Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A capacity crowd jammed the Auditorium Theater to hear renowned photographer Edward S. Curtis lecture and display his photos of North American Indians. 

Curtis was from Seattle but had evidently been staying in Spokane for some time. Curtis divided his talk into the following subjects: “Dream of Ancient Red Men”; Hunkalowanipi ceremony, Indians of the Palm canyons and cactus plains; the Apache; the Hopis and their snake dance; evening in Hopi land; characteristic scenes from the Northwest plains; invocation to the buffalo; north Pacific Coast tribes; on the shores of the north Pacific; the mountain camp; the “Kutenai” of the lakes; the Pueblo or stone-house people; by the arrow; the Navajo; journey through the Canyon de Chelly; sunset in Navajo land; and the signal fire to the mountain god.

He illustrated his talk with his famous Indian portraits. Curtis also showed some film footage, and the story noted that “among the motion pictures, the snake dance of the Hopi Indians is fascinating.”

In one bit of cultural irony, Curtis was introduced by Miss Spokane, Margaret Motie, dressed in her Indian costume. The show was repeated the next night.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1941: Germany and Italy declared war on the United States; the U.S. responded in kind.