The Curtis Legacy Foundation
The family's continuing work
Edward Curtis's daughter Florence Curtis Graybill spent her own life advocating for her father's work. In May 1983, she authenticated the copper photogravure plates in The Curtis Collection as the original plates from her father's project — "the only set of plates that have ever existed." Her letter remains the central document of authentication.
The Curtis Legacy Foundation was established by the family of Edward S. Curtis to continue the work he began more than a century ago. John Graybill, Curtis's great-grandson and the youngest of three living great-grandchildren, serves as president. John and his wife Coleen lead the Foundation's Descendants Project, which photographs the living descendants of the Native peoples Curtis originally documented — using period-appropriate photographic equipment and techniques similar to those Curtis employed.
The Foundation also maintains family archives, documents, and unpublished Curtis photographs, and is working toward establishing a Curtis museum. The Unpublished books are part of their educational programs that help people learn more about the work of Edward Curtis and its connection to the lives of Native Peoples today. Coleen has authored a series of volumes of previously unpublished Curtis work, including subjects from Alaska, the Plains, and the Southwest.
Visitors to CurtisCamp who are interested in the Curtis family history or the Descendants Project are welcome to inquire through the Camp Keeper, or visit the Foundation directly at curtislegacyfoundation.org →