McKenney and Hall, 1836-1844 - SHIN-GA-BA-W'OSSIN. A CHIPPEWAY CHIEF., from History of the Indian Tribes of - ca. 1838 - T-Shirt

This design reproduces a hand-coloured lithographic portrait of Shin-ga-ba-w'ossin, a Chippewa chief, drawn in the late 1830s for McKenney and Hall's history of Native American nations.

Visual Elements & Composition

A cream ground fills most of the image, with the portrait set in an oval vignette on a rectangular plate. The sitter appears in three-quarter profile, wearing a red headband with white feathers, beaded hair ornaments, and a silver medallion on a red cord. Crimson and slate blue appear as accents against the warm paper tone, and the engraved caption sits centred beneath the portrait in capital letters, naming the sitter and his title.

Meaning & Symbolism

The portrait was part of a government-backed project that documented Native American delegates who travelled to Washington, D.C., to negotiate with federal officials. The original paintings were executed primarily by Charles Bird King, and McKenney and Hall's multi-volume work, published between 1836 and 1844, preserved the likenesses of these leaders. The formal portrait treatment honoured each chief's standing while recording a period of displacement for indigenous nations, making the print both a visual record and a historical testimony of Native leadership.

Wearing the Portrait

A portrait printed on a tee is seen at close range, so the headband, feathers and caption read clearly when the shirt is worn across the chest. The oval vignette and centred caption translate directly to the front of a classic crew neck, keeping the composition of the original plate intact.