Photo: Curley, Gen. Custer's scout and only survivor of the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn, a major U.S. Army defeat. D.F. Barry photographer. From the Pohrt Collection.
Brought to you by the Grosse Pointe Artist Association:
In his effort to show respect for the Native American subjects and support the work of future researchers, Jakob Dopp, the graphics division cataloger at the William L. Clements Library on the U of M Ann Arbor Campus, worked tirelessly to uncover the true stories behind the photos in the Richard Pohrt, Jr. Collection of Native American Photography. He will talk about his process and share insights into the collection as the first lecturer in the series celebrating the nation's 250th birthday. The presentation is at 2 pm on Sunday, Jan. 11, in the historic Alger House on The War Memorial campus.
As Dopp developed records for the photos, he found that the subjects were often misidentified. Some had multiple names and their tribal affiliations were wrong. Circumstances suggest they even might have been photographed while being held as prisoners of war. Since subjects were sometimes made to pose with studio props, he also had to question the backdrops. Because the Pohrt Collection donor also held a strong interest in Native American objects/items, Dopp has included rich descriptions of various aspects of clothing and such in his records.
Your Old Mansion Lecture Series:
This year, the Grosse Pointe Artists Association's annual lecture series, "Your Old Mansion," celebrates the nation's 250th birthday. All lectures are at 2 pm on Sundays in the library of the Alger Mansion on The War Memorial campus.
2 pm, Sunday, Jan. 11: "Face Value: Contextual Cataloging of Historic Native American Photographs" with Jakob Dopp will open the lecture series. During the afternoon he will explain the challenges he has encountered working with 19th and early 20th century photographs from the Richard Pohrt, Jr. Collection of Native American Photography.
2 pm, Sunday, Feb. 15: Come celebrate Valentine's Day with Associate Curator of Manuscripts Jayne Ptolemy who will share some heartwarming ways people displayed their love through the centuries.
2 pm, Sunday March 8: Join Sierra Laddusaw, Curator of Maps and Graphics, and Mary Pedley, Assistant Curator of Maps, at the William L. Clements Library, for a walk through the history of mapping Michigan.
2 pm, Sunday, March 29: To cover the costs of the seven-year French and Indian War, the British Parliament levied taxes and enacted harsh laws that enraged the colonists. One thing led to another, or one could say, to the Lexington Green where the British Redcoats met the American Minutemen, igniting the Revolutionary War between the British Empire and its North American colonies. Curator of Manuscripts at the Clements Library Cheney Schopieray, who developed a recent exhibition titled “Bloody Work: Lexington and Concord 1775," will help us relive this pivotal time in American history.
BONUS LECTURE: 2 pm, Sunday, April 12: For the BONUS lecture, artist and Detroit historian Mike Kroll will help us remember early 20th-century Detroit, when art, industry and civic vision converged in transformative ways. Center stage were Dr. Wilhelm Valentiner and Edsel Ford.
This lecture series is the Grosse Pointe Artists Association's only fund raiser. The association thanks the presenters for donating their time and The War Memorial for its support. Proceeds from the series funds free arts programming for veterans, senior citizens and high school art students.
Additional information and registration can be found on the Grosse Pointe Artist’s Association’s website.
This event is presented as part of America 250, a nationwide commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. In 2026, select programs at The War Memorial invite reflection on our shared history, civic ideals, and the stories shaping the nation during this milestone year.