Elbridge Ayer (E. A.) Burbank (August 10, 1858 – April 21, 1949) was an American artist who sketched and painted more than 1200 portraits of Native Americans from 125 tribes. He studied art in Chicago and in his 30s traveled to Munich, Germany, for additional studies with notable German artists. He is believed to be the only person to paint the war chief Geronimo from life.
Elbridge was born on August 10, 1858, in Harvard, Illinois, to Anna Maria (Ayer) and Abner Jewett Burbank. After attending public schools, he started art studies at the Chicago Academy of Design, where he was influenced by Leonard Volk and graduated in 1874.
His maternal uncle Edward E. Ayer was a successful business magnate, museum philanthropist and antiquarian collector. He collected books, original manuscripts and other materials relating to the history and ethnology of Native American peoples at the time of European encounter. His collection, one of the founding donations to the Newberry Library in Chicago, contains a number of Burbank's works.
Burbank was the only artist to paint Geronimo from life.[1] He painted or sketched more than 1,200 Native Americans from 125 tribes. Over a period of several years, he spent many months at the Hubbell Trading Post, where he studied and painted Native Americans. Burbank, Oklahoma, is named after him.
In 1910, the Editor of The Harvard Independent noted: “No other artist in the country has enjoyed the opportunities experienced by Mr. E. A. Burbank, now a resident of Los Angeles - the painter of Indian portraits, to meet face to face, and on their own ground, the once noted Indian chiefs America now so rapidly passing away. For the last twenty years Mr. Burbank has journeyed from camp to camp among the aborigines of the northwest and southwest, painting successively all the great warriors whose prowess has made their names famous in frontier history. It is, therefore, with considerable pride that The Graphic calls attention to a series of articles from Mr. Burbank's pen, describing his personal interviews with these once-powerful war chiefs, and illustrated by portraits from life, re-drawn in pencil especially for the Graphic, from his original studies. First in this notable galaxy was a picture and story of Red Cloud, the famous Ogallalla (sic) Sioux, recently deceased. Geronimo, the noted Apache chief who preceded Red Cloud the happy hunting grounds by a few months, followed."
Burbank arranged for two periods of extended study in Munich, Germany, with notable artists. In 1886-87 he studied with Paul Navin and Frederick Fehr. He returned a couple of years later, when he studied from 1889 to 1890 with Toby Rosenthal. He also traveled to Oberammergau, Germany; Cardiff, Wales; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
As an adult, Burbank was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, referred to then as "manic depression". He was treated at several different facilities during his life, most notably for more than ten years at the State Mental Hospital in Napa, California.
