90 Report of the President 



tion of baskets from the Chitimacha and other southern tribes, 

 a particularly fine series of baskets from the Mission Indians 

 of Southern California, a large series of prehistoric pottery 

 from certain ruins in Arizona, a collection of fine swords and 

 knives from Java, a rare and unusual sacred Tibetan book, a 

 general collection of stone implements from western Europe, a 

 collection of skeletons from the Canary Islands, and a number 

 of unusual pieces of tapa cloth from Hawaii and Samoa. 



Several important advances have been made in the develop- 

 ment of our exhibition units. For one, we have placed upon 

 view the initial exhibit of somatic, or racial, 



Exhibition and characters peculiar to man. The fundamental 

 Study Collections r 



plan for the development of our anthropologi- 

 cal halls, which has governed our entire activities for a number 

 of years, contemplates a comprehensive presentation of primi- 

 tive cultures upon a geographical basis, by culture areas, each 

 of which is to be supplemented by a somatological exhibit of 

 the peoples themselves. The first unit of this series is a demon- 

 stration of principles in somatic classification, where, in com- 

 pact and attractive form, Mr. Sullivan made a new and 

 original presentation of the subject. With the labels and dia- 

 grams, this exhibit is a small illustrated handbook of physical 

 anthropology. The greater part of the past year has been given 

 to working out the units to accompany the culture area exhibits 

 of North America. Of these, the one for the Plains Indians 

 is about ready for installation. 



The rearrangement of the Asiatic Hall, which was reported 

 last year, has proceeded to the revision of the Chinese indus- 

 trial collections. It now remains to work over the bronze and 

 pottery exhibits to complete this undertaking. The remainder 

 of the hall is given over to the wilder folk of Siberia. Some 

 additional casing is necessary here to bring the arrangement 

 up to the standard set by the Chinese section. During the early 

 part of the year Associate Curator Lowie worked out the gen- 

 eral tribal labels for the Siberian peoples, and later Mr. Spier 

 prepared labels and details of arrangement for the tribal ex- 

 hibits of the Chukchee and Koryak. 



Important additions have been made to the archaeological 



