RED SHIRT. c. 1882...

Description

RED SHIRT
c. 1882
Red Shirt (Ogle Luta), Oglala Lakota, by John K. Hillers, Washington, D.C. Mounted on heavy paper mat. Identification appears in the negative, at bottom.

His long hair worn loose on the right side, Red Shirt has a very high choker made of dentalium shells strung between leather spacers. His long-stemmed chief's pipe has a catlinite bowl inlaid with lead. His long tobacco bag is a premium example of Oglala beadwork.

Red Shirt was the son of Red Dog, traditional chief of the Oyuhpe band of Oglala, who had represented his people in Washington in 1870, 1872 and 1880. On the latter journey Red Shirt had accompanied his father. Here, two years later, he had succeeded to the position of Oyuhpe Head Chief. In 1887, he accompanied Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West on its initial tour of England, then Germany, Italy and France, not returning until the spring of 1890. Red Shirt was the leading chief with the show. He and his young daughter "Prairie Rose" were lionized by the British press, photographed and followed by reporters wherever they went. Queen Victoria ended 25 years of mourning for her consort, Prince Albert, to see a command performance of the spectacle at Buckingham Palace. Afterward, she requested to be introduced to one man, and it was not Buffalo Bill. Instead, the Queen of England shook the hand of Red Shirt. He lived until 1925, and is buried at Pine Ridge, S.D. Red Shirt Table, a high Plateau on the reservation, is named for him.

Dimensions: image, 12 x 15 ¾ inches; mount, 13 ¾ x 17 ½ inches

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