Born in Wisconsin, Roland Reed developed a keen interest in recording the lives of Native Americans.

Early in his career, Roland worked as a news photographer for Great Northern Railway and the Associated Press. He opened up his two portrait studios in Minnesota, and his portraiture was renown. He left the studio for two years to pursue his passion for documenting the lives of Native Americans.

His photography of American Indians was somewhat romanticized, preferring to capture images of life before the forced migration to reservations.

His work received a gold medal at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition for photos of “an educational and historic value”.

Reed worked extensively with his cousin Roy Williams. The two planned a nationwide lecture series promoting the photographic series. Reed died in an accident in 1934, but Williams carried on, delivering more than 3000 lectures.

Richard Frey Fine Art Gallery has an extensive collection of Roland Reed photogravure, some hand colored by Roy Williams.

Feel free to contact us with any inquiries. Or you may visit our eBay listings of Reed’s work.