THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



By Thomas Donaldson. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The collection described herein is the original Gatlin Indian Gallery, 

 and is now in the National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washing- 

 ton, D. 0. 



With it is also the existing portion of Indian costumes, implements of 

 war and the chase, and the several other objects which formed a portion 

 of the Catliu Indian Museum connected with the original gallery. It is 

 fully described in Mr. Catlin's catalogues, from 1837 to 1845. In 1848 

 he published a catalogue with a changed title, and which contained 

 additional pictures painted while he was in Europe, from sketches made 

 in the United States. Mr. Catlin's catalogues from 1838 to 1845 had 

 the title-page given in full on a subsequent page. 



The names of Indian tribes as now known to the law and the Bureau 

 of Indian Affairs are inserted ; also full and copious descriptive text 

 after each title and name or number from Mr. Catlin's works. At the 

 end of each title is inserted a sketch of tribal or other history, with a 

 note showing the present location and numbers of the tribes of Indians 

 mentioned. Maps and illustrations are also inserted. 



The data given as to other collections of Indian paintiugs and photo- 

 graphs, once or now the property of the nation, it is hoped will be 

 useful for reference. 



Some statistical matter is also given showing the several methods of 

 dealing with the Indians by the nation, or, more plainly, the Indian 

 policy, through the past hundred years, together with the location of 

 tribes at periods, illustrated with maps, and the present numbers and 

 location of all tribes and reservations to October 5, 1885. A sketch of 

 the Canadian Indian service is also appended, through the courtesy of 

 Lieut. Col. J. T. Gilkison. 



The memoir of Mr. Catlin required a great deal of time and labor in 

 its preparation. Surely no man who has done so much ever left so little 

 personal data behind him ; he seemed to have entirely sunk self in his 

 work. He was careless as to this, and never in any of his publications 

 or correspondence even gives the date of his birth, which was most diffi- 

 cult to ascertain. Several persons who knew Mr. Catlin, promised me- 



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