John Y. Nelson, a member of the cast of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, stands leaning against a tree behind his Sioux wife and their five children. The group is gathered in front of a teepee in a camp for the show at Erastina in Staten Island, New York. One of the children stands on a rope tied to the tree and his head is out of the frame. The smallest child lies on a blanket on the ground in the foreground. Nelson has a full gray beard and long hair. Nelson guided Brigham Young to Utah in 1847 and was a scout with William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody at Fort McPherson in 1869. He acted as interpreter in some of the Wild West Shows and also served as a stagecoach driver and cowboy in some of the acts. Nelson played the settler in the "Attack on a Settler's Cabin" act in which the settlers are saved by Cody. Nelson and his Sioux family were presented to Queen Victoria while the show toured in England in 1887.
Description
1 copy photonegative ; 12 x 16 cm. (4 3/4 x 6 1/4 in.); 1 photoprint ; 16 x 21 cm. (6 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.) on mat 18 x 23 cm. (7 x 9 in.)
Is Part Of
Salsbury collection, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
Subject
Nelson, John Young, b. 1826--Family; Wild west shows--1880-1920; Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917; Nelson, John Young, b. 1826; Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
Format-Medium
Photograph
Rights Contact Information
Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.
Reproduction Available for Purchase
Yes (digital reproduction)
Related Material
Image File: ZZR700105119
Notes
"Buffalo Bill's Wild West" typed on photoprint.; "John Nelson, Squaw man and family Given by the family of Nate Salsbury, from his collection, in 1938" and "1886 Erastina St. I." handwritten on back of photoprint.; Image also identified as "F9610."; Title supplied by cataloger.; Vintage photographic print.; R7001051193
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