Source: United States Department of Justice
Bass Reeves Photograph
One of the only original photographs of legendary lawman Bass Reeves is currently on loan to The U.S. Department of Justice Museum from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Captured circa 1902, this rare item showcases Reeves in his early 60s in a midwestern photography studio against a western-themed backdrop. His star shaped badge and holstered gun are clearly visible, and he holds a traditional Southwestern riding whip called a quirt.
A Legendary Lawman
Many of the stories and legends of early lawmen in the American West can be traced back to Bass Reeves. He was born into slavery in 1838, escaped during the Civil War and briefly settled as a rancher. At age 37, he was hired as a deputy U.S. Marshal in pre-statehood Oklahoma, which was then called the “Indian Territory” and covered roughly 75,000 square miles.
Over the course of his career, Reeves is believed to have arrested more than 3,000 criminals. Known for his exceptional tracking skills and clever disguises, he successfully captured some of the region’s most notorious fugitives.
When Oklahoma became a state in 1907 and the federal marshal system in the Indian Territory was reorganized, Reeves continued serving as a police officer in the city of Muskogee until his retirement in 1909. He married twice and had a total of eleven children. Reeves’ legacy has endured today, serving as an inspiration for pop-culture icons such as the Lone Ranger.
Albumen Silver Print
This photograph of lawman Bass Reeves was captured using the albumen silver printing method. While earlier photographs had to be printed on metal, albumen printing produces photos on a paper base. In this instance, it is printed on nitrocellulose cardboard. The printing process requires the paper to be coated with egg whites and salt, then dipped in silver nitrate. A photographic negative is then placed on top and exposed to light in order to develop the black and white image. After printing, the photograph can be manually colored. For Reeves’s picture, a light red tint was applied to his necktie.
Sharing Our Heritage
The temporary loan of this rare, historically significant photograph from the National Museum of African American History and Culture is an opportunity for The U.S. Department of Justice Museum to tell the rich story of early law enforcement and frontier life, allowing our visitors to experience first-hand a tangible connection to the Department’s past.
Bass Reeves Photograph, ca. 1902, 2020.10.14, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.
This artifact is on loan from the National Museum of African American History and Culture on display in the inaugural exhibits of The U.S. Department of Justice Museum as part of our ongoing effort to preserve and share the rich history of the Department of Justice and the American legal system.
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