Lee Marmon, Governor Walter Sarracino, Laguna
Lee Marmon
1925-2021
Laguna Pueblo
Date
1963
Medium Specific
Photograph
Classification
Photograph
Dimensions
20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
Accession Number
2008.20.10.59
Credit
Gift of the Artist
Memo / Artist Statement
Governor Walter Sarracino
Walter Sarracino (1890-1964) was elected governor for four terms of office 1935, 1937, 1951, and 1963. He attended the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, earning his degree in carpentry. Later, he displayed other talents in business, sports, and politics. He and his wife, Laura, built the Acoma Hotel in New Laguna in 1923. It was situated across from the Santa Fe station and was still in operation in the late 1940s.
He went to Washington, D.C., many times on tribal business. In 1953, Lee Marmon served as treasure with Walter when the uranium mine opened near the village of Paguate. Walter also played professional baseball for a team in Albuquerque and was champion rodeo broncobuster, performing once before the visiting king and queen of Belgium.
Walter's great-grandfather, Luis Sarracino, was presiding governor of Laguna in 1864 when the Lincoln canes were presented on behalf of President Lincoln to the nineteen pueblo governors by Dr. Steck. (Lee Marmon, Laguna Pueblo: A Photographic History, p.30-31)
Walter Sarracino (1890-1964) was elected governor for four terms of office 1935, 1937, 1951, and 1963. He attended the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, earning his degree in carpentry. Later, he displayed other talents in business, sports, and politics. He and his wife, Laura, built the Acoma Hotel in New Laguna in 1923. It was situated across from the Santa Fe station and was still in operation in the late 1940s.
He went to Washington, D.C., many times on tribal business. In 1953, Lee Marmon served as treasure with Walter when the uranium mine opened near the village of Paguate. Walter also played professional baseball for a team in Albuquerque and was champion rodeo broncobuster, performing once before the visiting king and queen of Belgium.
Walter's great-grandfather, Luis Sarracino, was presiding governor of Laguna in 1864 when the Lincoln canes were presented on behalf of President Lincoln to the nineteen pueblo governors by Dr. Steck. (Lee Marmon, Laguna Pueblo: A Photographic History, p.30-31)
Biography
One of America’s most renowned Native American photographers, Marmon began his career in 1947, photographing elders and members of his community in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. Over the past fifty years Marmon’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. His diverse portfolio includes work with Columbia Pictures, official photographer for the Bob Hope Desert Classic for eight years, a Commission for the White House in 1972, and most recently photographing for the American Indian College Fund. The portfolio features photographic prints from throughout his career.