REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR 1898 r9 



Indian museum 



The legislature of 1896 passed an act providing for a collection 

 of historical and ethnologic records and relics of the American 

 Indians of the state of JSIew York and making an appropriation 

 therefor in the following terms : 



There shall be made as the Indian section of the state museum, 

 as complete a collection as practicable of the historic, ethnographic 

 and other records and relics of the Indians of the state of New 

 York, including implements or other articles pertaining to their 

 domestic life, agriculture, the chase, war, religion, burial and other 

 rites or customs, or otherwise connected with the Indians of JSTew 

 York. 



The trustees of the state museum shall appoint on its staff a com- 

 petent curator, without salary, to make and arrange this Indian 

 collection, and for his necessary expenses, and for collecting or 

 buying specimens for the Indian collection, there shall l)e paid by 

 the treasurer, on the warrant of the controller, from any money 

 not otherwise appropriated, not to exceed $5000. 



In consequence of this act and the accompanying appropriation, 

 it was vo.ted by the regents at their mee;ing of June 24, 1896, that 

 " the museum committee be authorized to spend the $5000 appro- 

 priated for the Indian museum and to make any necessary appoint- 

 ments on request of the honorary curator of archeology and of the 

 director of the museum." 



Mr Adelbert G. Richmond, of Canajoharie, having been some time 

 before appointed honorary curator in archeology, by reason of his 

 long and active interest in this subject and his industry in building 

 up the large private collection which is so well known in the 

 Mohawk valley, the work of spending the appropriation to the best 

 advantage was placed in his hands. 



A small collection of Indian relics had been in the possession of 

 the state museum for many years, some of which were described 

 and illustrated in the fifth annual report of the state cabinet of 

 natural history. 



In view of the fact that New York was known to be rich in relics 

 of the Indian tribes which formerly lived within its borders, and 

 that other states, notably Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania, were 

 already making collections of such relics and meeting with great 

 success, it was considered that our state, with great resources of that 

 description, should, with proper attention, be able to gather such a 

 collection as would be a source of pride and education to its people. 



