 Edward Curtis was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin  Was raised in poverty due to father being unable to properly manage the farm due to war injuries.  Left school at sixth grade and built his own camera.  Began his career as an aprentice photographer in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 In 1887, Edward purchased a new camera and became a partner in an existing photographic studio with Rasmus Rothi.  His first photographs of Princess Angeline, a Native American princess, won him many connections which kicked off his career.  Curtis later photographs of various Native Americans won him many admirers and partnerships.  Most of his photographs were from the Blackfeet Indians.

 He is known for his albums the The North American Indian and In the Land of the Head Hunters.  He has photographed over 40,000 images of over 80 different American tribes.  Sold his albums to the Museum of Natural History.  In his later life he settled down with his family in Los Angeles and opened up his own photo studio.

 Though his photographs of the many Native American tribes are legendary, his portrayal of them has received much criticism.  Curtis photographs have been criticized to portray them as stereotypes such as a “vanishing primitive savage race”.  This was at a time when Native Americans were being denied basic rights and their struggle to find a place in Western culture.