Old Betz or Old Bets was a well known famous Mdewakanton Dakota Woman1870.

Original and Rare,Circa 1870 Flat Mount Stereoview Titled “Old Betz”.The stereoview is by W.H.Illingworth a well known Minnesota photographer who took a number of views of participants and the aftermath of the 1862 Dakota War in Minnesota.

The photographic views on this stereoview are two separate photographic images AND NOT A COPYPRINT TYPE STEREOVIEW.The images are in attractive brownish tones.

“Old Betz or Old Bets”was a well known Mdewakanton Dakota Woman famous for taking care of and protecting from harm a number of white hostages taken prisoner by the Dakota Warriors during the Minnesota Sioux Uprising or Dakota War of 1862.She lived in Mendota and regularly frequented St.Paul,Minnesota.She was a well known Dakota woman and considered a friend of the whites during the Dakota War and several local photographers including Illingworth took her picture which would then appear on both CDV and Stereoview photographs at the time and for a number of years after.

At the time this photograph was taken she was proabably 50-60 years old.She was confined at Camp Release and in November 1862 was sent to the Dakota Internment Compound at Fort Snelling,Minnesota.She was the mother of Taopi a farmer Indian who was also considered a friend of the whites.Old Betz and her mother were a part of Taopi’s band at Fort Snelling.She was not sent to Crow Creek with many of the other Dakota Indians but was allowed to stay in the area spending part of the time at Faribault where Bishop Whipple was able to settle a number of other Dakota who did not participate in the war against the whites.She died in 1873.

The true story of Old Betz and her kindness towards the white prisoners taken early in the conflict was included in a number of the books written about the Dakota War later.

The images show her in traditional Dakota clothing including a blanket.

Printed in black lettering on the left side of the front of the mount is “PUBLISHED BY W.H.ILLINGWORTH No.27 North and Bradley Str.St.Paul,Minn”.Then printed on the right side also in black lettering is “STEREOGRAPHS OF MINNESOTA SCENERY Photographed by W.H.Illingworth.”The identification of” OLD BETZ”is printed underneath the left side image.

Actual size of the stereoview including the mount is 3 1/2 by 7 inches.The two images have rounded corners at the top and square corners at the bottom.The mount is canary yellow and has rounded corners.The back of the mount is in grayish tones.There is no other writing or identification on the back of the mount.

Condition is very good a nice,flat,complete and essentially clean stereoview.The images have good clarity and contrast and details can be easily made out.There is some smudging and dustiness to the actual images and some smudging and dustiness to the front of the mount.The photographers imprint etc is still bright and attractive.The back of the mount has more pronounced smudging and dustiness,some light browning etc.Light wear to mount edges and corners.The stereoview is in quite nice and collectible condition.

This original and rare,circa 1870 flat mount stereoview by Illingworth showing Dakota woman “Old Betz”a famous figure during the Dakota Indian War of 1862 in Minnesota would make a fine addition to your rare original Minnesota Dakota Indian War of 1862 historical memorabilia collection.A great addition as well to any early US Indian War historical memorabilia collection.