[Set of Native American Educational Posters]

Combining maps and Native American symbolism for educational purposes in the early 1960s.

This colorful set of posters, combining simple maps with engaging illustration and minimal text, was designed to educate 1960s schoolchildren about the history of America’s indigenous populations. With one exception, the set was created with the input of educational consultant Dr. William B. Sanborn, Director of Instructional Materials for the San Francisco Public Schools. Copyrighted in 1966 by Portal Publications, Ltd., a California-based graphic arts publishing company known for its movie posters, greeting cards, and fine art lithographs. The group consists of the following sheets:

• Indians of the Plains – a stoic crimson overview featuring artwork by talented California-based artist Norman Nicholson. Includes a simple map of the various Plains tribes. Indians of North America – An engaging visual overview celebrating Native American heroism, with illustrations of Geronimo, Red Shirt, Sitting Bull, and other indigenous priests and warriors. Copyright in 1959 by Educational Posters.
• Trails of Westward Movement – A simple pictorial map of the Western United States, color-coded according to territorial acquisition, that shows popular emigrant trails of the 19th century.
• The Indians – A striking scene illustrated by Edwin Ingalls, with a generalized and surprisingly progressive summary of westward expansion.
• Indians of the Southwest The Navajo – Another noble representation by Norman Nicholson, featuring the iconic stylized patterns of the Navajo tribes. Includes a small map of Arizona and Nevada.

Source.