Tag Archives: New Mexico

Laguna Pueblo Baker, near Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This image shows a woman baking bread using an adobe-covered stone oven. The extension to the side of the oven is likely for storing hot coals for further use.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
No. 122 — PUEBLO INDIAN WOMAN BAKING BREAD
These primitive mud or adobe ovens are still used by the Pueblo Indians. A fire is built within, then when the oven is sufficiently heated the coals are withdrawn and the bread or other food put in to bake.
— Such ovens worked by storing heat within the walls during firing, and then allowing the radiant heat to bake the food after the coals were removed. Also of note are the ladders along many of the buildings. Staircases were rare and most access to higher levels or upper stories was via such ladders.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.

Laguna Indian Pueblo, near Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This image is an artist’s rendition of the Laguna Pueblo settlement in New Mexico. The buildings are constructed of stone and covered with adobe mud.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
18 — PLAZA AND OLD CHURCH
LAGUNA INDIAN PUEBLO
Laguna is one of the very picturesque Indian Villages on Highway 66 — the Ocean to Ocean route — and situated between Albuquerque and Gallup. They have nice little farms in the fertile valley near by and raise horses, cattle, and sheep. The women make poetry of a very attractive design.
–The old church referenced above is the San Jose de Laguna mission church, seen in the image in the far background.
This postcard likely dates from the 1940s.

Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico

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This image shows several buildings and, in the far background, the church which served the Isleta Pueblo Indians.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
A-21 — ISLETA INDIAN PUEBLO,
OLD CHURCH IN DISTANCE
Isleta (Island) is one of the largest Indian Pueblos of the province of ancient Tiguex, mentioned as early as 1541. It is located 13 miles south of Albuquerque on the Rio Grande. The site of the Pueblo is one of the oldest in America, and the fortlike Church dates back to 1605-1617 and is therefore as old as any in the country.
–The church in the background is actually the San Augustin de la Isleta Mission, built in  on the ruins of the 17th century structure in around 1710. The spires on either side of the main facade are the result of a much later remodeling performed in 1923.

Navaho Sand Painting, New Mexico

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This image shows several Navajo men working on a traditional sand painting. Originally, this painting would have been made by a tribal shaman as a part of a healing ritual, rather than as a collective effort for public display.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
6–WHIRLING LOG (GOOD LUCK)
SAND PAINTING OF THE NAVAJO INDIANS
The Navajo Indians have an elaborate nine day ceremony, the Yebashi, in which a sand panting is made daily and according to their religion each one must be destroyed before sunset, otherwise it would be a very bad omen.
These are made by qualified Medicine Men in which many colors of sands are used, ground from colored rock. The”Whirling Log” sand painting is one of the very important of a group and is said to bring good fortune.
–The Yebashi is now more commonly spelled yebache, but there is no immediately available information on line about this lengthy ritual.
This image dates from the 1940s.

Isleta Pueblo Women, New Mexico

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This image shows the traditional dress of the Isleta Indians of Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. Both girls and women wore very similar attire.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
A-24 “MORNING GREETINGS”
ISLETA INDIANS, ISLETA PUEBLO
NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Most of the Isleta Indians still adhere to their customs: –Although the men are gradually giving up their native costume, the women still wear the colored native dresses, which have been worn for hundreds of years. They cover their feet with a moccasin of buckskin which terminates in a long broad strip that is wound about their leg.
–Through treaty rights, these Pueblo communities have established a considerable autonomy in government and law enforcement from the state and federal government. This particular group has also erected a casino on their lands to attract gamblers and tourists.
This image dates from the 1940s.

Navajo Family and Hogan, New Mexico

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This image shows a Navajo family in attire both traditional and more modern. The structure behind the family is a Navajo hogan, the traditional dwelling for Navajo.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
14 – NAVAJO INDIANS AT HOME
The Navajo Indians, 50,000 in number, show little influence of the advance of civilization, living by the primitive methods of their fore-fathers. Many of them live in such remote districts far from civilization that they seldom see a white man.
Their hand made blankets, of wool from the sheep raised by them are known for their unexcelled quality and design throughout the world. Their hand made jewelry is as much sought for.
–The original image was likely black and white, and the color added to increase the perceived value of the card. The yellow color is not typical of blankets and other clothes typically worn by Navajo.
This image dates from the 1940s.

Pueblo Indian Tuquoise Driller, New Mexico

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This image shows a Pueblo Indian craftsman using a hand drill to make holes in pieces of turquoise for threading on to jewelry. The spiral bands around the upper shaft of the drill allow the jeweler to spin the drill bit quickly with a minimum of additional effort.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
No. 179 PUEBLO INDIAN
TURQUOISE DRILLER
Our scene shows the primitive method of drilling turquoise, which is a semi-precious stone peculiar to the southwest and worn by all tribes of Indians of this region at the time of the Spanish invasion. Great strings of valuable stones are worn about the neck, in ears and set in various articles of hand-wrought silver jewelry.
–There are several examples of the drillers work hanging around his neck, including both necklaces of carefully matched stones and variegated stones threaded into patterns.
This postcard dates from the 1940s.

“Pretty Eyes”, Navajo Baby, New Mexico

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This image shows the traditional bundling done for newborn Navajo babies, on a device called a cradleboard. The child is identified as Be-Nah Na-Zuhn, which is translated as Pretty Eyes.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
PRETTY EYES (BE-NAH NA-ZUHN)
The Navajo Indian baby is carried in a cradle similar to this from birth until large enough to learn to creep.
Tho wrapped and bound, even in the summer, they seem quite happy and greet all strangers with a smile.
–The main danger of this kind of swaddling is the possible development of hip displasia from an inability to move the legs at the hip. The practice is still widely used, but in western countries it is modified to address this kind of potential problem.
This image is from the 1940s.

Pueblo Indian Dancer, New Mexico

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This image is of a Pueblo man dressed in a dance costume likely used in public performances. The majority of the clothing is buckskin, including the shoes, while the headdress is eagle feather, leather, horsehair, cloth and beads.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
173 – PUEBLO INDIAN DANCER IN FULL REGALIA
Beautiful, rare, beaded buckskin costumes are used by many tribes of Indians in their ceremonial dances. Most of these are valuable antiques handed down from their forefathers.
–The eagle headdress, while quite dramatic, was originally worn by plains tribes such as the Sioux and was only much later adopted by the tribes of the southwest. This image is part photo and part illustration, as it is unlikely this modern Indian would have been standing for the photo while a covered wagon just happened to be in the background, particularly in New Mexico.

Pueblo Deer Dance Rehearsal, New Mexico

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This card shows a rehearsal of the Pueblo Deer Dance as performed in the mid-20th century in New Mexico.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The caption on the back states:
50 Pueblo Indians Rehearsing For the Deer Dance
The dances of the Pueblo Indians are many and the costumes worn, rare in keeping with the ceremony. The dance of the chase represents the Indian in costume, with Buffalo Head and Bow and Arrow, others with antlers carrying a stick in each hand to appear four footed, adorned with Fox skins and Eagle Feathers.
–Additional more recent photos of the Deer Dance performances can be seen here. This card likely dates from the 1940s.