The American Heritage Center has digitized the entirety of the Baker and Johnston photograph collection. 

The Baker and Johnston Photographic Studio operated in Evanston, Wyoming, in the late 1800’s by Charles S. Baker and Eli Johnston. 

They photographed a variety of subjects but are best known for their series of portraits of Native American leaders, primarily from the Shoshone, Arapahoe, and Apache tribes. 

The collection contains the original glass plate negatives as well as copy prints. Portraits include Chief Washakie and his family, Oiti, Codsiogo, Sharp Nose, and Geronimo.

Click here to view an inventory for the collection and link to the digitized images! For a curated selection highlighting significant images in the collection, explore our Virmuze exhibit “Collection Spotlight: Baker and Johnston Photographs.”

Supporting Wyoming’s Indian Education for All

The Baker and Johnston Collection and the AHC’s K-5 Teaching Resources – Indigenous Tribes of Wyoming exhibit, along with the Center’s extensive archival holdings, serve as valuable resources for educators implementing Wyoming’s Indian Education for All mandate.

These primary source materials—including photographs, documents, manuscripts, and more related to Wyoming’s Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes—are available through digitized resources, online exhibits, and with assistance from Reference Department staff to help teachers educate students about the cultural heritage, history, and contributions of Wyoming’s tribal nations while supporting Wyoming Social Studies Standards.

For more information about using the Center’s resources, contact the AHC’s Reference Department at ahcref@uwyo.edu.