This is an original hand signed, Richard Throssel (1882-1933) silver gelatin large format image of a Montana Crow girl and early Tipi village. Provenance: From an Ex-Museum collection out of Eastern Montana. This is an original silver gelatin large format image which shows the handwritten signature from Throssel in the bottom right. This shows a village of teepees in early light with a young native girl in buckskin garments three teepees down. Throssel (1882-1933) He worked as an office clerk at the Crow Indian Reservation in south-central Montana from 1902-1910 and was adopted by the Crow tribe in 1905. Richard Throssel was born in Marengo, Washington and was of Manitoba Metis (French, Cree, English and Scottish) descent. In 1909, Richard Throssel became the first Metis in North America to be employed as a professional photographer when he was appointed as a field photographer in the Indian Service. He held this position until 1911, when he moved to Billings, Montana to establish his own studio, the Throssel Photocraft Company. Throssel’s Metis roots were in Red River. The condition of this silver gelatin is well preserved with no obvious signs of damage and shows a well preserved overall condition. The measurements of this photograph is 8 3/8" x 8 1/2". The collective weight of this photograph in display sleeve is 4oz. The photograph is marked "Throssel" and is cut off slightly in the bottom right hand corner.