West campus news Releases Archive

Historic photographic images debut Nov. 1 at ASU's West campus

Oct. 20, 2005

Franciscan photographer's images show American Indian life in early 1900s

A rare collection of historically significant photographs will be displayed for the first time Nov. 1 at Arizona State University’s West campus. “The Schwemberger Photographs: An acquisition from the Franciscan Southwest Mission” is a collection of more than 100 compelling images of American Indian peoples, homes and landscapes dating back to 1902. The showing is produced by the department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Performances in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

The month-long exhibit will be on display in the IAP Art Gallery, University Center Building, and in the Fletcher Library at ASU’s West campus, 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. The exhibit includes more than 100 large, black-and-white photographs created from rare 5-by-7-inch glass plate negatives. An opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8. Additionally, Miranda Jensen Haskie, a Diné (Navajo) and faculty member at Diné College, will present a public lecture on using Navajo principles to preserve a culture. The lecture is at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Kiva Lecture Hall on campus.

The exhibit features images taken by Brother Simeon Schwemberger while he lived at St. Michaels Mission near Window Rock, Ariz. in the early 1900s. Schwemberger traveled the Navajo and Hopi reservations, photographing images of American Indian peoples, ancient pueblos and the rugged landscapes of New Mexico. He produced the images using glass plate negatives, considered state-of-the-art technology at that time. Earlier this year, St. Michaels Mission deeded some 1,750 of Schwemberger’s fragile glass plates to ASU.

“The Schwemberger collection is enormously valuable artistically, culturally and historically,” said Rob Taylor, chair of the department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance. “The images will prove to be a tremendous resource as we study and explore the cultures of the American Southwest.”

Schwemberger’s glass plates were housed at St. Michaels Mission for more than 60 years before they were cleaned, restored and identified. A small number of the photographs were released and published in 1992 in a book chronicling the life of Schwemberger, “Big Eyes: The Southwestern Photographs of Simeon Schwemberger, 1902-1908,” written by Paul Long. Other than this limited edition release, the plates have remained hidden from the public.

“Brother Simeon was a pioneer photographer,” said Gary Johnson, a photographer and faculty associate at ASU’s West campus. “His haunting images captured the visual essence and way of life of the Navajo and Pueblo tribes of the Four Corners region of the American Southwest at the turn of the 20th century.”

Schwemberger grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to northern Arizona in his late teens to become a brother at the Catholic mission. According to reports, he tired of the domestic routine and began to experiment with the art of photography. Schwemberger was able to move freely among the reservations and developed close relationships with many tribal leaders. These relationships provided him virtually unlimited access to all aspects of daily life including many ceremonies not previously seen by non-American Indian people.

The Schwemberger exhibit is part of the 2005-2006 arts and performance season, produced by the department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance. The season includes visual arts exhibits and installations, theatrical and musical performances typically highlighting the research and creative work of faculty and students in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. For more information visit www.west.asu.edu/iap/events, or call (602) 543-ARTS (2787).

The IAP Art Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. Fletcher Library is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday. Visitor parking is $1 per hour. Parking in the visitor lot on weekends is free.

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Photo: “Diné Tsosi, last Navajo war chief.”

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