Fascinating portraits of Native Americans from over 100 years ago show men and women in tribal dress and brimmed hats visiting Washington DC

The portraits, taken by the studio of Charles Milton Bell between 1873 and 1916, were part of a series taken of visitors to Washington DC. Above, men named Two Moons and Am Horse in suits and hats pose for the camera

Bell took photographs of Native Americans throughout his career after being prompted by Ferdinand V Hayden, director of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories. Pictured left, Geo Deerhorn in full Western attire, including gloves, hat and cane. Right, photographer Charles Milton Bell himself

Cover Images has restored the Bell portraits as part of a 30,000-strong collection at the Library of Congress. Pictured above, four Native American men dressed sharply in Western attire, including suits and bow ties. On the left side of the picture, damage from decades of wear can be seen 

Bell's studio became famous for its large collection of pictures featuring Washington notables, including businessmen, politicians, educators, diplomats and esteemed visitors from other countries, as well as members of the black middle class. Left, Geo Deehorn appears to sport a combination of Western and tribal dress, including a waistcoat featuring the Stars and Stripes. Right, a man named Waulicomo with a cane, pinstriped trousers and traditional long hair

The pictures had a long and uncertain journey before being acquired by the Library of Congress in 1975, including time spent in the ownership of Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Pictured, Deroin and Whitewater in full traditional dress, including hats, boots and medallion

Alexander Graham Bell (who was no relation to C. M. Bell) acquired the pictures because he was interested in the study of human heredity and saw them not only as important documentation of Washington's political and social history but also as a source for examining many generations of the same family. Pictured, two shots of Ale Ko in traditional dress from different angles

Charles Milton Bell died in 1893 but his wife Annie took over the photography studio. Pictured above, a family - including father Little Dog - in traditional dress, including a baby apparently unable to stay still for the shoot 

The Native Americans once dominated the entirety of what is now the United States before losing the vast majority of land to European settlers through war and sales. Pictured above, two men in traditional dress, including (left) Walking Cloud with a necklace full of claws and (right) a man with a clearly shining earring

Some of the photographs, which have been restored after more than 100 years, have been damaged by wear and tear. Above, Yellow Loedge, with a young child on her lap, smiles for the camera

At the time the pictures were first being taken, 1873, Americans of European heritage had an uneasy relationship with Native Americans, particularly in the northwest of the country. In 1876, 268 American cavalrymen were slain - including General George Armstrong Custer - at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana. Above, two men - Fox (right) and Bahbeskeit (left) in traditional dress 

Charles Bell took photographs of Native Americans for the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of American Ethnology, as well as for himself. Pictured above, Quanah Parker in traditional attire leans against a chair

Pictured left, Wah Shem gah in traditional Native American clothing, including necklace and feather. Right, Richard Shontona with his hair tied

A damaged photograph showing Jas Arkeketer, slightly out of focus, staring at the camera. A large necklace featuring what appear to be the claws of animals can also be seen