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Carl Everton Moon (Karl Everton Moon)

 
Carl Everton Moon

19th-20th century Photographer, painter, illustrator (Indian life)
(Wilmington, Ohio, 1878 or 1879 - 1948)

Carl Everton Moon or Karl as he sometimes spelled his name was the son of Sylvester Bronston, a noted country physician of his time, and Lucy Brunetta (Gudgeon) Moon. Before 1914 he always used a "K" from 1914-1917 mostly a "K" and sometimes a "C". After February 1918 he always used a "C". Photographing Native Americans in their natural state was the principal aim of Carl Moon. He tried to show the Indian as he lived before civilization hampered his freedom, warped his views of life and changed his picturesque customs and mode of dress. Carl Everton Moon was born in Wilmington, Ohio. He became interested in Native American at an early age. After High School Moon served in the National Guard and decided on photography as a vocation. After apprenticing for 6 years he opened a studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico to begin photographic "art studies" of the Southwestern Indians. He set up a photographic studio and began making his first collection of photographs and paintings of the Pueblo Indians. For the next seven years he was in charge of the Fred Harvey Headquarters at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. He studied landscape painting with visiting artists Louis Akin, Thomas Moran, and Frank Sauerwein. It was here that he met his second wife, Grace Purdie. They were married on June 5, 1911. They had two children, a son Francis and a daughter Mary Caryl. Carl and Grace settled in Pasadena, California in 1914. He focused on landscape painting and illustrating children's stories co-authored with his wife. He was a member of The Cartoonist Club and the Pasadena Art Association. Over the next few decades Carl Moon became renowned nation wide and his work was exhibited at The National Museum in Washington, D.C., the American Museum of Natural History, New York and at the invitation of President Theodore Roosevelt, at The White House. Over the years he formed friendships with his subjects that enabled him to spend weeks at a time in tribal villages, learning about their culture.

1 objects

The Riding Lesson

c. 1909
Sepia-toned silver print
Gift, In honor of Daniel J. Miller's graduation, 2003, from his grandparents
2003.14