Lee Moorhouse Family

Lee Moorhouse in the rocker on the right with the rest of his family.

Lee Moorhouse

Lee Moorhouse

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NEWSPAPER: 'The Oregon Statesman,' (Salem, Oregon); published June 7, 1919. Page 1.
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"MAJOR MOORHOUSE, FAMED FOR WORK AMONG INDIANS, IN SALEM. Pendleton Man, Rated Most Widely Known Photographer of Red Men Assists in Williamette Pageant -- RARE COSTUMES Loaned for Fete.
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Major Lee Moorehouse, of Pendleton, whose pictures of Indian life have been published in every country of the globe is in Salem, [Oregon], his presence here being directly related to the historical pagent, at Williamette University over this week-end. He has brought with him some of his most wonderful Indian costumes, trappings and curios, which will be used by the Chemawa indian students in the parts which they portray.
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Major Moorehouse, has also with him a collection of his most remarkable photographs, including the famous "Cayuse Twins." This is the picture that brought attention to Major Moorehouse's work, and there are few persons throughout the land who have not smiled over this study of "sunshine and shadow." A short time ago Major Moorehouse explained, a Pendleton soldier, stationed in Coblenz, sent him a copy of a German magazine featuring the picture.
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WORK WAS PASTIME. Experience in amateur photography, came after several years' service as a United States indian agent on the Umatilla reservation in the late --80's. It was a pastime at first, but as his work began to come before the public and met as it did instantaneous favor Major Moorehouse widened his territory to include every tribe of the Pacific Northwest, going as far east as the Crow Nation.
Among the nationally-known magazines that have been published the major's works are the Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan, Inland Printer, Sunset, Muasey's and many others.
Major Moorehouse who holds the position of deputy clerk of the Supreme court of Pendleton, received his title through his service to his country during the Indian war of 1878. Originally he was first assistant adjutant general of the Oregon State Militia, then he was given the rank of Colonel during the time that he was stationed at the Umatilla reservation. Later he was appointed aide-de-camp and private secretary for Governor S.F. Chadwick.
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PHOTOGRAPHER IS MODEST. He is very modest about his work telling one in the most matter-of-fact manner that it is of very little importance. He feels that his work among the Indians in this especial line is about done. He sums it up like this: "My negatives number many thousands and consider that I have preserved the history of the tribes as nearly as possible, the pictures representing as they do every phase of Aboriginal life."
One of his photographs which he has with him in Salem is of the seven surviving converts of Dr. Marcus Whitman. Another is the one from the noted sculptor, Miss Alice Cooper, of Denver, modeled the Portland statue of "Sacajawea."
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Major Moorehouse speaks the Nez Pere language, used universally among the various tribes.
Superstition, he has found to be the greatest hindrance to successfully photographing the red man. The older representatives, especially, are almost beyond the reach of diplomatic persuasion. He related one instance to illustrate this: He had got permission from an old Indian woman to photograph her daughter. About a week later the girl died and when the major again approached the mother upon the subject of picture taking, she wailed out that he had killed her daughter, and made it emphatic that there was to be no more pictures.
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PROFILE IS PUZZLE. The Indian firmly believe that a photograph depletes the system--a profile study leaves but half the face. All the painters of the Indian have had to struggle with the same thing.
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Major Moorehouse believes that the Indian will always keep his nationality, despite the inroads of civilization. They are as religious in their observance of feastal and ceremonial days as originally, their Fourth of July covering a period of about ten days. The clans gather on this occasion in war paint and feathers, have parades, and generally desport themselves. The Christian Indians refuse to take part in these rituals.
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Despite the fact that Major Moorehouse's COLLECTION is one of the most extensive to be found, he divulges the information that the things were, for the most part, secured after much dickering, for he smilingly added: "The Indian, you know, is noted for his cultus potlatch." In other words he is extremely penurious. [END].

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Thomas L. Moorhouse, photographer and collector of Native American artifacts.
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NEWSPAPER: "Oregon Daily Journal," Portland, Ore. Pub. Aug. 6, 1911; pg. 46. "RARE INDIAN CURIOS TO BE EXHIBITED AT ASTORIA CENTENNIAL."
[Collection of Lee Moorehouse, includes a great number of Native American historic relics].
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Interesting exhibit of Indian pictures and curios owned by Major Lee Moorhouse of Pendleton, that will be shown at Astoria Centennial.
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Pendleton, Oregon -- Aug. 5., 1911. Among the attractions at the Astoria Centennial will be the famous collection of Indian photos and curios owned by Major Lee Moorhouse of this city. The exhibit has already been shipped and will be displayed in the booth of the Pendleton Woolen Mills.
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The Moorhouse collection is undoubtedly one of the most valuable of its kind in the west and represents the work of a lifetime. It consists of several thousand photographs taken by the major and a great number of rare and historic relics.
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Most highly prized among the latter is a buckskin war dress, elaborately beaded and decorated with a large number of scalps, both of Indians and whites. It was worn by a Sioux chief in a battle between the Sioux and Crows near Fort Union, Mont., in 1865, and presented by the victorious Crows to Lieutenant Charles Buckner, company I, Thirtieth regiment, Wisconsin volunteers, who fought with them during the battle. Major Moorhouse secured the suit from members of the Buckner family several years ago. With it is the dead chieftain's powerful and artistic war bow.
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Among the other articles in the collection is another war dress once worn by Young William Sitting Bull and supposed to have been in the Custer massacre; A HISTORIC WAR BONNET OF THE "PEO" FAMILY and a number of similar bonnets; an old Indian woman's dress decorated with beads sold by Hudson's Bay trappers; an Indian wedding robe of black velvet, decorated with hiqua shells; a large collection of Indian baskets and grass caps, a large number of papoose boards, and a cavalry sword from the Custer battlefield, presented to Major Moorhouse by Colonel E.S. Godfrey, formerly of the famous Seventh cavalry, who secured it from a Sioux chief soon after the battle." END.
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Maj. Thomas Leander Moorhouse by noted Pendleton photographer William S. Bowman, early 1900s.