“There was one other guy who worked at Bell with me, but after the war, he didn’t come back, so it was just me,” remembered Groethe. It was after that purchase that Groethe began his apprenticeship at Bell Studios where he remained for 30 years.Īfter serving in WWII as a photo reconnaissance technician for the Army Air Force, Groethe returned home. Carl Rise, an early pioneer of photography was a neighbor of Groethe. “I developed my first photograph when I was only 10 years old,” said Groethe. Groethe, who still resides in Rapid City, learned his craft as an apprentice under Bert Bell who owned Bell’s Photographic Studio. “They were all such gentlemen,” remembers Groethe.” Ben (Black Elk) was there and we could speak back and forth in English, but the rest, they understood me, but only spoke English if they wanted to.” Black Elk was photographed by Groethe outside of his tent individually. The fact that the great chief had lost his eye sight led Black Elk to decline venturing from his tent further up the hill because he did not want anyone to have to assist him. In an interview with Native Sun News Groethe explains that Black Elk was also in attendance for the reunion. The picture that hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington includes Little Warrior, Pemmican, Little Soldier, Dewey Beard, John Sitting Bull, High Eagle, Iron Hawk and Comes Again. Now, in 2014, there is a project under way that will see those photographs set in stone at the memorial site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, or Greasy Grass, in south eastern Montana. military in Montana.īill Groethe who is now 91 years old and a lifelong Rapid City resident is the photographer who took the famous picture on Sept. That famous photograph was taken in the Black Hills during a reunion of the greatest victory for the Plains tribes that went head to head with the U.S. RAPID CITY- Sixty-six years has passed since a photograph was taken of the last eight survivors of the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. That photo now hangs in the Smithsonian as well as other public places around the country. All content © Native Sun News.īill Groethe is the photographer who took the famous picture of the last eight survivors of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The following story was written and reported by Karin Eagle, Native Sun
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |