WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 55 



important bearing on the physiographic conditions of the early Pleis- 

 tocene time in the region south of the glacier. 



For many years I was intimately associated with McGee in the 

 Geological Survey under Powell, and I wish I could pay an adequate 

 tribute to the value of his influence to me and to many other asso- 

 ciates in those early days of the organization. He had marvelous 

 ability to appreciate all bearings of an investigation and to make far 

 reaching and important suggestions. His willingness to assist in 

 guiding the policy and conduct of all lines of the survey work made 

 him a most important member of the organization in those days. 

 This was fully appreciated by Major Powell, who brought McGee 

 into intimate association in all administrative matters, and his genius 

 had much to do with shaping survey methods. He became a close 

 personal friend of the Major's, and the two spent much time together. 



McGee left the Survey with Major Powell at the time when the 

 Major turned the great bureau over to the directorship of Mr. Wal- 

 cott. McGee then became Powell's Chief Ethnologist in the Bureau 

 of Ethnology, a position which opened up to him lines of investiga- 

 tion which were very congenial. On the death of Major Powell, in 

 1902, McGee continued with the bureau as acting director, but in July, 

 1903 on account of disfavor of S. P. Langley, Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian, he severed his connection. This was generally regarded as a 

 most unfortunate circumstance, as undoubtedly McGee would have 

 accomplished a very large amount of ethnological work of greatest in- 

 terest and value if he had continued as director of the bureau. How- 

 ever, he left to accept the position of Chief of the Department of 

 Anthropology at the St. Louis Exposition, where he had opportunity 

 to make a brilliant record for administrative ability. At th : s exposi- 

 tion he presented to the public a greater variety of natives of many 

 parts of the world than had ever been assembled before, and illus- 

 trated their natural environments, customs, and products in a most 

 instructive manner. It was one of the greatest lessons in geography 

 that has ever been given, and one that had the largest audience. When 

 the great fair was over McGee was placed in charge of the St. Louis 

 Public Museum project, where he continued for two years till 1907, 

 when he resigned to take up work in the Department of Agriculture 



