Place: Honeoye Falls
Born: 1854
Death: 1934
Biography:
David Francis Barry was a 19th-century photographer of the American West, born on March 6, 1854, in Honeoye Falls, New York. He moved with his family to Otsego, Wisconsin, and later to Columbus, where he assisted an itinerant photographer named Orlando Scott Goff. In 1871, Goff relocated to Yankton, Dakota Territory, and Barry joined him in 1878 as an apprentice. Over time, their partnership grew, and Barry became a skilled photographer in his own right.
Between 1878 and 1883, Barry traveled throughout the Plains, capturing photographs of famous Lakota people notables such as Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the-Face, Gall (Phizi), and John Grass. His work earned him the nickname "Little Shadow Catcher" among the Lakota people. Barry's photographs are now considered an important part of American history, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of Native American communities during the 19th century.
Barry married Margaret "Patty" Young in Chicago on March 27, 1884, and the couple remained childless. After returning to Wisconsin in 1890, Barry operated a successful gallery in Superior until his death on March 6, 1934. For more information about David Francis Barry's life and work, visit David Francis Barry or Wikipedia.
Some of Barry's notable works can be found in the collections of the Rockwell Museum of Western Art and the Staedtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus. These museums showcase a range of American Western art, including paintings by Franz Marc and Alexej Georgewitsch Von Jawlensky. To explore more about these artists and their works, visit Rockwell Museum of Western Art or Staedtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus.