Details

Collection Summary
Collection: 1952 - Frank Bennett Fiske
Folder: 0000
Item: 01636
Title: Doane Robinson and others at Sitting Bull's grave, Fort Yates (N.D.)
Date: 12/25/1937
Creator: Fiske, Frank Bennett,--1883-1952
Inscription/Marks: [in pencil on negative emulsion] Doan Robinson Sitting Bull’s grave Fort Yates. [bio]Jonah LeRoy "Doane" Robinson (October 19, 1856 – November 27, 1946) was a state historian of South Dakota who conceived of the idea for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Early life Robinson was born in Sparta, Wisconsin. His sister could not pronounce his name (Jonah LeRoy), so she called him Doane. Robinson became a farmer in Minnesota, but soon abandoned the job to become a lawyer. Later, he took interest in history, and received the position as South Dakota's state historian. In that position, he conceived the idea of the Mt. Rushmore monument. Mount Rushmore After reading about Stone Mountain, Robinson was suddenly inspired to sculpt the Needles, several pillars made of granite, into likenesses of famous people. He hoped that such a sculpture would attract greater tourism to South Dakota. After failing to contact Lorado Taft, who was ill, Robinson gained the support of Gutzon Borglum. He was also backed by Senator Peter Norbeck. Robinson began efforts to raise funds for the project and to receive permission to carve the Needles. The funds were denied, and many groups including Native Americans disliked the idea. Environmentalist Cora Johnson of the Hot Springs Star felt that such a carving would destroy the landscape. On Borglum’s second meeting with Robinson, Borglum switched the location of the carving from the Needles to Mount Rushmore. Borglum also decided that the sculptures should have a larger national focus, and he selected the four presidents. The headquarters of the project, south of Mount Rushmore, became known as Doane Mountain. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge finally signed a bill which created to a commission to oversee the sculpting. Robinson failed to become part of the commission, which greatly disappointed him. Following his retirement from being a historian, he returned to farming, and lived to see the completion of Mount Rushmore. He died on November 27, 1946 in Pierre, South Dakota. Publications • History of South Dakota • A History of the Dakota or Sioux Indians from their earliest traditions and first contact with white men to the final settlement of the last of them upon reservations and consequent abandonment of the old tribal life • A Brief History of South Dakota • Doane Robinson's Encyclopedia of South Dakota
Summary: Doane Robinson seated on top of stone monument with others standing and sitting around him. Grave has concrete pad, two stone pillars at corners with metal posts surrounding stone monument.
Red ID: PH_I_154361 Image ID: 112165 Image Notes: 1952-01636

Collection: 1952 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: Frank Bennett Fiske
Date: 1880-1952

Summary: Includes prints and negatives of portraits, agriculture, education, wildlife, hunting, Frank Fiske studio portraits, and some views of South Dakota. Fiske’s Native American photographs include portraits, Indian gatherings and ceremonies, boarding schools, Indian houses and dwellings, and Native American agriculture. Fiske’s documentation of daily life on the reservation includes such shots as Sioux customers waiting for a Fort Yates trading store to open; a Sioux dance in the streets of Fort Yates; a plow issue before the agency boarding school; an encampment of tipis, including those traditionally painted; and three Indian men being taxied off the reservation to join the army in WWI.

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