SIXTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 

 OF THE 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



M. W. Stirling, Chief 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the field 

 researches, office work, and other operations of the Bureau of Amer- 

 ican Ethnology during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1944, conducted 

 in accordance with the act of Congress of June 26, 1943, which pro- 

 vides "* * * for continuing ethnological researches among the 

 American Indians and the natives of Hawaii and the excavation and 

 preservation of archeologic remains. * * *" 



During the fiscal year emphasis on activities concerned with Latin 

 America has continued. 



Dr. W. D. Strong, Director of the Ethnogeographic Board, planned 

 to return to his duties at Columbia University soon after the close of 

 the fiscal year, and the work of the Board will thereafter be conducted 

 entirely by members of the Bureau staff. 



As the war continues and the need for specialized information grows 

 less it is expected that the Bureau may gradually assume more of its 

 normal duties. 



SYSTEMATIC RESEARCHES 



On January 28, 1944, Dr. M. W. Stirling, Chief of the Bureau, left 

 Washington on the Sixth National Geographic Society-Smithsonian 

 Institution expedition to Mexico. The month of February was spent 

 in the states of Michoacan and Jalisco, where a photographic record 

 was made of lacquer working in Uruapan and vicinity, and of pottery 

 making in Tlaquepaque. Ethnological pictures were made depicting 

 the activities and customs of the Tarascan Indians of Lake Patzcuaro. 



From the beginning of March until the middle of May, an archeo- 

 logical reconnaissance was conducted in southern Veracruz, Tabasco, 

 and Campeche, with the principal objective of finding the extent of 

 the early La Venta culture in this area. Several new sites were located 

 as a result of this survey, and photographic records were made of a 

 number of private archeological collections. 



Dr. Stirling returned to Washington on May 22, 1944. 



During the year a report by Dr. Stirling, "Stone Monuments of 

 Southern Mexico," was issued as Bulletin 138 of the Bureau. 



During the year just passed. Dr. John K. Swanton, ethnologist, 

 completed the reading of proof for Bulletin 137, "The Indians of the 

 Southeastern United States." 



661717-46 1 



