58 Bulletin of Wisconsin Natural History Society. Vol. 1, No. 1. 
"2. Mr. Perkins was a trained artist of high talent. He spent 
a fortune in money and a quarter of a century in time in forming 
his archaeological collection of nearly fifty thousand specimens. He 
devoted thirteen years of constant and conscientious work to paint- 
ing, in aquarelle, representations of more than twelve hundred of 
the choicest specimens in this great series. These superb paint- 
ings exactly reproduce the objects themselves in size, form, mark- 
ings and delicate variations in color. 
"3. Mr. Perkins was an acknowledged authority upon the 
rare and interesting copper implements of Wisconsin and adjacent 
states. Probably more specimens of these were in his possession 
at different times than are to be found in any public museum or 
private collection in the world. Every specimen of this sort that 
he ever owned is represented in the Album." 
Because of the value of this beautiful Album for comparative 
studies, some members of the Wisconsin Natural History So- 
ciety, many years ago, proposed that the work should be published 
by the society. So great were the financial and other responsibili- 
ties of the publication, that the enterprise was abandoned. In 
1897, however, Mr. Perkins induced Mr. Charles H. Doerflinger, 
who has been a member of this society for thirty-five years, and 
who was at one time in the book business, to undertake the publi- 
cation of the work. 
It is proposed that the Album shall contain one hundred and 
thirty-five large plates, measuring about 16 by 22 inches. These 
will be exact copies of Mr. Perkins' paintings and represent beauti- 
ful and typical aboriginal relics in copper, stone, bone, clay, etc. 
These paintings are wonderfully accurate representations. Prof. 
Adolph Ceuleneer, of Ghent University in Belgium, an eminent 
authority, made a visit to Burlington, W^isconsin, to see Mr. Per- 
kins' collection and Album. After carefully examining both he 
stated that for himself and for purposes of study, he would prefer 
to have the Album, or a fac-simile of it, than the collection itself. 
Especially notable in the plates are the representations of the 
copper implements — several hundred in number. Practically 
every type of American copper implements is illustrated. 
Inter-leaves of fine, strong, but thin, paper, will accompany the 
plates. They will bear the field notes of Mr. Perkins regarding 
the specimens represented on the accompanying plates and such 
additional matter, by the editor, as may seem necessary to a full 
understanding of the illustrations. 
There will be a text of at least one hundred pages. In this 
text wiJl be presented a sketch of the archaeological work so far 
done in Wisconsin — a state fortunate in having had in its popu- 
lation such workers as Increase Allen Lapham and Frederick Stan- 
