Lee Moorhouse
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leander Moorhouse (1850-1926) of Pendleton
, Oregon
, United States
, was a photographer and an Indian Agent
for the Umatilla Indian Reservation
. From 1888 to 1916, he produced over 9,000 images documenting urban, rural, and Native American
life in the Columbia Basin
, and particularly Umatilla County, Oregon
. Although Moorhouse was a well-known photographer during his lifetime, his pictures and inscriptions have received much less attention than those of his more famous contemporaries, including Edward Curtis.
Moorhouse was born in Marion County, Iowa
and as a child traveled along the Oregon Trail
to Walla Walla, Washington
with his family in 1861. As an adult, he worked as a miner, surveyor, rancher, businessman, civic leader, real estate operator, and insurance salesman. In addition to acting as an Indian Agent for the Umatilla Reservation, he was an Assistant Adjunct General of the Oregon State Militia. Moorhouse was referred to as Major Moorhouse within the militia and the title was used in other areas of his life.
Moorhouse considered himself an amateur photographer, but in the 1880s the hobby became an increasingly important part of his life. Unlike most amateur photographers of the period, Moorhouse worked with and mastered the cumbersome and exacting equipment of professionals, including gelatin
dry glass plate negatives, large cameras, and a tripod. Critics believe his work reflects a keen eye, a deep appreciation for history and an intense interest in his world that went beyond the amateur.
Western photographers of this period provided a valuable historic service, in that they documented the appearance, costume and lifestyles of native peoples. Many of these characteristics were to disappear under Western cultural pressure. Unfortunately, Moorhouse, Curtis and other photographers also held a romantic view of their subjects. This led the photographers to stage shots to reflect their personal viewpoints and, in doing so, alter details and create inaccurate images. In Moorhouse's case, there are significant differences between two broad categories of his work with native people. His studio portraits of tribal members, considered his best work during his lifetime, are stiffly posed and probably inauthentic. Records indicate that Moorhouse supplied his subjects, from an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, with the clothing they wore and the implements they held. In contrast, his images of native life on the Umatilla Reservation accurately reflect native clothing and dwellings of the time. They also document some of the social and cultural transformations that native peoples experienced during this period of cultural conflict. Moorhouse’s images have recently been recognized as valuable for eliciting the memories of the past among Umatilla tribal elders, with these stories adding to the archive of the native culture.
Moorhouse also captured a significant variety of images on the development of the Oregon Territory
. 600 views of ranch life, particularly wheat farming, document the ranchers, their homes, itinerant laborers, and their work in the fields. There are also thousands of images of small town and community life; businesses, schools, churches, and various forms of transportation, such as locomotives and automobiles. Social functions and entertainments appear in his photographs of circuses, parades, Wild West shows, and most notably the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon
.
Moorhouse published a short book of photographs and created postcard
s featuring his work. As many as 100,000 postcards may have been sold.
7,000 images by Moorhouse are maintained by the Special Collections & University Archives of the University of Oregon
Libraries, and are considered a significant resource for social history. This images were a gift from the Moorhouse family in 1948. Another 1,400 images were given to the Umatilla County Library in about 1958, and 300 were purchased by the U.S. Bureau of American Ethnography in the 1930s. Moorhouse's photographs of members of the Cayuse
, Walla Walla
, and Umatilla tribes are of particular significance.
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was a photographer and an Indian Agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
for the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Umatilla Indian Reservation
The Umatilla Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in eastern Oregon in the United States, mostly located in Umatilla County, with a very small part extending south into Union County...
. From 1888 to 1916, he produced over 9,000 images documenting urban, rural, and 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...
life in the Columbia Basin
Columbia Basin
The Columbia Basin, the drainage basin of the Columbia River, occupies a large area–about —of the Pacific Northwest region of North America. In common usage, the term often refers to a smaller area, generally the portion of the drainage basin that lies within eastern Washington.Usage of the term...
, and particularly Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2010, its population was 75,889...
. Although Moorhouse was a well-known photographer during his lifetime, his pictures and inscriptions have received much less attention than those of his more famous contemporaries, including Edward Curtis.
Moorhouse was born in Marion County, Iowa
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and as a child traveled along the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
to Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
with his family in 1861. As an adult, he worked as a miner, surveyor, rancher, businessman, civic leader, real estate operator, and insurance salesman. In addition to acting as an Indian Agent for the Umatilla Reservation, he was an Assistant Adjunct General of the Oregon State Militia. Moorhouse was referred to as Major Moorhouse within the militia and the title was used in other areas of his life.
Moorhouse considered himself an amateur photographer, but in the 1880s the hobby became an increasingly important part of his life. Unlike most amateur photographers of the period, Moorhouse worked with and mastered the cumbersome and exacting equipment of professionals, including gelatin
Gelatin
Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, brittle , flavorless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Substances containing gelatin or functioning in a similar...
dry glass plate negatives, large cameras, and a tripod. Critics believe his work reflects a keen eye, a deep appreciation for history and an intense interest in his world that went beyond the amateur.
Western photographers of this period provided a valuable historic service, in that they documented the appearance, costume and lifestyles of native peoples. Many of these characteristics were to disappear under Western cultural pressure. Unfortunately, Moorhouse, Curtis and other photographers also held a romantic view of their subjects. This led the photographers to stage shots to reflect their personal viewpoints and, in doing so, alter details and create inaccurate images. In Moorhouse's case, there are significant differences between two broad categories of his work with native people. His studio portraits of tribal members, considered his best work during his lifetime, are stiffly posed and probably inauthentic. Records indicate that Moorhouse supplied his subjects, from an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, with the clothing they wore and the implements they held. In contrast, his images of native life on the Umatilla Reservation accurately reflect native clothing and dwellings of the time. They also document some of the social and cultural transformations that native peoples experienced during this period of cultural conflict. Moorhouse’s images have recently been recognized as valuable for eliciting the memories of the past among Umatilla tribal elders, with these stories adding to the archive of the native culture.
Moorhouse also captured a significant variety of images on the development of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
. 600 views of ranch life, particularly wheat farming, document the ranchers, their homes, itinerant laborers, and their work in the fields. There are also thousands of images of small town and community life; businesses, schools, churches, and various forms of transportation, such as locomotives and automobiles. Social functions and entertainments appear in his photographs of circuses, parades, Wild West shows, and most notably the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
.
Moorhouse published a short book of photographs and created postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
s featuring his work. As many as 100,000 postcards may have been sold.
7,000 images by Moorhouse are maintained by the Special Collections & University Archives of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
Libraries, and are considered a significant resource for social history. This images were a gift from the Moorhouse family in 1948. Another 1,400 images were given to the Umatilla County Library in about 1958, and 300 were purchased by the U.S. Bureau of American Ethnography in the 1930s. Moorhouse's photographs of members of the Cayuse
Cayuse
The Cayuse are a Native American tribe in the state of Oregon in the United States. The Cayuse tribe shares a reservation in northeastern Oregon with the Umatilla and the Walla Walla tribes as part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation...
, Walla Walla
Walla Walla (tribe)
Walla Walla |Native American]] tribe of the northwestern United States. The reduplication of the word expresses the diminutive form. The name "Walla Walla" is translated several ways but most often as "many waters."...
, and Umatilla tribes are of particular significance.