Lou French

Title: Lou French
LC Subject: Indians of North America Clothing and dress Arm Bands, Brass Infants Bags Bag, Beaded--Geometric Indian beadwork Bracelets Braids (Hairdressing) Buckskin Hats chokers Dwellings Cradleboards Cradleboard, Beaded--Floral Dress, Buckskin Hairstyles Indian women Leather garments Leggings, Women's Moccasins Moccasins, Beaded-Floral Necklaces Tipis Women Walla Walla Indians French, Lou outdoor photographs
Local Collection ID: PH036 / A82
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Alternative: Lou French, Walla Walla Indian, in costume, outside tipi, carrying cradled infant Lou French, Walla Walla Indian, in costume carrying cradled infant, outside tipi
Photographer: Moorhouse, Thomas Leander, 1850-1926
Description: A Native American woman, identified as Lou French of the Walla Walla tribe, stands to the right of a tipi, with her left side towards the photographer. She points to her left with her right arm upraised and index finger outstretched. Her costume consists of a geometically decorated hat shaped like a tuncated cone, a fringed leather dress with geometric beading, and moccasins with floral beading at the ankles. She wears a number of metal bangle bracelets and what looks like a brass arm band. In her left hand she holds the string to a geometrically-beaded rectangular bag which has circular shapes made of up joined triangles, dark shapes on light bag. Over her shoulders runs a striped band which is attached to the cradleboard she wears on her back. Although the design cannot be seen clearly in this photo, what can be seen resembles almost exactly similar photos of cradleboards with bold floral designs. Attached to the cradleboard is a dark geometrically-decorated piece of cloth or blanket which acts as a hood for the baby. All that can be seen of the baby is the right side of its head, as the rest is engulfed in the bag of the cradleboard. The tipi a few yards behind her seems to be covered with woven mats, and has several long poles on the outside as well as the inside framework. Leaning upright against it are several boards and branches. Close behind is a line of low trees or high bushes, and to the right of the photo a criss-cross of lines that might be from a fence or other structure. The woman's pose is upright and self-assured as she gestures.
Tribal Notes: An outside photograph of a woman dressed in regalia standing in a campsite. She has been identified as Lou French and unidentified child. She is standing in the back of a Tule mat tipi pointing with her right hand at something as if she was looking at something. She is wearing a beaded buckskin dress, cornhusk hat, choker, brass bracelet, legging with a floral design and beaded moccasins. She is holding a cornhusk bag in her left hand. She has a beaded leather belt around her neck to hold a cradleboard and a child on her back. The cradleboard has a floral design above the child's head. On the front outside of the cradleboard of the child is a loop necklace. The tipi is three layers high of Tule mats. On the back of the tipi are boards, poles and pieces of wood leaning on the tipi. Also there are two damaged Tule mats under the boards, poles, and wood. The tipi is next to some brush that is as tall as the tipi. In the background behind the woman and child is a corral made of poles. Writing on the photograph is under the tipi "Lou French Walla Walla Maj. Moorhouse."
Tribal Classes: Outside Photograph; People; Regalia; Campsite; Housing;
Tribal Terms: Woman; Hat, Cornhusk; Dress, Buckskin-Beaded; Bag, Cornhusk; Legging, Woman's; Moccasins; Bracelet, Brass; Choker; Belt, Leather-Beaded; Cradleboard, Beaded; Tipi; Tule Mat; Poles; Boards; Corral;
Date: 1897/1920
Identifier: PH036_4425
Rights: No Copyright - United States
Local Collection Name: Moorhouse (Major Lee) Photographs
Series Name: Series I: Glass Plate Negatives
Type: Image
Format: image/tiff
Extent: 9.92 X 7.98 inches
Set: Lee Moorhouse (1850-1926) photographs, 1888-1916 Picturing the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Tribes
Primary Set: Lee Moorhouse (1850-1926) photographs, 1888-1916
Has Version: Glass-plate negative
Institution: University of Oregon
Note: Joint Project of the University of Oregon Libraries and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Image Width: 1240 pixels
Image Height: 998 pixels
Image Resolution: 125 dpi
Color Space: 8 bit -- Grayscale -- Gray Gamma 2.2