REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I9II 75 



of the public. Inquiries come each day regarding Indian history and 

 anthropology, sometimes many of them. The range of inquiry is 

 broad and covers almost every Indian subject from the interpretation 

 cf Indian place-names to opinions as to the legal status of the Indian, 

 from a modest request for a written account of the history of a 

 tribe to a request to outline a scheme for an archeological survey of 

 a country. Many replies to these letters partake of the nature of 

 manuscripts rather than letters and indeed some of the " letters " 

 have been reedited and without further addition to the text worked 

 up into ten or twelve page magazine articles. 



With this confidence of the public in our facilities to furnish 

 information on the subjects dealt with by this section of the Museum, 

 better facilities should be provided. Clerical assistance is an 

 imperative necessity. 



Another indication of public interest is expressed by the donation 

 of collections and specimens to the Museum. This form of public 

 interest is very gratifying. 



Condition of collections. At the close of the fiscal year 

 October i, 1910-October i, 191 1, a new serial card catalog had been 

 prepared. This work extended through several years, odd moments 

 being employed. The collection number was supplemented with a 

 museum serial number affording better means of identification. 



In connection with this work the collections were rechecked from 

 the old lists prepared by Mr A. G. Richmond in 1898. This was an 

 arduous task and one requiring, much patience but it resulted not 

 only in improving the condition of the collections but gave the 

 Archeologist a personal familiarity with nearly every specimen and 

 an exact knowledge of the location of every important one. This 

 knowledge became most useful during the fire and during the early 

 hours of the Capitol fire facilitated the rescue of such important 

 relics as were not already destroyed. 



The only archeological collection now on exhibition in the Capitol 

 is the collection secured by the Archeologist and his special assistant 

 at Ripley in 1906. This material was exhibited just outside the fire 

 zone and though it was endangered it was carried to a place of 

 safety and not a specimen was injured. 



The material now on hand consists of the following lots : 



Fire salvage, identified specimens 541 



Packed collections, miscellaneous 600 



Ripley, Chautauqua co., collection 1050 



Mattern collection ^ 2300 



Amidon collection 300 