He died April 21, 1949, in San Francisco, California, after being struck and severely injured by a cable car on January 27. The accident occurred in front of the Manx Hotel (now the Villa Florence). He was first buried at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, San Francisco, California, but his remains were reinterred at Forest View Abby in Rockford, Illinois. In 1984 relatives had his remains moved and reinterred at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Harvard, Illinois.
In 1898, Burbank became friends with Chief Blue Horse when he was visiting the Oglala Lakota at Pine Ridge Agency. Burbank painted sitting portraits of the greatest Native American leaders, including Geronimo, Red Cloud and Chief Joseph. At the time, Chief Blue Horse was eighty years of age and rode each day on his horse to pose for Burbank, who he called “Son of the Shadow-Maker.” Burbank was also an historian and his fond recollections illuminate Chief Blue Horse. “Hardly a day passed without Blue Horse coming to my studio to visit me. He would sit down and smoke a little, short, strong pipe and gossip with the other Indians present; all the time he was talking he would be fanning himself with the wing of a turkey. His face usually was painted red, and he wore all the Indian clothes he had, with a single feather on his head. He was a thorough Indian, and extremely kind-hearted. His principal object in life was to try to make others happy around him.”[2]
| Lake Geneva, Wisconsin - Pencil Sketch - c. 1875 Munich Sketchbook - c. 1887/1889/1890 Hall in Old House - Pencil Sketch - 1892 Portrait of a Woman - Oil on Canvas - 1892 Wha' Foh you' Laff'n - 1897 The Old Breastpin - 1897 Contented - 1897 Reading - 1897 Little Ruth - 1897 Chief Geronimo - Apache - 1897 Ah-ge-pah - Navajo - 1897 Bon-i-ta - Comanche - 1897 Chasing Alone - 1897 Chief Joseph - Nez Perces - 1897 Chief Medicine Crow - Crow - 1897 Chief Pretty-eagle - Crow - 1897 Chief Red-cloud - Sioux - 1897 Chief Tja-yo-ni - Navajo - 1897 Chosequah - Comanche - 1897 Has-tin-nez - Navajo - 1897 Hawgone - Kiowa - 1897 Holds the Enemy - Crow - 1897 Sees a White Horse - Crow - 1897 She Rides a Plain Horse - Crow - 1897 Si-We-Ka - Pueblo - 1897 Ton-hadle-ico - Kiowa - 1897 White Swan - Crow - 1897 | Ah-ge-pah - Navajo - 1898 Ah-guy-ah - Moqui- 1898 Baratchia - Ute - 1898 Black - Arapahoe - 1898 Bob-Tailed Coyote - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Chief Antonio - Apache - 1898 Chief Blue Horse - Sioux - 1898 Chief Burnt-all-over - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Chief Chi-hua-hua - Apache - 1898 Chief Chiquito - Apache - 1898 Chief Es-Kin-Nas-Pas - Apache - 1898 Chief Joseph - Nez Perces - 1898 Chief Little Wound - Sioux - 1898 Chief Medicine Grass - Arapahoe - 1898 Chief Nah-kuh-mah-time - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Chief Naiche - Apache - 1898 Chief Severo - Southern Ute - 1898 Chief Tal-klai - Apache - 1898 Chief War Path - Arapahoe - 1898 E-ney - Apache - 1898 E-wa - Apache - 1898 Eagle Nest - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Geronimo - Apache - 1898 Has-kin-es-tee - Apache - 1898 Ho-mo-vi - Moqui - 1898 Hong-ee - Moqui - 1898 It-say-ya - Zuni - 1898 Kah-Kap-Tee - Moqui - 1898 Ko-Pe-Ley - Moqui - 1898 Lot-si-te-sah - Zuni - 1898 Ma-u-rita - Zuni - 1898 Nad-kah - Apache - 1898 Na-goze de-tah - Apache - 1898 Ni-Yang-I-Mana - Moqui - 1898 No-Flesh - Sioux - 1898 O-bah - Moqui - 1898 Pah-Puh - Moqui - 