DATE: ca. 1860s
CREATOR: Little Shield, Arapaho Chieftain.
SCOPE: This series of sketches, a visual autobiography of "Little Shield, Chief of the Arrapohas," shows his exploits of valor and historical enemies in pictographic form. Little Shield's figure is riding a horse into battle in each sketch.
EXTENT: Large unbound volume of 23 pencil sketches, colored on lined tablet paper, mounted for exhibition. 14pp.
HISTORY: One of the earliest extant examples of Plains Indian ledger art, this series of sketches was created by Little Shield, an Arapaho Chieftain, who recorded his own exploits in a pictorial journal sometime in the 1860s. The ledger was donated to the Mercantile Library in 1890
ACCESS: Due to rarity and condition, access to the physical collection is limited. Please contact the staff in advance of your visit to coordinate access to these materials for research purposes.
However, a digital version is available in adobe .pdf format.
A digital copy is also available online: View in the UMSL Digital Library
When available, this collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material in Special Collection M-058 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition. For collections marked limited access, researchers are advised to contact the library at least three business days in advance of their visit to submit a request to view the physical material.
Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building.
In observance of security procedures, certain services may not be available shortly before the daily closing time.
Preferred Citation: When citing the material from this collection, the preferred citation is: From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
