FROM CARD: "MADE AND USED BY INDIANS."

FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN USNM AR 1888; PL. 27, FIG. 127A,B; P. 286. 4/18/67:LOANED TO VANCOUVER ART GALL. 12/13/67:RETURNED BY VANCOUVER. LOAN: CROSSROADS SEP 22 1988. ILLUS.: CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS CATALOGUE; FIG.388, P.282. LOAN RETURNED: JAN 21 1993." Crossroads of Continents catalogue identifies: Spear Thrower, Tlingit. "The very few Tlingit spear throwers, or throwing boards, that survive are all carved with figures that resemble those on shaman's rattles and amulets. Although completely functional, they are poorly shaped for efficient use ... compared to Pacific Eskimo throwing boards .... It is possible that they were all shamans' instruments, weapons to be used in war with the spirits. Whichever is the case, they are often beautifully carved. A long-beaked, crested bird (a kingfisher or meganser) bites an asymmetrically rendered sea creature on the shaft of this board. The legs, hands, and face of a man, with closed eyes, emerge from recesses in the grip. Although collected in the late 19th century, its early style, heavy wear and patination indicate a much earlier origin."Florence Sheakley, elder, made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. The design on this object is a Spirit Face.

WOODEN BOARD.

FROM CARD: "BASKET. CEDAR BARK. CHECQUER WEAVING."

LEDGER AND CATALOG CARD SAY SENT TO GEORGE HEYE, NEW YORK, 1908.

Provenience note, in 1841 Oregon Territory encompassed the land from Russian Alaska to Spanish California and from the Pacific to the Continental Divide. The U.S. Exploring Expedition did not go to Canada, but did reach Oregon Territory in 1841, and carried out a hydrographic survey of the Columbia River from its mouth to the Cascades, as well as doing some surveying inland.They had dealings with Hudson's Bay Company staff during that time, and it is probable that the HBC is the source of a number of the Northwest Coast artifacts collected by the expedition. This object has been attributed as possibly Haida, based on its being made of argillite.

From card: "Wooden staff of Indian doctor used in incantations."E60210 and E60211 are both catalogued as doctor's staffs. There are 2 entries in the list in the accession file that appear to describe these objects. One entry lists "1 carved, long staff, Doctors, [from] Kootzahoo (i.e. Hutsnuwu Tlingit). The other entry lists "1 medicine stick, long, [from] Hoonia" (i.e. Hoonah). Unfortunately, it is unclear which description applies to which staff, though it can be speculated that the carved staff may be E60210?