60 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



lection of objects of natural history belonging to Mr. Villard, super- 

 intendent of the military depot at Greenleaf's Point. 



In "Historical Sketches of The Ten Miles Square forming the 

 District of Columbia," by Jonathan Elliott, published in 1830, there 

 is a brief account of the collections then being assembled in the War 

 Department, from which the following is abstracted : 



Attached to the War Department, is the office of Indian Affairs, with the 

 duties of which Col. McKenney is charged. This office possesses much interest, 

 perhaps more than any other in the Government. In it are arrayed, in tasteful 

 order, the likenesses of one hundred and thirty Indian chiefs, in their native 

 costume. These likenesses having been taken from life (with a few exceptions) 

 by King, of this city, are not only fine specimens of the art, but in point of 

 exact delineation, and spirited, and close resemblance to the originals, they 

 are perfect. * * * Care has also been taken to preserve the costume of 

 each tribe. Nineteen tribes are represented, viz: Chippewas (or Ojibwa), 

 Sioux, Menomines, Winnebago, Saux, Fox, Oto, Panes, Maha, Kansas, Senecca, 

 Shawnese, Delaware, Creek (or Muscogee), Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole and 

 Uchee. These paintings are on wood (except the full lengths, of which there 

 are five), in gilt frames, 18 inches by 14, in size. 



Besides these likenesses, there are various collections made by Col. McKenney 

 in his travels over a vast extent of the northwest and among our southern and 

 western Indians, consisting of Indian dresses, ornaments, petrefactions, minerals, 

 &c, &c, all suited to a place of this sort, where, long after the original owners 

 of this country shall have mingled with the dust of their mountains, the 

 curious will delight to repair, to study the appearance of the native owners of 

 this continent. 



An anonymous correspondent of the Boston Atlas, whose letters 

 were reprinted in the National Intelligencer for April 27, 1838, after 

 a visit to Georgetown College, then about 50 years old, stated that 

 "Attached to the college is a small but interesting museum and cabinet 

 of minerals, natural history, etc." Later, at the Department of War, 

 he explained that, 



The first object which strikes one on entering the corridor of the Secretary's 

 apartments is the extensive collection of portraits of the chiefs, warriors and 

 squaws of the various aboriginal tribes who have visited the seat of Government 

 for the last 15 or 20 years. This gallery was commenced by Mr. Calhoun, when 

 he was Secretary of War. * * * 



I crossed to the Topographical Bureau, to pay a passing visit to the worthy 

 and able head of that department, Col. Abert, * * * and rambled into the 

 contiguous geological apartments, to take a glance at the extensive cabinet of 

 minerals and fossils which belongs to the gentleman who is at the head of this 

 branch of the Topographical Bureau. Him, too, I found busy in the midst of 

 specimens of earths, ores, stones, shells, coals and other minerals, representing 

 every element in nature, and every age of the world — of every region of our own 

 continent, and almost every country of Europe. * * * 



Amongst the interesting collections of natural history of our country, un- 

 noticed and almost unknown, but which has been quietly growing in value 

 by the rarity, variety and richness of its specimens, is this national cabinet of 

 the metals, minerals and shells of this continent. This has been founded by 

 Mr. Featherstonhaugh, the Government geologist, whose adventurous journeys 



