. With his unmatched technical skill and empathy for his subjects, Gardner presents the chiefs not as curiosities, but as dignified representatives of sovereign nations, their faces illuminated with intelligence, sorrow, and pride.

Part historical document, part artistic triumph, Photographs of Red Cloud and Principal Chiefs of Dacotah Indians preserves a moment when diplomacy, identity, and survival converged before the camera’s eye—creating an enduring record of Indigenous strength and humanity.

Complete and unabridged edition of Alexander Gardner’s 1872 photographic portfolio

Authentic portraits of Red Cloud and leading Dacotah chiefs during their Washington delegation

A cornerstone work for the study of Native American history, frontier diplomacy, and early photography

Essential for collectors of 19th-century portraiture, ethnographic studies, and Americana