THREE FORKS HISTORY: Photographs connect us to past

Oct. 28—The invention of photography dates to the early 1800s, but few cameras were in Indian Territory before the Civil War. Life among the Native Americans on the western frontier was chronicled by artists such as George Catlin. Early visitors such as soldiers and scientists usually made sketches of their travels for mapping and academic study.

One very early photo was taken of Dwight Mission in the Cherokee Nation around 1840. Some believe this murky photograph is the first to ever be taken in Oklahoma. But by and large photographs would not record Indian Territory until after the railroad began to bring many new people into the region.

One of the first photographers in Muskogee was a man named J.F. Standiford. A West Virginian by birth, Standiford arrived here in 1878 after working in Illinois and Kansas. He paid the permit required by the Creek Nation to operate a business here and built his home and photography studio. For many years he was advertised as the only "licensed" photographer in Indian Territory.

In those days, photographers were like traveling salesmen. They did not wait for customers to come to their studio to have their portrait made. Carrying their cumbersome equipment with them, these photographers traveled by wagon from farm to farm offering to photograph the family residing there. This was the primary way in which they made their living as photographers.

Standiford enjoyed travel so he covered most of Indian Territory in looking for work. He was a prolific artist and many of his photographs survive to this day. A Standiford photograph is often printed on very thick card stock with a decorative border framing the picture. Often Standiford would identify his photos as having been taken in "The Beautiful Indian Territory."

Standiford's wife and sister assisted him in his photography business, handling the chore of developing the negatives. The photographer had invented a revolving printing mechanism for his darkroom, said to be one of a kind. He also invented an "electric retouching apparatus" for which he took out a patent.

Other photography studios were established in Muskogee in later years. Alice Robertson ran a studio and is credited with many photographs taken in Muskogee around the time of statehood. An African American photographer named William P. Greene also had a studio on Second Street in Muskogee. He was best known for his portraits and some stunning examples of his work still survive today.

The work of these early day photographers greatly aids our understanding of the past. The record of the life of our ancestors and earlier settlers creates a connection to them that continues to fascinate us today.

Reach Jonita Mullins at jonita.mullins@gmail.com