On the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn) Thursday (June 25, 2026), the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation was honored and proud to announce the donation of the historic original painting collection “Custer Survivors”, painted by David Humphreys Miller and also the o riginal extremely rare manuscripts of interviews conducted by Miller with the veterans of that historic battle. The original artworks were created by David Humphreys Miller between 1935 and 1942 depicting the elder Native American warriors who were present at the Battle of Greasy Grass. Miller had gone west in 1930 at the age of 16, and he traveled extensively throughout the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Oklahoma to find the subjects. The warriors were wary of having their portraits painted by Miller but he was able to build their trust, ultimately completing 72 artworks. In the process he learned 14 different languages along his journey and was adopted into several different Native American families. As he painted the warriors, he also interviewed each of the men about the Battle of Greasy Grass. These unpublished transcripts are considered among the most accurate accounts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and represent one of the most unique collections relating to Native American History. In 2003 Jean D. Forsythe and Gerald R. Forsythe, long-time friends of the Memorial and the Ziolkowski family, purchased the seventy-two original watercolor paintings and original manuscripts of the interviews conducted by Miller. In 2024, the Forsythes donated a set of reproductions of Miller’s artwork (including six new pieces that had never been seen before) to the Memorial along with a short biography of each warrior and a short excerpt from the Miller interviews. And now the original paintings and manuscripts have found a permanent home at Crazy Horse Memorial®. From his letter to Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation CEO Whitney A. Rencountre, II, Gerald R. Forsythe quotes: “Because of the extraordinary historical and cultural significance of this collection, it is my desire to donate these paintings and manuscripts to the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, where they may be preserved, studied and shared with future generations. I can think of no more appropriate institution to serve as the permanent home for this unique record of Native American History and Heritage.” “Crazy Horse Memorial is excited about the vast potential of this gift and the limitless educational opportunities that it will provide historians, scholars, and students,” said Rencountre. “We are grateful to Jean D. Forsythe and Gerald R. Forsythe for their generosity. As we reflect on the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Greasy Grass, we are honored to help preserve these stories and share them with visitors in ways that inspire learning, understanding and dialogue.” “The Forsythes have been extraordinary friends of Crazy Horse Memorial® and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and belief in our mission,” said Dr. Jade Herman, Board Chair of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. “Their support has advanced multiple areas of our mission and this exceptional gift will help expand the educational and cultural impact of the Memorial for generations to come.” For more information, please visit www.crazyhorsememorial.org and follow Crazy Horse Memorial® on all social media and/or contact Amanda Allcock at 605-673-4681 or email [email protected] . About the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation The Mission of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is to protect and preserve the cultures, traditions, and living heritage of the North American Indians. The Foundation fulfills its mission by continuing the progress on CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL®, the world’s largest mountain sculpture; acting as a repository for Native American artifacts, arts and crafts through THE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA® and the Museum’s Native American Educational Cultural Center®; and by establishing and operating CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY. ...read more read less