McKenney and Hall, 1836-1844 - ONG PA TON GA. CHIEF OF THE OMAHAS., from History of the Indian Tribes of North - ca. 1838 - T-Shirt

This hand-colored lithographic portrait shows Ong Paton Ga, Chief of the Omahas, rendered as a dignified head-and-shoulders bust in an 1830s print style.

Visual Elements & Composition

The figure is set within a vignette portrait, with a warm cream ground filling most of the plate. Dark brown defines the hair and shadows, while tan skin tones give the face its presence. A fur-collared robe frames the shoulders in deep black, and a red cord necklace carries a pendant medallion at the chest, the only touch of brick red in the composition. The printed caption reads ONG PA TON GA and CHIEF OF THE OMAHAS, with the publisher line PUBLISHED BY P.W. GREENOUGH, PHILAD'A along the plate.

Meaning & Symbolism

Ong Paton Ga, also known as Big Elk, was a principal chief of the Omaha people during years of heavy pressure from westward expansion. He was known for his eloquent oratory and strategic judgment, working to keep the peace while advocating firmly for Omaha rights and traditional lands. The portrait comes from Thomas McKenney and James Hall's multi-volume History of the Indian Tribes of North America, a publication assembled by government officials who set out to record Native leadership. The likeness of a respected statesman now stands as a record of Omaha diplomacy, sovereignty, and survival in the nineteenth century.

Wearing the Portrait

A portrait works best on a torso, where the eye settles on the face at a comfortable distance and the fur collar and medallion read as part of the figure. The chest is the natural place for a bust like this, placing the chief in the same field of view as the wearer's own presence. The design carries the restrained, authoritative mood of the original plate, so it reads as a considered image rather than a decoration.