1898 Pay-tah - Moqui - 1898 Quin-cha-ke-cha - Southern Ute - 1898 Red Wolf - Arapahoe - 1898 Scah-e-ah - Apache - 1898 Short Teeth - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Shu-Pe-La - Moqui - 1898 Standing Bull - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Straight-Crazy - Arapahoe - 1898 Tah-ah-rah and Juane - Ute - 1898 Tah-bo-ho-ya - Moqui - 1898 Tre-re-kah - Mojave - 1898 Weasel Tail - Southern Cheyenne - 1898 Wick-Ah-Te-Wah - Moqui - 1898 Wick-Ey - Moqui - 1898 Woide-yah - 1898 Zy-You-Wah - Moqui - 1898 | |
| Black Man - Arapahoe- 1899 Chief American Horse - Sioux - 1899 Chief Chat-O - Apache - 1899 Chief Chief Killer - Southern Cheyenne - 1899 Chief Flat Iron - Sioux - 1899 Chief Joseph - Nez Perces - 1899 Chief Loco - Apache - 1899 Chief Man-gus - Apache - 1899 Chief Naiche - Apache - 1899 Chief Red Fly - Sioux - 1899 Chief Spotted Elk - Sioux - 1899 Chief Stinking Bear - Sioux - 1899 Geronimo - Apache - 1899 Has-teen-e-ashe-ee - Navajo - 1899 Iron Crow - Sioux - 1899 Kicking Bear - Sioux - 1899 Lap-hi - Columbia - 1899 Medicine Woman - Southern Cheyenne - 1899 Pah-Bah-Ah-Gut - Ute - 1899 Red Woman - Southern Cheyenne - 1899 Sah-ah-lock-o - Moqui - 1899 She Comes Out First - Sioux - 1899 Sin-sin - Columbia - 1899 Standing Soldier - Sioux - 1899 Tli-Ich Na-Pa - Navajo - 1899 Ton-Had-Dle - Kiowa - 1899 Yat-yah-mosh-yet - Yackima - 1899 | Ah-ke-ke-wah-tock - Sac and Fox - 1900 Ah-kis-kuck - Kickapoo - 1900 Chief Keokuk - Sac and Fox - 1900 Chief Lo-waine-wag-she-kah - Shawnee - 1900 Chief Wee-te-luck - Nomelackie - 1900 Mac-ke-puck-e-the - Kickapoo - 1900 Sha-Ah-Lock-O - Hopi - 1900 Zuquish - Laguna Pueblo - 1900 | |
| Chief Black-Coyote - Arapaho - 1901 Chief Burnt-all-over - Southern Cheyenne - 1901 Chief Law-low-she-us - Modoc - 1901 Chief Mah-ing-gah - Ottawa - 1901 Chief Naw-quag-ke-shick - Ottawa - 1901 | A-a-wa - Hopi - 1904 Che-Ke-Ah-Pe-Kee - Hopi - 1904 Chief Kuehl-lah-y-e-mah - Hopi - 1904 Ho-Me-Hep-No-My - Tewa - 1904 Ho-mo-vi - Hopi - 1904 Ne-I-So-Meh - Yuma - 1904 Pah-Lah-Wool-Ey - Hopi - 1904 Paw-vietz-ah - Tewa - 1904 Poe-Shom-Ee - Tewa - 1904 Pole-lee - Hopi - 1904 Zahn-dah - Navajo - 1904 | |
| A-vay - Yuma-Apache - 1905 Antonio Martinay - Desert Cahuilla - 1905 Ap-kaw - Pima - 1905 Ben-a la-chah-ah - Agua Caliente - 1905 Be-tow - Temecula - 1905 Blah-se-dah - Soboba - 1905 Chat-ah - Chimevava - 1905 Chief Whan - Pima - 1905 Cle-o-vah - Agua Caliente - 1905 Francisco - Sobaba - 1905 Gailey - Hopi - 1905 Ho-say-da-loris-cap-is-trano - San Felippo - 1905 Ho-say-Domingo - Cahuilla - 1905 Ho-se-pah - San Felipe - 1905 Ho-seph-ah - Desert Cahuilla - 1905 Jau-ro - Cahuilla - 1905 Juan Ramon - Seranno - 1905 Kar-nah-co-nah - Pima - 1905 Kuel-lah-y-e-mah - Hopi - 1905 Le-van-us - Soboba - 1905 Le-vra-do - Soboba - 1905 Lu-ise-ah - Papago - 1905 Lu-is Suberano - Pala - 1905 Mah-so-lin-a-quasis - San Luis Rey - 1905 Mer-say-no las-kes - 1905 Morongo - Seranno - 1905 Nan-kah - Hopi - 1905 Pay-tray - Temecula - 1905 Ponc-te-mah - Hopi - 1905 Pum-ah-o-key-wah - Mohave - 1905 Ramona - Desert Cahuilla - 1905 Rap-a-hoe - Yuma Apache - 1905 Ro-sin-da - Agua Caliente - 1905 Sal-va-zar - 1905 Scat-skah - Pima - 1905 Se-var-i-o-ne-vas-ky - Yaqui - 1905 See-he-nach-ee - Papago - 1905 Skoung-o-vah - Hopi - 1905 So-li-da - Soboba - 1905 Su-sah-lie - Seranno - 1905 Ter-e-sa - San Ignacio - 1905 Tow-mas - San Ignacio - 1905 Tow-mas-cisco - Seranno - 1905 Ur-mar-tah - Agua Caliente - 1905 Whanah - Desert Cahuilla - 1905 Wong-ge-tow-ee - Chimovave - 1905 | Ach - Mojave - 1906 Cal-bert-tin - Ukiah - 1906 Cal-lah-hob-nah - Ukiah - 1906 Calp-ah-day-o - Poma - 1906 Che kah - Tejon - 1906 Cheney - Pomo - 1906 Chief Lo-waine-wag-she-kah - Shawnee - 1906 Chief Pah-meh-mah - Ukie - 1906 Chief Sool-ah-boo - Ukiah - 1906 Coo-koo-lah - 1906 Deloris Lachap - Digeno - 1906 Do-min-ga - Tejon - 1906 Downsen - Meuwock - 1906 E-lanar - Desert Cahuilla - 1906 Ech-o-ney - Ukie - 1906 Es-pran-sah - San Luis Rey - 1906 Ey-sey-beh - Tejon - 1906 Fo-e-nah - Meteneck - 1906 Gah-kah-che - Washoe - 1906 Hah-re-naldo - Tejon - 1906 Hey-dahm Ho-lo-shoe-ey - Ukie - 1906 Hub-bah - Pomo - 1906 Hul-kush - Kobalthnent - 1906 Im-who-che-che - Shoshom - 1906 Jose - South Fork Piute - 1906 Jose Carac - San Luis Rey - 1906 K-lum-pah - Kabahimen - 1906 Ka-kah-simm - Napa - 1906 Kahl-bah - Poma - 1906 Kal-tah-had-dah - Coo-koo-lah - 1906 Karlabie - Nomelacki - 1906 Katl-le-got - Wylackie - 1906 Kay-kah-nall - Ukiah - 1906 Ki-e-tah - South Fork Paiute - 1906 Kisc-see - Wylackie - 1906 Ko-see-yah - Kabahimen - 1906 Lah-gah-wood-ey - Mad River - 1906 Lah-see - Jule River - 1906 Lah-see-know-bush - Wylackie - 1906 Mad-dy - Washoe - 1906 Mah-tel-lo - Mohave - 1906 May-dy - Washoe - 1906 Mu-lack - Digger - 1906 Na-gay-rooch - 1906 Nache-luch-pe - Na-Po - 1906 Nah-clic-tah - Hoopa - 1906 Nah-hahn-trum - Tejon - 1906 Nar-see-so-lapacha - Diegueno - 1906 Navol - Tejon - 1906 Ooch-u-ha-wah - Mohave - 1906 Peck-an-billie - Lower Klamath - 1906 Pu-el-we-tah - Sun Pum - 1906 Red Wood - 1906 Ree-kaw-kah - Mad River - 1906 Rhodie - Ukiah Saiaz - 1906 Say-kah-nee-ah - Maidu - 1906 Schlah-asch-she - Mad River - 1906 Se-pran-sah - San Luis Rey - 1906 Se-te-ah-kah - San Luis Rey - 1906 Se-var-i-o Ne-vas-ky - Yaqui - 1906 Shock-o-wah - 1906 Show-my-nie - Maidu - 1906 Shy-two-bem-dah - Coo-Koo-Lah - 1906 Teese - Ukiah - 1906 Tehachapi - 1906 Ter-e-sa - San Ignacio - 1906 Toc-chu-chu - Tule River - 1906 Tock-bo-ree-ah-kigh-ah - Ukiah - 1906 Two-see-o - Tejon - 1906 Wah-kane - Panamint - 1906 Yam-wee - Maidu - 1906 Yo-yon-ah - Mad River - 1906 | |
| Be-na-nee - Navajo - 1907 Chief Jat-jal-i-na-tloi - Navajo - 1907 Chief Many Horses - Navajo - 1907 Chief Pesh-la-cai - Navajo - 1907 Chief Servero - Ute - 1907 Estzan-lopa - Navajo - 1907 Hosh-cane-ah-sure-it - Navajo - 1907 Miguelito (red point) Ya-otza beg-ay - Navajo - 1907 Pestrlacia-baad - Navajo - 1907 Quie-ithas-ha - Navajo - 1907 Sam-mon - Navajo - 1907 Stahl-lah-che-bi-nelly - Navajo - 1907 Stah-mah-chiz-bi-nelly - Navajo - 1907 Tlo-bi-nelli - Navajo - 1907 Ton-ti-tah - Navajo - 1907 Tpapa-a - Navajo - 1907 Tsoy-ash-ee - Navajo - 1907 Zan-ey - Navajo - 1907 Zahn-eh - Navajo - 1907 | Beckashi holoni baad - Navajo - 1908 Char-ah - Walpi - 1908 Chief Bai-lish - Apache - 1908 Chief Burnt-all-over - Cheyenne - 1908 Chief Chico - South Fork Paiute - 1908 Chief Chiquito - Apache - 1908 Chief Coffee - Yuma Apache - 1908 Chief Grey Hair - Crow - 1908 Chief Jat-jal-i-ni-tloi - Navajo - 1908 Chief Keokuk - Sac and Fox - 1908 Chief