Kelsey Indian Trading Co., Zuni: History, Smiths & Stamps

Kelsey Indian Trading Co. was a Zuni, New Mexico, trading post that, in 1940, had "over 30 silversmiths" making jewelry for it (Hougart 2022, p. 363). Charles Kelsey was trading at Zuni by 1919 (Chambless & Ryan 2021, p. 185). Many of its smiths were Navajo, not Zuni, so we name each maker's tribe.

Founding and people

Our sources don't record when the post opened or who founded it. The earliest date is 1919: "Wallace had begun working for Charles Kelsey at Zuni in 1919 and was operating his own trading post in 1928" (Chambless & Ryan 2021, p. 185). That is C. G. Wallace, of C. G. Wallace Trading Post. Hodge, quoted by Bedinger, placed the Zuni smith Kuwishti's shop "on the south side of the river, just across the road from Kelsey's trading post" (Bedinger 1973, p. 131, quoting Hodge 1928).

Ike Wilson (Navajo) "worked for many years with the Kelsey Trading Company near Zuni, beginning about 1925" (Hougart 2020, p. 104). Katherine Wilson (Navajo) worked alongside him there (Hougart 2020, p. 104). Other Navajo smiths tied to Kelsey: Charlie Bitsui (Hougart 2022, p. 64), Ambrose Roanhorse in the 1930s (Hougart 2020, p. 79), Ambrose Lincoln (Hougart 2020, p. 48), Austin Wilson (Hougart 2022, p. 339) and Sam Jackson (Hougart 2022, p. 152). Zuni smiths Frank Vacit (Hougart 2020, p. 99) and David Tsikewa (Hougart 2020, p. 96) worked there too. Nearly all of them also worked for Wallace.

Bryant Waatsa (Zuni) "sold to all the old-time Zuni traders, including Ed Kelsey, the Vanderwagens, and C. G. Wallace" (Bahti 2007, p. 190). Our sources don't say how Ed and Charles were related, or whether Ed ran this business.

Marks and what to look for

Hougart lists three Kelsey marks: KELSEY CO, U. S. NAVAJO 5 and U. S. ZUNI 5 (Hougart 2022, p. 363). We have the text of KELSEY CO, not an image.

The two numbered marks were government stamps assigned in 1938, and the assignment itself reads "Kelsey Indian Trading Co., Zuni, NM, or Pueblo Indian Arts and Crafts Market" (Hougart 2020, p. 130). Kenneth Chapman's first tally that spring counted 170 Kelsey pieces (Hougart 2020, p. 129). But on June 10, 1941, Chapman recorded stamping 13 pieces from the Pueblo Indian Arts and Crafts Market with US Navajo 5, and 36 more with US Zuni 5 (Hougart 2020, p. 147). A 5 stamp alone doesn't prove a piece came through Kelsey.

Either way, these marks name the dealer, not the maker. Hougart also notes that Charlie Bitsui "probably used the flower stamp, perhaps moonlighting at Wallace's operation, while working for Charles Kelsey" (Hougart 2022, p. 373).

Legacy

What Kelsey left is its people: Wallace, who started there, and the smiths who worked there. The last dated mention in our sources is 1940; they don't record when the post closed, who took it over, or whether it sold wholesale.

Sources

  1. Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. 2007. p. 190.
  2. Bedinger, Margery. Indian Silver: Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers. 1973. p. 131 (quoting Hodge 1928, p. 231).
  3. Chambless, Philip, and Mike Ryan II. Turquoise in America, Part One: The Great American Turquoise Rush, 1890–1910. 2021. p. 185.
  4. Hougart, Bille. 100 Collectible Native American Silversmiths and Their Hallmarks. 2020. pp. 48, 79, 96, 99, 104, 129, 130, 147.
  5. Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. 2022. pp. 64, 152, 339, 363, 373.

Part of our Southwest Jewelry Business Directory.