McKenney and Hall, 1836-1844 - KEOKUK. CHIEF OF THE SACS AND FOXES., from History of the Indian Tribes of - ca. 1838 - T-Shirt

This hand-coloured lithographic portrait shows Keokuk, a Sauk and Fox chief, presented with the formal dignity of a documented likeness.

Visual Elements & Composition

The portrait sits within a vertical rectangle, with an oval vignette framing the figure. Cream dominates the sheet, with brick red, rose pink, moss green and ochre yellow applied by hand across the headdress, blanket and clothing. Keokuk stands in a feathered headdress and red blanket, beside a feathered ceremonial staff with ribbons. At his side, a seated child wears a pink shirt, a shell necklace and a cameo medal. The lettering "KEOKUK" and "CHIEF OF THE SACS & FOXES" anchors the composition at the base, and a grassy rock outcrop grounds the scene.

Meaning & Symbolism

Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Trade, and James Hall commissioned these portraits for History of the Indian Tribes of North America, a major ethnographic project of the 19th century. The series preserved the likenesses of tribal delegates visiting Washington, D.C. Keokuk was known for his diplomacy as settlers pressed into Sauk and Fox territory, and his portrait records a leader navigating treaties and forced relocation. The feathered staff, beadwork and fringed clothing signal traditional authority, while the formal setting reflects the documentary purpose of the publication.

On the Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

The vertical format of this portrait suits the front of a tee, where the oval vignette sits centred and the figure reads clearly at a distance. Fine hand-coloured detail rewards a closer look at the beadwork, the ribbons and the cameo medal, so the shirt works as both a wearable image and a small piece of the original plate.