Archives On The Air 56: "Crazy Sister-in-Law"—Richard Throssel Collection

Published September 5, 2018 at 9:20 AM MDT

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Photograph taken by Richard Throssel of a large group of men on horses, on foot, and on the ground, reenacting a battle, circa 1902-1920s. Box 12, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Photograph taken by Richard Throssel of a large group of men on horses, on foot, and on the ground, reenacting a battle, circa 1902-1920s. Box 12, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Recollection written by Richard Throssel about the traditions of how Native American children received their intricate, storied names, circa 1915-1960. Box 56, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Recollection written by Richard Throssel about the traditions of how Native American children received their intricate, storied names, circa 1915-1960. Box 56, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Photograph taken by Richard Throssel of a group of Native American people in ceremonial dress performing a song, circa 1902-1933. Box 17, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Photograph taken by Richard Throssel of a group of Native American people in ceremonial dress performing a song, circa 1902-1933. Box 17, Richard Throssel papers.

American Heritage Center

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Photograph by Richard Throssel of “Cuts the Bear’s Ears,” a member of the Crow tribe, circa 1902-1933. Box 27, Richard Throssel papers.";s:3:

American Heritage Center

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Photograph by Richard Throssel of “Cuts the Bear’s Ears,” a member of the Crow tribe, circa 1902-1933. Box 27, Richard Throssel papers.";s:3:

American Heritage Center

Richard Throssel was of Cree Indian and English descent. The Crow Tribe adopted him in 1905.

Throssel studied photography under Edward Curtis and became a field photographer documenting the lives of Native Americans on the Crow reservation. Working on the reservation gave Throssel insight into the origins of some tribe members’ names.

According to Throssel, mothers commonly named their newborns after the first object they saw. But names like “campfire” and “smoke” were common.

Over time, more fanciful names were given, usually with a story.

A hunter named “Crazy Sister-in-Law” contributed to his granddaughter’s name after successfully avoiding a raid on a solo hunting journey.

Crazy Sister-In-Law noticed raiders planning to ambush him. He sang a death song, and a medicine song, and then charged at the center of the raiders.

Amazed by his audacity, the raiders let him pass.

His granddaughter’s name “Sings To You A Pretty Song” referred to the songs that carried him through the raid.

Richard Throssel’s photographs and stories are available through the digital collections of UW’s American Heritage Center.