From card: "See accession record for additional data. Illus. in USNM AR, 1888, Fig. 75a,b; p. 274 "embroidered with scarlet broad cloth. On the front is the Kahatta or dogfish, the teeth of white beads. On the back is the Wasko or mythological wolf. This very fine specimen was owned by Ellswarsh of Skidegate and worn by him on ceremonial occasions." Swan. Illus.: Hndbk. N. Amer. Ind. Vol. 7, Northwest Coast, Fig. 7 right, pg. 245. Loaned to Renwick 4/29/82. Returned 6/1983. Illus.: p. 43, Pl. 238d, Celebrations catalogue, Smithsonian Press, 1982. [From Celebrations catalogue:] Appliqued Tunic, ca. 1860-83, ... red and blue flannel, blue satin, white glass beads 36 x 30 (91.4 x 76.2). "Button blankets" and other wearable textiles made of appliqued trade cloth present a unique synthesis of cultures. Although the materials only became available through foreign trade in the nineteenth century, their designs and use were purely native and traditional. Worn by dancers during potlatch ceremonies, appliqued blankets, shirts, robes, and tunics always featured clan emblems. The tunic shown here has a dogfish on the front and a wolf on the back. The preferred fabric for applique was Hudson's Bay Company flannel, especially red and blue. Chinese coins, brass or pearl shell buttons, and, as in this example, glass beads were all used for decoration. Loan: Crossroads Sep 22 1988. Returned Jan 21 1993. Illus.: Crossroads of Continents catalogue; Fig. 381, p. 277." Crossroads of Continents catalogue caption identifies: "Applique Tunic, Haida. "A dogfish covers the front of this dancing tunic, appliqued in red flannel and outlined with white beads. It is presented in "split " form, with pectoral fins and halves of the dorsal fin at the sides, and the sides of the second fin and the tail below. The high forehead (the dogfish's nose), gill slits, and sharp teeth are further recognition features. On the back is a sea wolf, a mythical being with a wolf's head, paws and tail, and the killer whale's dorsal fin and flukes. Sea wolf and dogfish are both crests of the Haida Eagle moiety."Per the entry on E89186 in the website http://alaska.si.edu/, "Ellswarsh" may refer to Daniel Eldjiwus [a.k.a. Daniel Elljuuwas], a chief and builder of the House of Contentment at Skidegate.

From label in Swan's hand glued to artifact: "97 Combination dance carving illustrating ancient myth. Chilkat Indians, Alaska. J. G. Swan, Port Townsend, W.T. Dec. 1884."Listed on page 45 in "The Exhibits of the Smithsonian Institution at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, California, 1915", in section "Arts of the Northwest Coast Tribes (Tools)".

FROM CARD: "54101-25. #54101 - TROCADERO. #54101 - 96 X 46 IN. 54102 - 94 X 18. 54103 - 87 X 42. 54104 - 80 X 45. 54105 - 82 X 45. 54106 - 96 X 39. 54107 - 87 X 44. 54108 - 94 X 42. 54109 - 79 X 48. 54110 - 95 X 42. #54111 - 87 X 44 IN. #54112 - 90 X 45 IN. 54113 - 92 X 44" 54114 - 70 X 35". 54115 - 92 X 46". 54116 - 96 X 43". 54117 - 114 X 23". 54118 - 84 X 43". 54119 - 108 X 48". 54120 - 14' X 18". 54121 - 96 X 45". 54122 - 82" X 48". 54123 - 70 X 42". 54124 - 68 X 35". 54125 - 90 X 44". NO. 54104 SENT AS A GIFT TO NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, RUTHERFORD, N.J., JUNE 27, 1922."

FROM CARD: "THIS SPECIMEN BELIEVED TO BE THE #13146 ILLUS. IN BARBEAU'S "HAIDA MYTHS ILLUS. IN ARGILLITE CARVINGS," NMC #127, P.283 [PL. 250]. UNFORTUNATELY THE INFORMATION ON THE BASE OF THE TOTEM POLE MODEL IS NOT IN AGREEMENT. AN AUTHORITY ON THE ART HISTORY OF 'EDENSAW'S WORK MIGHT BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF CONFLICTING DATES. THE CONFLICTING DATA [WHICH IS WRITTEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE OF THE TOTEM POLE MODEL] IS AS FOLLOWS: "SLATE TOTEM POLE (MINIATURE) CARVED BY CHARLEY EDENSAU [A.K.A. CHARLES EDENSHAW] SON OF CHIEF OF VILLAGE ON NORTON ISLAND, QUEEN CHARLOTTE GROUP. BOUGHT OF EDENSAU AT MOUTH OF SKEENA RIVER. GEORGE A. DORSEY, 1897 FOR W.A. HOLMES. BEST STYLE OF SLATE WORK." USNM CAT.# 13145 IS RE-ASSIGNED THIS SPECIMEN IN LIEU OF FURTHER DATA. 1/19/67. GP. INVENTORIED 1980." Illus. Pl. 250, p. 283 and described p. 265 and 303 (under incorrect catalogue # 13146) in Barbeau, Charles Marius. 1953. Haida myths illustrated in argillite carvings. [Ottawa]: Dept. of Resources and Development, National Parks Branch, National Museum of Canada. Identified as eagle at top, which shields with wings and bill the departed woman (wife of Nanasimgat) who wears a skil [hat ring or potlatch ring] hat and labret and holds onto the dorsal fin of the killer-whale, which makes up the lower half of the composition.The Swan accession record lists "3 pieces stone carving by Haida Indians of Queen Charlotte Island B.C." as part of this accession. This object may be one of those pieces.March 3, 2011, Robin K. Wright of the Burke Museum does not believe the attribution of this piece to Charles Edenshaw is correct.

From card: "Made similarly to bark cloaks."

From card: "Bear, cormorant, and beaver motifs. 1/17/67: the base for this specimen is in storage. The display base must be a replacement."

From card: "Bear, wolf, salmon, and frog motifs. 1/23/67: The high relief figures on the top section of this argillite box no longer exist. The top was located in two pieces separate of the box during 1966. Original condition illus. [pl. 64, p. 59] in Barbeau, Haida Carvers in Argillite, NMC #139. Barbeau, p. 58, attributes this specimen to Charley Edensaw [Charles Edenshaw] of Massett. Collected October 9, 1883. "The word 'Gaowtlins' on the top is the name of the Haida Indian who carved and made this casket." - Swan's inventory and descriptive catalogue. See for additional information on decorations. Repaired at Conservation 5/11/73." Illus. fig. 5.19, p. 252 and discussed p. 248-9 in Wright, Robin Kathleen. 2001. Northern Haida master carvers. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Wright attributes to maker John Robson of Skidegate. She notes that "Caowtlins" is inscribed on the lid (lid is cracked across the letter "A"), and Caowtlins is a form of Robson's Haida name.

FROM CARD: "OF SPIREA ARUNCUS. TROCADERO JULY 85."See Cat. 102 p. 190 in Faucourt, Camille. 2020. A La Conquête de l'Ouest : Collectes Amérindiennes de La Smithsonian Institution Conservées Au Musée Du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac. Paris: Réunion des musées nationaux. Entry is on Musee Du Quai Branly Catalog no. 71.1885.78.260, one mat needle, which their records identify as formerly Smithsonian no. E13108.