104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



ticularly the friend of the Indian children. It was decided to make 

 Mr Tucker a member of the Bear clan and take him into the family 

 of William Tallchief. Mr Staples was selected by the Turtles and 

 made a candidate for membersip in the Turtle family of David 

 George. There were elaborate ceremonies at the Thomas Indian 

 School, and despite the heavy rain, there was a large attendance. 

 Many prominent persons from the nearby region were present and 

 numerous well-known men and women came from Buffalo. The 

 initiatory ceremony consisted of a pageant descriptive of the methods 

 by which the Indians had become transformed from their original 

 condition to that of civilization. Later the ancient adoption rite 

 was performed by Chief David George. In all the previous cere- 

 monies there had been three candidates. To the surprise of the 

 venerable missionary, the Rev. J. Emory Fisher, he was called to 

 the rostrum, given the oath of friendship and allegiance to the Senecas, 

 and adopted with Messrs Staples and Tucker. At the close of the 

 ceremony Mr Tucker distributed a large number of presents to the 

 assemblage, providing every Indian man, woman and child with a 

 suitable gift. Newspaper men and photographers made records and 

 photographs of the ceremony and a moving picture concern made a 

 film in order to preserve in a pictorial way some of the episodes. The 

 Archeologist was present and made full notes for preservation in the 

 archives of the Museum. 



Death of Chief Edward Cornplanter. During the month of June 

 19 18, Edward Cornplanter, or So-son-do-wa, for many years an 

 authority on ceremonial matters, passed away. He was in many 

 respects a remarkable man and his knowledge of the ancient rites of 

 the Seneca brought him not only a widespread acquaintance with all 

 the various branches of the Iroquois in New York and Canada, but 

 brought to his home ntimerous students of ethnology. Cornplanter 

 was the friend of the State Museum and 'cooperated with it in many 

 important attempts. It was he who supplied the text of Bulletin 

 163, " The Code of Handsome Lake," much information on the sub- 

 ject of maize and other plant foods, and many of the myths and tales 

 now among our accessions. Jesse Cornplanter, his son, made the 

 native drawings for Bulletin^ 125, 144 and 163. About three years 

 ago Cornplanter became ill and soon became an invalid. At first no 

 grave consequences were anticipated and thus his son Jesse joined 

 the colors of the national guard as a volunteer and early went to 

 France where he served as a corporal. Jesse could not return to 

 care for his father nor could he attend the funeral. Soon after 

 Cornplanter 's death his wife Nancy became a victim of the influenza 



