11 



Patrons, Mr. Joseph W. Drexel. He became a trustee in the year 

 1872, and from that time until his decease his interest in the 

 Museum never faltered. He not only gave his time but has always 

 contributed liberally to the support of the institution. 



ETHNOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 



[Under the charge of Prof. A. S. Bickmore.] 

 Report for the Year 1888. 



The additions made to this department during the past year have 

 been greater than those received in the same length of time since 

 the Museum was founded. 



First in extent and importance is the collection gathered during 

 five years residence in Alaska, by Lieut. G. F. Emmons, who en- 

 joyed remarkable opportunities for gaining the confidence and 

 helpful cooperation of the natives in obtaining the rare, and fre- 

 quently, unique handiwork of their ancestors. The collection con- 

 tains nearly thirteen hundred very carefully selected specimens, and 

 is exhibited in one long and two short, upright cases, and in a 

 part of the railing case on the the southwest portion of the gallery 

 floor. Each specimen was obtained by the Lieutenant himself, who 

 kept a full record regarding it, and from such authentic data he has 

 prepared an elaborate catalogue, with full notes on the use made by 

 the natives of each kind of object. Many implements of stone 

 and highly ornamented carvings on ivory are found in the series, 

 which is probably more complete and authentic than any similar 

 collection ever made in that portion of our continent, and now 

 that the natives are rapidly adopting the weapons and dresses of 

 civilized nations, the specimens of ancient times have already be- 

 came exceedingly rare, and few more will ever be found. It is, 

 therefore, gratifying to know that the workmanship of the abor- 

 iginees of that land will be safely preserved for the benefit of in- 

 vestigators for all time. 



An interesting addition to the valuable Powell collection, pre- 

 sented by Mr. H. R. Bishop, has been made during the past sum- 

 mer, by the purchase of a series of specimens gathered by Dr. 

 Frans Boas, who has been studying the habits of the Indians liv- 

 ing in the Rocky Mountains south of the route of the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway, for the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science. 



A set of casts of the Pueblos and ancient ruins of New Mexico 

 and Arizona, originally prepared by the Ethnological Bureau at 

 Washington under Major J. W. Powell, have been likewise added 

 to the important collections of Ethnology the Museum already 

 possesses. A small collection from the Soudan has been pre- 

 sented by Mr. C. Psomades, of this city. 



