HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM 
British 
South Africa. 
Douglas 
Collection, 
$5,000. 
British 
East Africa. 
Western 
Africa, Raff 
Collection. 
Bowdoin 
Collection. 
Archseology. 
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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