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HILLERS, JOHN K. (1843–1925)
German born Hillers settled in America in 1852. In 1871
Hillers was a recently discharged U.S Army Sergeant
who met explorer and ethnologist, Major John Wesley
Powell. Hillers needed work and Powell needed a boat-
man for a second expedition through the Grand Canyon.
During this trip Hillers changed from being the boatman
to the trip’s photographer. Hillers worked for Powell,
who became the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Ethnol-
ogy, from the 1870’s until around 1900. His photography
changed from geological documentation to documenting
people, e.g., the Hopi and their surroundings. He was
part of the fi rst team to photograph the Zuni and sur-
rounding pueblos, from a anthropological perspective,
in 1879. Hillers’ photography played a vital role in the
U.S. Government’s plan to promote the West to settlers
and investors. By capturing the lush, vast expanses of
land that settlers could obtain, coupled with peaceful
images of Native Americans, the frontiers were opened
and a huge exodus to these territories occurred. Because
Hillers spent his lifetime working as a government pho-
tographer, his work was seen by a much wider audience
than many of his contemporaries. Although well known
for his stereographs and oversize albumen prints, an
unusual example of his work was recently restored. This
was a set of window transparencies of Native American
Indians, with a set of landscapes, commissioned by the
Riordan brothers.
Jo HallingtonHILLS, ROBERT AND JOHN HENRY
SAUNDERS
The fi rm of Hills & Saunders was one of the most promi-
nent photographic studios established in 19th century
Britain, with 7 branches throughout London and sur-
rounding counties. It remains one of the extremely few
Victorian studios to survive to the present day.HILLLERS, JOHN K.
Hillers, John K.. Moki Girls.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
© The J. Paul Getty Museum.