Large Carved Wooden Column Item Number: E89094-0 from the National Museum of Natural History

Notes

This may be the column described by Swan in his diary entry for Sept. 9, 1883 while Swan stayed in the house of Capt. Skedans at Koona. He wrote "Johnny [Kit Elswa] employed carving a slate stone column and young Kitkun at work carving a wooden column 5 feet long which he holds in his lap and uses chisels and knives cutting towards himself. Both the young men are good carvers." In the accession file for 013804 Swan lists this item as "110 1 large wooden column carved by Kitkune chief of Laskeek. This carving represents the Hooyah or crow in two shapes. The lower one is the crow and halibut. The middle one is Jtltadsda [sp.?], the crows mother, and the upper is the Skamsom or Sparrow hawk."In Swan's second Diary for Sept 9, 1883, he wrote about it saying "Young Kitkun at work carving woden column. 4 feet long. Works with chisels. Holds stick in his lap and cuts towards himself." https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/pioneerlife/id/21191/rec/103 On Sept 14, 1883 Swan wrote in his diary "Last evening I baught of Young Kitkun a wooden carving 4 ft 3 in long representing a totemic column. Paid him $13.00. Oiled it today with boiled linseed oil. https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/pioneerlife/id/21191/rec/103