Unpacking Edward Curtis’ Unpacking Edward Curtis’ TrunkTrunk

MEMOMEMO From: the Director of the Smithsonian From: the Director of the Smithsonian

Anthropology DepartmentAnthropology Department To:To: Staff of the Anthropology DepartmentStaff of the Anthropology Department

We have just received word that that the We have just received word that that the Smithsonian has received a trunk containing Smithsonian has received a trunk containing photographs taken by Edward Curtis at the photographs taken by Edward Curtis at the end of the 1800's. Mr. Curtis devoted his life's end of the 1800's. Mr. Curtis devoted his life's work to chronicling the lives and cultures of work to chronicling the lives and cultures of Native Americans in the Western and Northern Native Americans in the Western and Northern regions of the country. This is a huge find for regions of the country. This is a huge find for our Anthropology Department. The our Anthropology Department. The Smithsonian Board of Directors has asked us Smithsonian Board of Directors has asked us to analyze the photographs to see how the to analyze the photographs to see how the environment and natural resources might have environment and natural resources might have affected the lives and culture of the people in affected the lives and culture of the people in different regions of the country in early different regions of the country in early American history.American history.

Our AssignmentOur Assignment

Over the next few days, Expert Groups Over the next few days, Expert Groups will analyze photos of Native will analyze photos of Native American tribes from the Northwest American tribes from the Northwest region of the United States. region of the United States.

Physical Anthropology Expert Physical Anthropology Expert GroupsGroups

Physical Anthropologists will study Physical Anthropologists will study

FOOD, CLOTHING,SHELTERFOOD, CLOTHING,SHELTER

As you do this, you will focus on the As you do this, you will focus on the natural resources of the area and how natural resources of the area and how this culture used these resources.this culture used these resources.

Cultural Anthropology Expert Cultural Anthropology Expert GroupsGroups

Cultural Anthropologists will study Cultural Anthropologists will study

POLITICAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL POLITICAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL STRUCTURE, RELIGIONSTRUCTURE, RELIGION

As you do this, you will focus on the As you do this, you will focus on the natural resources of the area and how natural resources of the area and how this culture used these resources.this culture used these resources.

Presentation to the BoardPresentation to the Board

Each group will Each group will

present their Analysis Packet to the present their Analysis Packet to the Anthropology Department. Anthropology Department.

make a 2-3 minute oral presentation of make a 2-3 minute oral presentation of their findingstheir findings

Practicing your Skills as a Practicing your Skills as a Physical AnthropologistPhysical Anthropologist

Captured whale (The North American Indian; v.11)

CREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

SUMMARYDescription by Edward S. Curtis: A small humpback whale (Megapter)

lies partially butchered on the beach at Neah Bay.

NOTES1 photogravure : brown ink ; 36 x 43 cm.

Original photogravure produced in Boston by John Andrew & Son, c1915.Original source: The Nootka. The Haida [portfolio] ; plate no. 396

Primitive Quinault (The North American Indian; v.09)Primitive Quinault (The North American Indian; v.09)

CREATORCREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

SUMMARYSUMMARYDescription by Edward S. Curtis: Among the Coast Salish Description by Edward S. Curtis: Among the Coast Salish the aboriginal dress of women was a knee-length kilt of the aboriginal dress of women was a knee-length kilt of thick, cedar-bark fringe. No other garment was worn except thick, cedar-bark fringe. No other garment was worn except when cold or rain made goat-hair or vegetal-fibre blankets when cold or rain made goat-hair or vegetal-fibre blankets or capes desireable.or capes desireable.

NOTESNOTES1 photogravure : brown ink ; 44 x 30 cm.1 photogravure : brown ink ; 44 x 30 cm.

Original photogravure produced in Boston by John Andrew Original photogravure produced in Boston by John Andrew & Son, c1912.& Son, c1912.

Original source: Salishan tribes of the coast. The Chimakum Original source: Salishan tribes of the coast. The Chimakum and the Quilliute. The Willapa [portfolio] ; plate no. 293and the Quilliute. The Willapa [portfolio] ; plate no. 293

Seattle : E.S. Curtis, 1913.Seattle : E.S. Curtis, 1913.

Fishing camp - Skokomish (The North Fishing camp - Skokomish (The North American Indian; v.09)American Indian; v.09)

CREATORCREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

SUMMARYSUMMARYDescription by Edward S. Curtis: The Description by Edward S. Curtis: The picture shows a typical summer house at a picture shows a typical summer house at a picturesque spot on Skokomish River.picturesque spot on Skokomish River.Description by Edward S. Description by Edward S. Curtis: Washington (State)Curtis: Washington (State)

Practicing your Skills as a Practicing your Skills as a Cultural AnthropologistCultural Anthropologist

Group of winter dancers - Qagyuhl Group of winter dancers - Qagyuhl (The North American Indian; v.10)(The North American Indian; v.10)

CREATORCREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

NOTESNOTES1 photogravure : brown ink ; 34 x 43 cm.1 photogravure : brown ink ; 34 x 43 cm.

Original photogravure produced in Boston Original photogravure produced in Boston by John Andrew & Son, c1914.by John Andrew & Son, c1914.

Original source: The Kwakiutl [portfolio] ; Original source: The Kwakiutl [portfolio] ; plate no. 348plate no. 348

Masked dancer - Cowichan (The North Masked dancer - Cowichan (The North American Indian; v.09)American Indian; v.09)

CREATORCREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

SUMMARYSUMMARYDescription by Edward S. Curtis: The Description by Edward S. Curtis: The dancer personates one of the mythic dancer personates one of the mythic ancestors who descended from the sky. ancestors who descended from the sky. Note the huge, carved house-post at the Note the huge, carved house-post at the right.right.

Coming for the bride (The North Coming for the bride (The North American Indian; v.10)American Indian; v.10)

CREATORCREATORCurtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952.

SUMMARYSUMMARYDescription by Edward S. Curtis: In the Description by Edward S. Curtis: In the bow qunhulahl, a masked man bow qunhulahl, a masked man personating the thunderbird, dances with personating the thunderbird, dances with characteristic gestures as the canoe characteristic gestures as the canoe approaches the bride's village.approaches the bride's village.

Let the Analysis Begin!Let the Analysis Begin!

Use your Graphic Organizer to record Use your Graphic Organizer to record what you observe in the photographswhat you observe in the photographs

Look at the information in each Look at the information in each category and write on your “Power category and write on your “Power Thinking” chart statements about Thinking” chart statements about what the information tells you what the information tells you