History of the Indian Tribes of North America, vol. II

In the early 1820s Thomas L. McKenney (1785–1859) launched a massive project to preserve a record of Native Americans, resulting in the three-volume, folio-sized History of the Indian Tribes of North America. He commissioned artist Charles Bird King to paint tribal representatives visiting Washington, secured James Hall as an author, and hired Philadelphia lithographers to make the 120 hand-colored portraits. Because of the complexity of the project and insufficient financing, the principals went through multiple draftsmen, lithography companies, and publishers. James Hall (1793–1868) finally brought the project to completion early in 1844 with the fifth publisher. Although the text reflects racist prejudices of the day, the publication is a monumental achievement in portraiture.