In 1915 Charles A. Hamilton opened his first general store near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Hamilton took over the operation of Henry Klamer’s store and sold groceries, camping supplies, and other items. An important part of the trade was “curios” which included American Indian moccasins, baskets, vests and other items. In 2009, Ellie Povah, Hamilton’s granddaughter, donated the family’s collection of Native American artifacts (“curios”) to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. Photos of this collection are shown below.
Indian Baskets:
Shown above is Western Apache basket from about 1950.
Shown about is a Hopi basket from about 1960.
Shown above is a Northern California basket from about 1920,
Shown above is a Hopi plaque from about 1970.
Shown above is a Western Apache basket from about 1950.
Shown above is a Hopi tray from about 1935.
Shown above is a Western Apache basket from about 1920.
Shown above is a basket (no tribal affiliation indicated) from about 1930.
Shown above is a Hopi basket from about 1970.
Moccasins:
Shown above are Lakota moccasins from about 1970.
Shown above are Lakota moccasins from about 1900.
Shown above are Lakota moccasins from about 1900. These moccasins were made out of canvas and buckskin.
Shown above are Crow moccasins from about 1950. These were made by Adeline Plainfeather.
Shown above are Lakota moccasins from about 1920.
Shown above are Lakota moccasins from about 1950.
Shown above are Plateau (no tribal affiliation indicated) moccasins from about 1970.
Clothing:
The vest is Nez Perce made by Billie Carter for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. The gauntlets are also Nez Perce from 1915.