Last of His Race

 

The cultural clash between the noble Indian with his pipe and empty tobacco pouch, and the lack of a feather on his head, yet the well dressed lady riding the bicycle has one in her hat. I think there are plenty of clues as to why this is so stark and telling of Charlie's story in pen and ink.  

The Toll Collector

 From 'Names on the Face of Montana', by Roberta Carkeek Cheney: "About three miles below the junction of the Sweetwater and Ruby River where several natural hot springs were found, and on the direct wagon train route of pioneers coming from the south toward Virginia City."

Mr. Puller was the Postmaster, as well as building a saloon, a dance hall and hotel. Mr. Chas. Metzel later purchased the properties from Mr. Puller, and raised horses and cattle. 

The image is from nowhere near Virginia City, but rather in the breaks of the Missouri. 

Robe Trader

 

from Russell's "Joe Kipp's Trading Post"

Charlie did three paintings of Joe Kipp's Trading Post, two exterior and this interior. Nine figures included, and I believe the woman who had a 'hand' in dressing these robes is a quiet observer. I hope I find more paper like this to let me continue telling the stories.

White Man's Buffalo

The image is from a C. M. Russell painting executed by him in 1919. The document itself is a bill of lading for a wagon load of goods from T. C. Power & Brother in Fort Benton, Montana Territory, in late May of 1882. I could research which of the boats would have arrived that early from St. Louis, because I have that recorded somewhere. Regardless, the wagon was dispatched to the Indian Trader at Fort Shaw, J. H. McKnight. Included on the wagon was a barrel of whiskey, at least 6 barrels of salt and hardwood lumber. The driver had to sign his name to the document. Partridge. No initial. Mr. Partridge signed, essentially testifying the barrel of whiskey would arrive at Ft. Shaw in the same condition it left Ft. Benton.

The image depicts an escaped young steer from a Bull Team, and the Indians are confused as to the nature of the beast they are looking at. The one on the Left is signing Buffalo...hence the title that Charlie gave to this painting that I've attempted to create in miniature.

 

Breakfast Brownie Doughboy

Pillsbury has their doughboy, so I think Breakfast Brownies Cereal can have theirs too!

There is little known about the Breakfast Brownies Company, and not a whole lot more about the Brownie Baking Company, except that they were not one and the same. The Breakfast Brownies Company was incorporated in 1919 in Montana, and although the officers were not all in or from Helena, the cereal was milled in Minneapolis and packaged here in Helena. Just exactly where in Helena I cannot determine, although I do know where their office was located.

I have seen a cardboard case for the cereal, a stock certificate, as well as one sample box and a dozen metal plates for print advertising. One of the plate images is the source for my Brownie Doughboy.

I acquired several pieces of letterhead for the Brownie Baking Company, whose bakery was in Spokane, Washington. I do know that the Brownie Baking Company was once the Tru-Blu Biscuit Company, because I have seen five real photo postcards of the factory, and the message side of the card has the Tru Blu logo printed on it. Research on the web reveals very little about the company, other than the fact the factory bakery building is still in use – not as a bakery, but it's now artist studio space.

I decided to put the Breakfast Brownies Doughboy on this piece of Brownie Baking Company letterhead because they had one thing in common – they both used the images of Brownies to sell their products. Note the Brownie in the lower left corner of their letterhead. I've never done this sort of thing before, but my chances of ever finding a piece of Breakfast Brownies paper are slim and next to none.

Well? Do you think this piece of advertising art would fly up against the Cocoa Puffs of the cereal world?

 

Harley Board Track Racer, Too

Harley-Davidson board track racer on a piece of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle paper. Mr. Monte Chadbourne finally settled in Livingston, Montana, and the paper came to me from my brother-in-law, who restores Indian Motocycles. He purchased at least one Indian basket case, and apparently a box of paper. It's headed to my framer, and then on the Western Art Week in Great Falls the third week of March.