FROM CARD: "MAN'S COAT OF THE CHINOOK INDIANS (CHINOOKAN STOCK). MADE OF ELKSKIN IN IMITATION OF A FRONTIERSMAN'S GARMENT. BOUND WITH RED TAPE, BORDERED WITH OTTER SKIN, AND DECORATED FROM THE SHOULDERS AND ARMS WITH LONG, CUT FRINGE. COLUMBIA RIVER, OREGON."

FROM CARD: "*IDENTIFIED AS ESKIMO BY DR. H. B. COLLINS 10/1977. INVENTORIED 1977."Attributed to U.S. Exploring Expedition/Wilkes collection on the catalogue card, however Jane Walsh doubts that attribution.

Object has old identifying tag from James G. Swan describing its function.

From card: "Renumbered. Illus. in USNM AR, 1888, Pl. VII, fig. 19, p. 260." Identified in publication as "Ear and Nose Ornaments. Of shark's teeth. Auk Indians, Admiralty Island, Alaska. Collected by James G. Swan."Anthropology catalogue ledger book lists a collection date of 1876; i.e. this is probably part of the artifacts Swan collected in 1875/1876 for the Smithsonian the Centennial Exposition, possibly accession 4730? See E20848, which is possibly the same or related objects, since E72993 is identified as "renumbered"?

From card: "After an extensive survey of the totem poles in the USNM collections, it is probable that this specimen is the pole exhibited opposite totem pole #18925 near the entrance to halls 9 and 11. The specimen was apparently collected by Swan for the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876 and can be noted in photos of the exhibit. Based on the USNM NW Coast collections and current NW Coast literature, the treatment of the specimen resembles southern Tlingit-work. 6/6/68 GP. Earlier opinions have been noted as follows: 1882 accessioned.Haida. 1962 V. Garfield.Tlingit. 1962 M. Barbeau. Haida. 1962 W. Holm. Tlingit. Loaned to Renwick 1/27/82. Returned 1983. Illus.: p.58, pl.15, Celebrations Catalogue, Smithsonian Press, 1982. Totem pole, ca.1850-75. Tlingit Indians; Alaska. Cedar, red and black paint 176 x 20 [inches] (447 x 50.8 [cm]). NMNH 54297; Probably collected by James G. Swan."From Card: "In 1990 this totem pole is on exhibit in Natural History Museum Exhibit Hall 9/11 with the following label: "Totem Pole, Probably Tlingit, southeast Alaska. The figures represent a man, a bear, and a frog."As of 2004, totem pole is on exhibit in right side of NMNH IMAX Theater lobby. 2009 exhibit label: "Heraldic pole, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada. Haida [sic] noble's heraldic pole illustrating ancestral history. Top figure wears chief's hat showing family wealth. Collected in 1875 by James Swan and Haida artist Johnny Kit Elswa for 1876 Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia."As of 2018, pole is on exhibit in NMNH Sant Ocean Hall.This pole is part of a group of poles, E54297 – 54302, collected by James G. Swan in 1875, though they were not catalogued by the Smithsonian till 1882. They were all catalogued as Haida, from the Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., however that does not seem correct for E54297. Robin Wright, Professor and Curator Emerita, University of Washington, has attributed the pole as Southern Tlingit. She notes that a similar pole is shown in a photo of Tuxekan. On that pole the bear is sitting on a monster head, instead of another bear as in E54927. She also indicates that the Tuxekan poles often have the square base rather than a rounded pole. See Ketchikan Museums, photo KM 77.3.5.450. Steven C. Brown, former curator at the Seattle Art Museum, identified the pole as Southern Tlingit in 2005, and thought it could be attributed to the Tuxekan area. Steve Henrikson, Curator at the Alaska State Museum, is also of the opinion that it is more Tlingit looking than Haida.A photo of this pole on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 is in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution Archives: Photo ID 90-7265, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 61, Folder: 5, https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_8250 . Pole partially visible in back left of photo.

Artifact has 2 original tags attached to it: From first tag: "Smelt Net. J.G. Swan. Made from Nettle fibre. Neeah Bay, W.T. Made by Quillehute Indians." From second tag: "Miniature net. Used by the Indians at Quillehute west coast of Washington Territory to catch the surf smelt. The full size of net used is 5 ft. long 20 inches wide. The net is made of the fiber of the common stinging nettle. James G. Swan, Neah Bay, W. T. Sept. 1879". The back of second tag has a drawing of the net as set up.

FROM CARD: "MADE OF TWO FLAT PIECES OF BIRCHBARK SEPARATED AT THE SIDES WITH 1/4" THICK PIECES OF WOOD, AND BOUND INTO A FLAT POUCH OR CASE WITH STRIPS OF BRAIDED PORCUPINE QUILLS."There are incised drawings and markings on the bark on both sides of this container, including what appear to be American/European sailing ships and houses? At one time, this object had been possibly identified as part of the Wilkes/U.S. Exploring Expedition collection, but Jane Walsh doubts that attribution. Other possible sources might be the National Institute or John Varden collections, or the War Department Collection?

LEDGER, CATALOG CARD AND SI ARCHIVE DISTRIBUTION DOCUMENTS SAY 1 SENT TO SALEM, MA. 1886.

Attributed to U.S. Exploring Expedition/Wilkes collection on the catalogue card, however Jane Walsh doubts that attribution.