John K. Hillers
Encyclopedia
John Karl Hillers was an American government photographer.
Hillers came to the United States in 1852. He was a policeman and then a soldier in the American Civil War
, first with the New York Naval Brigade, then in the army, he re-enlisted after the war and served with the Western garrisons until 1870. He worked as a teamster
in Salt Lake City, when he met John Wesley Powell
.
Originally hired as a boatman for the second Powell expedition down the Colorado River
in 1871, Hillers began to replace Walter Clement Powell
, John W. Powell's cousin and assistant to the expedition's photographers, first to E.O. Beaman and then to James Fennemore.
Hillers was Powell's chief expedition photographer on the trip down the Grand Canyon
the next year.
He went on to spend twenty years exploring and photographing the American West, and is known particularly for his portraits of Native Americans.
He was the first staff photographer of Powell's Bureau of Ethnology
(from 1879) and after returning to Powell's US Geological Survey in 1881 continued Bureau of American Ethnology
work until he resigned in 1900 . Although he officially retired in 1900, he continued to take photographs for the United States Geological Survey
until 1919.
He was the photographer of the first James Stevenson
expedition to the Southwest , which brought Frank H. Cushing
to Zuni
.
3,000 negatives from the Powell Surveys and 20,000 negatives from his association with the Bureau of Ethnology have been credited to John K. Hillers.
Hillers came to the United States in 1852. He was a policeman and then a soldier in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, first with the New York Naval Brigade, then in the army, he re-enlisted after the war and served with the Western garrisons until 1870. He worked as a teamster
Teamster
A teamster, in modern American English, is a truck driver. The trade union named after them is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , one of the largest unions in the United States....
in Salt Lake City, when he met John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell was a U.S. soldier, geologist, explorer of the American West, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions...
.
Originally hired as a boatman for the second Powell expedition down the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
in 1871, Hillers began to replace Walter Clement Powell
Walter Clement Powell
Walter Clement Powell was an American photographer and the first cousin of Major John Wesley Powell. Powell was a participant and assistant photographer on Major Powell's second trip down the Colorado River in 1871.-References:...
, John W. Powell's cousin and assistant to the expedition's photographers, first to E.O. Beaman and then to James Fennemore.
Hillers was Powell's chief expedition photographer on the trip down the Grand Canyon
History of the Grand Canyon area
The known history of the Grand Canyon area stretches back 10,500 years, when the first evidence of human presence in the area is found. Native Americans have inhabited the Grand Canyon and the area now covered by Grand Canyon National Park for at least the last 4,000 of those years...
the next year.
He went on to spend twenty years exploring and photographing the American West, and is known particularly for his portraits of Native Americans.
He was the first staff photographer of Powell's Bureau of Ethnology
Bureau of American Ethnology
The Bureau of American Ethnology was established in 1879 by an act of Congress for the purpose of transferring archives, records and materials relating to the Indians of North America from the Interior Department to the Smithsonian Institution...
(from 1879) and after returning to Powell's US Geological Survey in 1881 continued Bureau of American Ethnology
Bureau of American Ethnology
The Bureau of American Ethnology was established in 1879 by an act of Congress for the purpose of transferring archives, records and materials relating to the Indians of North America from the Interior Department to the Smithsonian Institution...
work until he resigned in 1900 . Although he officially retired in 1900, he continued to take photographs for the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
until 1919.
He was the photographer of the first James Stevenson
James Stevenson
James Stevenson may refer to:*James Stevenson , American actor*James Stevenson , English cricketer*James Stevenson , artist and author of children's books*James Stevenson...
expedition to the Southwest , which brought Frank H. Cushing
Frank Hamilton Cushing
Frank Hamilton Cushing was an American anthropologist and ethnologist...
to Zuni
Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico
Zuni Pueblo is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,367 at the 2000 census...
.
3,000 negatives from the Powell Surveys and 20,000 negatives from his association with the Bureau of Ethnology have been credited to John K. Hillers.
Sources
- William Culp Darrah: Beaman, Fennemore, Hillers, Dellenbaugh, Johnson, and Hattan, in: Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 17, Nos. 1-4, 1949, pp. 491–503.
- Don. D. Fowler: ′Photographed All the Best Scenery′: Jack Hillers' Diary of the Powell Expeditions, 1871–1875, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 1972.
- Don D.Fowler: The Western Photographs of John K. Hillers: ′Myself in the Water′, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 1989. ISBN 0874744415
External links
- A short biography
- Some photographs
- John K. Hillers Southwest photograph album, c. 1879-1881 Historical Photograph Collections from the University of Oregon Libraries
- Photography of J.K. Hillers from the USGSUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
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