RETURN FROM CHICAGO T0 WASHINGTON 
1897 
Smee Tee nie 
The story of my resignation from tue Gubstpeclss of 
Anthropology in the Field Columb ian Museum in Chicago and my 
return to Washington may be briefly told, yore the events 
which led to this resignation were a year or more in occurring. 
This year was one of unusual activity, excitement and 
Preuble.. quite aside from the normal work aie affairs of the 
- -Field Columbian Museum. Phe seientific staff of the Museum 
4 was gradually getting into a state of rebellion against 
| Director Skiff as a result of his unappreciative and tyranni- 
cal attitude, but the attempt to dislodge him was frustrated | 
by Mr.  eeintotten who, knowing nothing regarding fie one 
of ihe seicnti fic staff on the consideration of the management, 
stood by his protege. : 3 | 
For a! own part, seeing the hopelessness of conditions 
in the Mus eum/began to turn my face again towards Washington, 
Be C., and the appointment of ir . Walcott as Acting Assistant 
4 Secretary of the Smithsonian, and the favorable attitude of 
Mr. Langley, Hallett Phillips, and others, opened the way to 
my return to the Institution. The correspondence is volumi- 
nous a interesting and throws light on every move that was 
made, but toe of see RU: need be preserved. ‘The dr aft 
of a letter written to /Secretary Walcott’, January 28, 1897, may 
Pe thtreaued here as a matter of record. 
After much preliminary writing, the position of Head 
