Report of the President. 1 9 



Department of Ethnology. — The rearrangement of the 

 Indian collections in the West Hall was undertaken by Dr. 

 Wissler, the Acting Curator, early in the year. The general 

 scheme of installation has been to show in a simple and effec- 

 tive way the various phases of culture of the Indians of the 

 Plains. Transportation, warfare, art, religion, amusements, in- 

 dustries, are some of the topics treated. The installation has 

 received most favorable comment, not alone from the layman, 

 but from the visiting anthropologist. 



A similar method has been followed with gratifying results 

 in the reinstallation of the Eskimo collection in the North 

 Wing. The attractiveness of this hall will be greatly increased 

 when the mural paintings, provided through the generosity of 

 Mr. Arthur Curtiss James and executed by Mr. F. W. Stokes, 

 have been completed. 



The care of the study collections which cannot be placed 

 on exhibition is no small task. With the storage system re- 

 cently devised it has been possible to catalogue and arrange 

 this material so that it is readily accessible to students. 



In spite of the heavy draft that the routine of the depart- 

 ment has made on the Acting Curator's time, he has continued 

 his researches and has directed the scientific work of the 

 members of his staff. He has gathered data for papers on 

 "The Origin and Distribution of the Blackfoot Indians," 

 "The Secret Societies of the Dakota" and "The Protective 

 Designs of the Dakota." 



Mr. Harlan I. Smith, besides assisting in the regular work 

 of the department, has completed his memoir on the "Archae- 

 ology of Puget Sound," and has in preparation an exhibit 

 representing the culture of the Indians of the North Pacific 

 coast. 



Mr. Mead and Mr. Pepper have made progress in their 

 respective departments. 



Dr. A. E. Jenks, who was formerly Chief of the Bureau 

 for the Ethnological Survey of the Philippines and Superin- 

 tendent of the Philippine Exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition, 



