HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM 



British 

 South Africa. 



Douglas 



Collection, 



$5,000. 



British 

 East Africa. 



Western 

 Africa, Raff 

 Collection. 



Bowdoin 

 Collection. 



Archaeology. 



Another large collection for the African hall was acquired in 1907 

 through the generosity of Messrs. Percy R. Pyne, Cleveland H. Dodge, 

 and Arthur Curtiss James. It was gathered by Mr. Richard Douglas 

 on an expedition to Barotseland, South Africa, and contains about 

 5,000 specimens illustrating the basketry, weaving, pottery, musical 

 instruments, weapons, etc., of the natives. 



More than 200 ethnological specimens from British East Africa, 

 gathered by Mr. Richard Tjader, were received in 1907. Metal work, 

 bead work, wearing apparel, household objects, musical instruments, 

 and a large number of baskets make up the collection. 



The Raff Collection of wood-carvings from the tribes of western 

 Africa was acquired by purchase in 1902. The objects are mostly of 

 religious or ceremonial character. 



The fast-disappearing culture of some of the tribes of Central 

 Africa is illustrated in a collection which was received in 1903 as a 

 gift from Mr. George S. Bowdoin. It contained implements of war- 

 fare, idols, fetiches, and masks, clothing, baskets, and musical instru- 

 ments, household utensils of bamboo, ornaments of beads, shell, and 

 brass, and seven carved ivory tusks. 



Among the objects from Benin, East Africa, there are many bronze 

 figures, ornaments, and tusk stands. Of great interest and value are 

 the four carved ivory tusks, presented by Mr. Archer M. Huntington 

 in 1908. 



From Mediterranean Africa, the Museum has long possessed a 

 representative series of flaked material, secured by Mr. Andrew E. 

 Douglas through the kindness of M. Jacques de Morgan. In addition 

 there are a few stone implements from Somali Land, presented by 

 Mr. H. W. Seton-Karr. Recently this nucleus has been augmented 

 by a series of prehistoric flints from ancient village sites in the Fayum 

 Desert, apparently belonging to a later period, probably the Neolithic. 



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