Throssel, Richard, -1933

Variant names

Hide Profile

Throssel (1882-1933) was born in Washington state of Cree Indian and English descent. He worked as an office clerk at the Crow Indian Reservation in south-central Montana from 1902-1910 and was adopted by the Crow tribe in 1905. While at the reservation he met photographer Edward S. Curtis, and was briefly instructed by him. Throssel became a field photographer for the Crow reservation before he established his own photography studio, the Throssel Photocraft Company, in Billings, Montana, in 1910.

From the description of Papers, 1900-1993 (bulk 1902-1933). (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 30697554

Throssel (1882-1933) was born in Washington state of Cree Indian and English descent. He worked as an office clerk at the Crow Indian Reservation in south-central Montana from 1902-1910 and was adopted by the Crow tribe in 1905. While at the reservation he met photographer Edward S. Curtis, and was briefly instructed by him. Throssel became a field photographer for the Crow reservation before he established his own photography studio, the Throssel Photocraft Company, in Billings, Montana, in 1910.

Richard Throssel was born on September 18, 1882, in Marengo, Washington. His maternal heritage was, in part, Cree Indian, while his father was of English descent. In 1902 Throssel was employed as an office clerk at the Crow Reservation Agency in south central Montana. There is evidence that Throssel identified to some degree with Indian people, and he was later legally adopted by the Crow. He also learned to speak and "sign" the Crow language.

While at the reservation Throssel developed his photography and painting skills. He tried his hand at painting under the guidance of Joseph Henry Sharp, founder of the Taos School of Artists. It was also at the agency that Throssel met photographer Edward S. Curtis and for a brief period Throssel was instructed by Curtis.

Throssel decided to pursue a career in photography and became a field photographer for the Crow Agency. In 1910 he left the agency to open a photography studio in Billings, Montana, where he continued to photograph and paint Indian subjects.

Throssel married Florence Pifer in 1904. They had two daughters, Vera and Alberta. Richard Throssel passed away on June 10, 1933, at Camp Cooney, Montana.

See Box 57 for "The Photography of Richard Throssel: an Annotated Bibliography" by Peggy Albright.

From the guide to the Richard Throssel papers, 1900-1993, 1902-1933, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Albright, Peggy. Peggy Albright papers, 1881-1996 (bulk 1881-1930). Little Big Horn College Library
referencedIn Spear, Elsa, 1896-1992. Elsa Spear papers, ca. 1880s-1986. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Richard Throssel papers, 1900-1993, 1902-1933 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Richard Throssel photographs and negatives, 1902-ca. 1920s Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Elsa Spear papers, circa 1880s-1986 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952. The vanishing race on the old trails, ca. 1917. Colorado College, Tutt Library
creatorOf Richard Throssel artifact, Undated Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Throssel, Richard, d. 1933. Papers, 1900-1993 (bulk 1902-1933). Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Richard Throssel Non-Photographic Media, 1904-1933 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Richard Throssel papers, 1900-1960, 1993 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albright, Peggy. person
associatedWith Spear, Elsa, 1896- person
associatedWith Spear, Elsa, 1896-1992. person
associatedWith Throssel family. family
associatedWith Throssel Family family
associatedWith Throssel Family family
associatedWith Throssel Family family
associatedWith Throssel Family family
associatedWith Throssel Family family
associatedWith Throssel Photocraft Company. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Wyoming
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Wyoming
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Montana
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Montana--Billings
Montana
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Billings (Mont.)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Billings (Mont.)
Billings (Mont.)
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Montana
Montana
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Wyoming
Billings (Mont.)
Montana
Billings (Mont.)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Wyoming
Wyoming
Billings (Mont.)
Montana
Wyoming
Crow Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Mont.)
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Subject
Cheyenne Indians
Cheyenne Indians
Crow Indians
Crow Indians
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Photography
Photography
Photography
Photography
Occupation
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1882

Death 1933

Native Americans

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hb0kv5

Ark ID: w6hb0kv5

SNAC ID: 33290543