Call NumberNS-142Date1885-1900SummaryA group of six men is gathered in front of a log cabin used in a scene during Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. John Nelson guided Brigham Young to Utah in 1847 and was a scout with William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody at Fort McPherson in 1869. He acted as interpreter in some of the Wild West Shows and served as a stagecoach driver and cowboy in some of the acts. Nelson also played the settler in the "Attack on a Settler's Cabin" act in which the settlers are saved by Cody. Nelson and his Sioux family were presented to Queen Victoria while the show toured in England in 1887. Nelson stands at the left, near his Sioux son of the same name, holding a rifle propped on one end. He has a beaded pipe bag hanging from his belt. Standing in the doorway to the cabin is John Burke, press agent of Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Johnny Baker, foster son to William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and a marksman in the show, stands in the right midground leaning against the cabin. Seated at far right is Jule Keen, treasurer of the Wild West Show. A man inside the cabin looks out the small square window to the right of the entrance. Two flags, one American, one British, hang above the entrance. A poster depicting Buffalo Bill and two men on horseback hangs between the two flags.Physical Description1 photoprint : black and white ; 19 x 24 cm (7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.) on mat 23 x 28 cm (8 3/4 x 11 in.)Born-Digital or AnalogAnalogSubjectWild west showsFlags--AmericanFlags--BritishBuffalo Bill, 1846-1917Baker, Johnny, d. 1931Keen, JuleNelson, John Young, 1826-1903Buffalo Bill's Wild West ShowCollectionPhotographs - Western HistoryRelated MaterialImage File: ZZR700105142Type of MaterialPhotographic printsOriginal Material Found in CollectionSalsbury collection, Buffalo Bill's Wild West ShowNotesJ Keen with A.R. Dresser's compliments handwritten across lower front side of mat; "A.R. Dresser Vol 2 Salsbury Photo Albums is dated 1892 Earl's Court place? date? about 1889?" handwritten on back of print; "Left to right John Nelson's son, John Nelson, Major John Burke, press agent, Johnny Baker, Cody's foster-son and marksman in the show (standing) Jule Keene, treasurer, (seated extreme right)" and "Given by the family of Nate Salsbury, owner and manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West from his collection, in 1938" also handwritten across back of print. Title supplied by cataloger. Vintage photographic print. R7001051428
Men in front of cabin (1885-1900). Denver Public Library Digital Collections, accessed 13/04/2026, https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/1124212
