students with their garden produce

Orville John Green

1872–1938

students with their garden produce, 1899–1904

Where object was made: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, United States

Material/technique: gelatin silver print

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 12 x 17 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 4 3/4 x 6 11/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 16 x 20 in

Credit line: Transfer from Central College, Orville John and Evaline Dryer Green Collection

Accession number: 2007.7559

Not on display

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Native Fashion

The boarding school system erased Native culture by removing children from their communities. Children were forced to cut their hair, change their names to western ones, and practice Christianity. They were punished for speaking their Native languages and subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Many schools were run like military academies and children were forced to wear uniforms and march. Boys were trained as farmers, tailors, blacksmiths, and shoemakers, while girls studied cooking, sewing, washing, and homemaking.

Separate and Not Equal: A History of Race and Education in America

Orville John, or O. J., Green served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in the United States Government Indian School Service. Between 1894 and 1918, Green and his wife Evaline lived and worked at eleven Native American boarding schools. During their time at these institutions, the Greens photographed the scenes and people around them, providing intimate views of young students and their activities. As the selection here indicates, male students were taught Western agriculture and trade skills such as tailoring, wagon making, blacksmithing, harness making, painting, and shoe making, while girls studied cooking, sewing, washing, and homemaking.

Separate and Not Equal: A History of Race and Education in America