On the Edge of Extinction

It was nearly the turn of the century. Not only was the century changing but the ways of life were changing. Many new inventions were making life easier. Electricity was becoming more and more available. Travel was becoming more comfortable and convenient. The awareness of the plight of the Native American Indians was more widely known. The Wounded Knee Massacre was a recent occurrence. As more and more people were exposed to the manner in which Indians were treated, attitudes changed. The Indian population had declined to its lowest ebb at the turn of the century. The Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha was an opportunity to show off many of the new inventions and to help the rest of the country be aware of the riches West of the Mississippi. One Frank A. Rinehart, the premier photographer in Omaha, was appointed the Official Photographer for the Trans-Mississippi Expo. At the last minute, it was decided to bring about 500 Indians to the Expo to show attendees the human side of this misunderstood people. Rinehart had the unique opportunity to produce photographic portraits of each of the Native Americans in attendance. "The Edge of Extinction" not only highlights some of those portraits of this handsome race, but also gives a view of life in Omaha, the commentary of the national press concerning the Trans-Mississippi, a look at the man who was Rinehart and more so as to help understand this time in the history of the Midwest.

Royal Sutton, born and raised in Wisconsin, moved to Omaha, NE thanks to the Air Force, met and married Kathryn Bennett, a Western Nebraska rancher's daughter. They raised three children who now live in Downer's Grove, IL, Cheyenne, WY and Poulsbo, WA. Kathryn passed away on February 24, 2013 after experiencing Alzheimer's for six years. Royal had the good fortune of working at the Rinehart-Marsden Studio in Omaha, eventually taking over the ownership but closing the studio in 1969. The one important thing that survived that closing, were nearly 500 glass plate negatives produced by Frank A. Rinehart, the founder of the Studio. The negatives were portraits of Native American Indians who were brought to the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898 as an exhibition. Sutton published "The Face of Courage" in 1972 featuring the portraits produced by Rinehart. Since more than a generation has passed since then, Sutton was convinced it was time to make certain later generations would know of this record of a race that in 1898 was truly on the "Edge of Extinction".