Fort Walla Walla Museum received the donation of the Wes and Ina Lloyd Estate collection in 2005, consisting of more than 250 artifacts, photographs, and documents of regional Indian significance including Cayuse, Nez Perce, Palouse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Wanapum, and Yakama people. The exhibit portraying these items is the Lloyd Family Indian Artifact Collection: Positive Interaction of Cultures in Southeastern Washington. The Museum will display items from the collection through the 2008 season. The Museum is grateful for support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and others in presenting this exhibit.

Wes Lloyd grew up on that land and developed an affinity for tribal culture. In this environment, a friendship lasting more than eight decades continued between multiple generations of the Lloyd family and Indian people of the area. Although many settlers faced danger during the Nez Perce War of 1877, the Lloyds were never imperiled.

Around 1920, Indian people gifted Wes and Ina’s four year-old son Tony with a complete set of regalia, including an eagle-feathered headdress. While the cash value of these items was nearly that of a Model-T car, the friendship reflected by this gift is beyond measure. The deep bonds depicted through this collection tell a wonderful story for all time.

(left to right: Pasco Sam, Tony Lloyd, Wes Lloyd)