Fred Harvey & the American West

 

I was at the Heard Museum again yesterday for another Artful Mornings lecture.  This time it was about Fred Harvey and his influence in the American West.  Fred Harvey (1835-1901), formed a partnership with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad to build restaurants and hotels all along the railway line from Kansas to California.  The lecture reminded me that I had a few photos that I had taken back in 2017 when the museum did an exhibit about Fred Harvey and the Grand Canyon.  Above is a Zuni made inlay figure of a famous "Harvey Girl".  It was presented to Byron Harvey III by trader C.G. Wallace, another entrepreneur who worked with members of the Zuni tribe to create jewelry and artworks to be sold in places like the Harvey Houses.

Above is an old photograph of some Harvey Girls from one of the restaurants he owned.  

To the left are some of the artworks that were inspired by the Santa Fe Railroad and created by Native American craftsmen.  

Fred Harvey along with C.G. Wallace are both credited with introducing the public to the American west and all forms of Native American arts and crafts. You can clearly see the railroad's influence in these pieces.