In addition to being useful containers, tobacco bags were worn as clothing accessories by Plains Indian men. They were carried in the hand, with the body of the bag and the fringe allowed to hang freely. These bags were made from tanned leather, cut and sewn into a rectangular shape with an opening at the top. The decoration, either beaded or quilled, is usually made up of a rectangular or square panel at the bottom of the bag, with additional beadwork in strips or as accents extending up the sides and around the top. The designs frequently differ from one side to the other.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler

This is a hide band beaded with white, blue and yellow triangles. It was probably cut from something else. An old tag indicates it belonged to Sitting Bull.

Spear supposedly belonging to Crazy Horse, with hide and bead trimming and iron head. This was given to Dr. Brooks by the daughter of General Brown.Although titled as singular "spear" there were two numbers assigned to it. If this did not indicate the two component parts- shaft and fringe trim- then an additional piece is missing.

This is a beaded, hide band with clear, black, pink, yellow, blue and red beads. An old tag indicates this belonged to Sitting Bull and collected around 1914.

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Part of material purchased as belonging to Red Cloud. This catlinite L-shaped pipe with catlinite stem with two inserts from carved wood on either end. The wood is carved in relief with the figures of an antelope on one piece and an elk head on the other. There is metal inlay along the catlinite stem. Condition: good. a- wooden mouthpiece, 1 1/8" x 1 1/4" x 9 1/4" b- stone stem piece with inlay, 7/8" x 1 1/2" x 15 3/4" c- wooden stem piece, 1 1/8" x 1 1/2" x 9" d- stone bowl, 5 1/2" x 1 7/8" x 7 7/8"

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund