Chief John Big Tree
Encyclopedia
Chief John Big Tree born Isaac Johnny John, was a member of the Seneca Nation
and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915
and 1950
.
Big Tree claimed to be one of three Native American
chiefs whose profiles were composited to make the portrait featured on the obverse
of the United States' Indian Head nickel
, designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were Iron Tail
and Two Moons
. Big Tree claimed that his profile was used to create that portion of the portrait from the top of the forehead to the upper lip.
Big Tree also claimed to be the sole model for Fraser's most recognized work, the doleful "End of the Trail". Both of these claims are broadly disputed, and Fraser identified other models.
He also appeared on the March 1964 cover of Esquire
magazine, in a pose commemorating the Indian Head nickel.
He was born in Michigan
and died in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York
. His interment was also there.
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915
1915 in film
The year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
and 1950
1950 in film
The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
.
Big Tree claimed to be one of three Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
chiefs whose profiles were composited to make the portrait featured on the obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
of the United States' Indian Head nickel
Indian Head nickel
The Buffalo nickel or Indian Head nickel was a copper-nickel five-cent piece struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser....
, designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were Iron Tail
Iron Tail
Iron Tail was an Oglala Sioux who fought alongside Sitting Bull at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He also performed with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show during the 1890s and with the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West show from 1913 to 1916. He died of pneumonia on May 28, 1916 while traveling...
and Two Moons
Two Moons
Two Moons , pronounced ‘Ishaynishus’ was the son of Carries the Otter, an Arikara captive who married into the Cheyenne tribe...
. Big Tree claimed that his profile was used to create that portion of the portrait from the top of the forehead to the upper lip.
Big Tree also claimed to be the sole model for Fraser's most recognized work, the doleful "End of the Trail". Both of these claims are broadly disputed, and Fraser identified other models.
He also appeared on the March 1964 cover of Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine, in a pose commemorating the Indian Head nickel.
He was born in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and died in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His interment was also there.
Selected filmography
- The Spirit of '76The Spirit of '76 (1917 film)The Spirit of '76 was a silent film directed by Frank Montgomery that depicted the early history of the United States. It is considered a lost film as no prints are known to survive.-Production:...
(1917) (Lost film) - A Fight for LoveA Fight for LoveA Fight for Love is a 1919 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Joe Harris - Black Michael* Neva Gerber - Kate McDougal* Mark Fenton - Angus McDougal...
(1919) (Lost film) - The Avenging ArrowThe Avenging ArrowThe Avenging Arrow is a 1921 western film serial directed by William Bowman and W. S. Van Dyke. It is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ruth Roland - Anita Delgado* Edward Hearn - Ralph Troy* Virginia Ainsworth - Luiza Traganza* S.E...
(1921) (Lost film) - The Iron HorseThe Iron Horse (film)The Iron Horse is a silent film directed by John Ford in 1924. It was produced by Fox Film. -Synopsis:The film presents an idealized image of the construction of the American first transcontinental railroad. It culminates with the scene of driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit on May...
(1924) - The Frontier TrailThe Frontier TrailThe Frontier Trail is a 1926 Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Jim Cardigan* Mabel Julienne Scott - Dolly Mainard* Ernest Hilliard - Captain Blackwell* Frank Campeau - Shad Donlin...
(1926) - Winners of the WildernessWinners of the WildernessWinners of the Wilderness is a MGM silent film, directed by W.S. Van Dyke, and starring Tim McCoy and Joan Crawford. In this costume drama, set during the French-Indian War, Rene Contrecouer , the daughter of a French general falls for a soldier of fortune...
(1927) - Daniel BooneDaniel Boone (1936 film)Daniel Boone is a 1936 American film directed by David Howard.In 1775, Daniel Boone leads thirty colonial families to Kentucky where they face two threats: Native American raiders led by renegade white Simon Girty, who opposes the colony; and the schemes of effete Stephen Marlowe to seize title to...
(1936) - Stagecoach (1939)
- Drums Along the MohawkDrums Along the MohawkDrums Along the Mohawk is a 1939 historical Technicolor film based upon a 1936 novel of the same name by American author, Walter D. Edmonds. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John Ford. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert portray settlers on the New York frontier during the...
(1939) - She Wore a Yellow RibbonShe Wore a Yellow RibbonShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. The film was the second of Ford's trilogy of films focusing on the US Cavalry ; the other two films were Fort Apache and Rio Grande...
(1949)