64 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



By collection 



From D. D. Luther, Naples 47 



A. C. Parker, Albany 3^ 



By donation 



From W. D. Gebhard, Schoharie V 



Walter Hutchms, Albany 4^5 



E. Reinhard, Buffalo 88 



15 539 



It will be observed that these collections have come from several 

 important localities not heretofore well represented in the State 

 Museum archeological collections. 



The collection made by Mr L. D. Shoemaker of Elmira is an 

 admirable example of a well-arranged collection of surface finds. 

 Each specimen is numbered and cataloged and a map and descrip- 

 tion of the localities accompany it. Its value lies in the fact that 

 it delineates the archeology of the valleys of the Susquehanna, 

 Chemung and Tioga. These localities were the routes of many 

 wandering bands of aborigines from early times, and continued so 

 as long as there were Indians situated on or near those several 



waterways. 



By far the most important collection obtained is that brought 

 together by Mr Otis M. Bigelow of Baldwinsville. It was not 

 originally amassed with any special scientific intent but, seemingly, 

 merely as a collection of Indian '^ relics." No special pains were 

 taken to make a scientific catalog or to chart the sites from which 

 the various objects came, but Mr Bigelow, before turning the col- 

 lection into the Museum, made an effort to classify the localities 

 and give a correct record of each object. All the principal specimens 

 have full data accompanying them and thus much may be learned 

 of archeologic importance. 



The collection obtained from Prof. Dwinel F. Thompson of Troy 

 consists mostly of objects acquired in the territory in and adjacent 

 to the upper Hudson valley. There are also many good specimens 

 from the Mohawk and from the Genesee valleys. Professor Thomp- 

 son made his collection in a systematic manner and kept a careful 

 record of all his specimens. Every article has an index number and 

 a locality mark, both neatly applied. 



The Bigelow collection. This represents the efforts of the 

 collector during the past fifty-five years to gather representative 



