William Cournoyer -- US Indian Reservation Band. Kathryn Gunnell Photo Collection, Willamette Heritage Center, 1999.006 P.1.

William Cournoyer — US Indian Reservation Band. Kathryn Gunnell Photo Collection, Willamette Heritage Center, 1999.006 P.1.

This negative is part of the Kathryn Gunnell Photo Collection at the Willamette Heritage Center.  Gunnell was a professional photographer in Salem, Oregon.  She often photographed performing artists.  This image, dated November 30, 1930, was inscribed with the name William Cournoyer.  The medallion on the carpet in front of Mr. Cournoyer reads “U.S. Indian Band.”  The negative envelope reads “U.S. Indian Reservation Band.”  Other images in this grouping of photos are marked with the names: “Brenak’s Golden Horse,”  George LaMere “Hotonga,” Chief Shunatona, Watie Akins and Vic Artese.

The U.S. Indian Reservation Band appears to be a traveling show.  The name pops up in many newspapers in the 1930s from a around the country.  A copy of one of the Gunnell’s images even appears in the January 15, 1931 Niagara Falls Gazette, suggesting that the group used Gunnell’s photos as publicity photos in their touring.

There are a lot of William Cournoyer’s listed in the U.S. Censuses.  The most likely suspect seems to be the William T. Cournoyer born about 1909 in South Dakota to Joseph B. and Annie Cournoyer.  In 1920, William was living in Ravinia, Charles Mix, South Dakota, where his father worked as a carpenter.  By 1934, Cournoyer is listed on the Indian Census Rolls in Yankton, South Dakota, although there is a note that he is currently living in New York.  He appears on several ships manifests, suggesting the band may have played for cruises in the area.