Manuelito - Navajo - 1908 Chief Sitting-bull - Sioux - 1908 Chief Two-moon - Cheyenne - 1908 Chis-chili - Navajo - 1908 Geronimo - Apache - 1908 Estzan-nez - Navajo - 1908 Gi-aum-e Hon-o-me-tah - Kiowa - 1908 Hoe'-dah - Isleta Pueblo - 1908 Kah-eh - Moqui - 1908 Kah-lah-cha - Moqui - 1908 Kahl-uh - Moqui - 1908 Ko-cha-mana - Moqui - 1908 Lap-hi - Columbia - 1908 Naiche - Apache - 1908 Nom-pay-eh - Tewa - 1908 None-ah-say - Santa Clara - 1908 Oach - Mojave - 1908 Quo-tah - Pueblo - 1908 Schule - Mohave - 1908 Tah-ho-man-ah - Hopi - 1908 Tla-i-ashi - Navajo - 1908 Ton-ti-tah - Navajo - 1908 Ton-to - Navajo - 1908 | |
| Ah-co-ahn-ney - Santa Clara - 1909 Apache - Navajo - 1909 Coe-y-shone - Zia Pueblo - 1909 Cy-strut-ey - Santa Ana Pueblo - 1909 Der-we-low-yellow - Taos - 1909 Domingo-me-ah - Isleta Pueblo - 1909 Emanuel-tenorio - San Felipe Pueblo - 1909 Geronimo - Apache - 1909 Hah-not-ie - Acoma - 1909 Han-nah-toe - Tesuque - 1909 Heugh-tah - Picuris - 1909 Ho-say-da-loris-cap-is-trano - San Felipe - 1909 Ke-veh-jah - Santo Domingo - 1909 Lusiano-lujan - Sandia Pueblo - 1909 Mah-re-ah - Campo - 1909 Mah-t - Felipe Pueblo - 1909 Moe-eh-ahn-yeh - Nambe - 1909 Moly-e-ano - Ute - 1909 Mon-well - Jicarilla Apache - 1909 Oah-montoya - Jicarilla Apache - 1909 O-chin - Jemez - 1909 Oeh-whem-eh - Picuris - 1909 O-ku-ah-syd-eh - San Ildefonso Pueblo - 1909 Pack-ah-me-toe - Hualapai - 1909 Pah-que - Sandia Pueblo - 1909 Paph - Taos - 1909 Pog-Ah-Ninnie-Ah-Ey - Santa Clara - 1909 Quan-o-p - San Juan - 1909 See-ley - Laguna - 1909 Se-o-low-o - Cochiti Pueblo - 1909 Se-o-we-meh - Zia Pueblo - 1909 Te-o-whe-low - Tesuque - 1909 Teyn-you-soum-wy - Nambe - 1909 Tom-pes-now-ah - San Juan - 1909 Wah-k-no - Campo - 1909 Whe-shing - Jemez Pueblo - 1909 Yah-me-yeh - Laguna - 1909 Zui-sti-yallah - Hualapai - 1909 | Bitagu-Lichi-Bitzi - Navajo - 1910 Estzan-lapa - Navajo - 1910 Estzan-Nap-Pa - Navajo - 1910 Hastiin-Nez - Navajo - 1910 Neh-az-bah - Navajo - 1910 Nez-ze-gig-ge - Navajo - 1910 Tlo-Be-Nel-Ly - Navajo - 1910 Two-he - Navajo - 1910 Native American Child, St.Michaels (school)-1910 |
(note: viewed by name used by Burbank, but linked to current tribal page)
Acoma * Agua Caliente * Apache * Arapahoe * Cahuilla * Campo * Cheyenne * Chimevava * Cochiti Pueblo * Columbia * Comanche * Coo-Koo-Lah * Crow * Desert Calmilla * Desert Cahuilla * Diegueno * Digeno * Digger * Hualapai * Hopi * Hoopa * Isleta Pueblo * Jemez * Jicarilla Apache * Jule River * Kabahimen * Kickapoo * Kiowa * Kobalthnent * Laguna Pueblo * Lower Klamath * Mad River * Maidu * Meteneck * Meuwock * Modoc * Mohave * Moqui * Na-Po * Nambe * Napa * Navajo * Nez Perces * Nomelacki * Ottawa * Panamint * Papago * Pala * Picuris * Pima * Poma * Pomo * Pueblo * Sac and Fox * San Felipe * San Felipe Pueblo * San Felippo * San Ignacio * San Luis Rey * Sandia Pueblo * Santa Ana Pueblo * Santa Clara * Seranno * Shawnee * Sioux * Soboba * South Fork Paiute * Southern Cheyenne * Sun Pum * Southern Ute * Tejon * Temecula * Tewa * Tule River * Ukiah * Ukiah Saiaz * Ukie * Ute * Washoe * Wylackie * Yackima * Yaqui * Yuma * Yuma Apache * Walpi * Zia Pueblo * Zuni
From the summary of "A Portfolio of Ten of His "Red Head" Indian Sketches" from the J. L. Hubbell Collection-Ganado, Azizona.