Indian Headband
This print by Homer Nelson, titled “Wabano” appeared on a 1925 calendar as part of publisher Brown & Bigelow’s “Indian Heroine Series.” The source photo by Beatrice Tonnesen was found at the Winneconne (WI) Historical Society. Detail of the illustrated headband is faithful to the original photograph. The model is believed to have been Mary Simmonds O’Grady (1896-1976).
This sample calendar print is titled"Minnehaha" Copyright, 1917, Merchants Publishing Co. Kalamazoo, Mich. The back says in part, "Picture No. 136. Can be furnished on any of our Duotone Mounts." This image appears to feature the same model, wearing the same clothing, as in the Gartner Bender image. It is very likely that both photos were created in one camera shoot. Tonnesen frequently created her finished images by placing the photographic image of her model in front of a painted or illustrated background such as this one.