Cultures & Communities

Furniture, cooking wares, clothing, works of art, and many other kinds of artifacts are part of what knit people into communities and cultures. The Museum’s collections feature artifacts from European Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, African Americans, Gypsies, Jews, and Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. The objects range from ceramic face jugs made by enslaved African Americans in South Carolina to graduation robes and wedding gowns. The holdings also include artifacts associated with education, such as teaching equipment, textbooks, and two complete schoolrooms. Uniforms, insignia, and other objects represent a wide variety of civic and voluntary organizations, including youth and fraternal groups, scouting, police forces, and firefighters.

This engraved woodblock of a “Haida medicine rattle” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XXII.50 (p.189) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain Aboriginal Customs w
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Haida medicine rattle” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XXII.50 (p.189) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain Aboriginal Customs with an Inquiry into the Bearing of Their Geographical Distribution” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82. According to the annual report, the mask shows “the shaman, frog, and kingfisher with continuous tongues.” The image was drawn from a “specimen obtained by J. G. Swan [(1818-1900)] at Port Townsend, W. T. from a Queen Charlotte Island Haida.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Dall, William H.
ID Number
1980.0219.1294
catalog number
1980.0219.1294
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Basket with pendant buckskin” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 312 (p.213) in an article by William H.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Basket with pendant buckskin” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 312 (p.213) in an article by William H. Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “A Study of the Textile Art in its Relation to the Development of Form and Ornament” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0850
catalog number
1980.0219.0850
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Vase of unusual shape” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 211 (p.144) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Vase of unusual shape” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 211 (p.144) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
block maker
J. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1289
catalog number
1980.0219.1289
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of cliff dwellings and pueblos was prepared by John Minton and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in John Wesley Powell's Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of cliff dwellings and pueblos was prepared by John Minton and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in John Wesley Powell's Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1875. Thomas Moran (1837-1926) was the original artist.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
original artist
Moran, Thomas
graphic artist
Minton, John
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1512
catalog number
1980.0219.1512
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni effigy” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 463 (p.365) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the I
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni effigy” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 463 (p.365) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0141
catalog number
1980.0219.0141
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian mask from the northwest coast of America” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1884 as Plate XIII.20 (p.171) in an article by William Healey Dall (
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian mask from the northwest coast of America” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1884 as Plate XIII.20 (p.171) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain Aboriginal Customs with an Inquiry into the Bearing of Their Geographical Distribution” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Dall, William H.
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
block maker
N. J. Wemmer
ID Number
1980.0219.0165
catalog number
1980.0219.0165
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 427 (p.357) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 427 (p.357) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0038
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0038
This engraved woodblock of “Huch’-nom tattooing” was engraved by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1877 as Figure 14 (p.142) in an article by Stephen Powers (1840-1904) entitled “Tribes
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Huch’-nom tattooing” was engraved by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1877 as Figure 14 (p.142) in an article by Stephen Powers (1840-1904) entitled “Tribes of California” in Contributions to North American Ethnology v.3. Contributions was published by the U.S. Geographical and Geological Survey, a precursor to the Bureau of American Ethnology under the direction of John Wesley Powell (1834-1902).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1877
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
author
Powers, Stephen
ID Number
1980.0219.0363
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0363
This engraved woodblock of an American Indian identified as “Pa’ri-ats” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 7 (p.17) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of an American Indian identified as “Pa’ri-ats” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 7 (p.17) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). The illustration was engraved by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1875ca 1875
ca 1875
1875
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
author
Powell, John Wesley
ID Number
1980.0219.1126
catalog number
1980.0219.1126
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Cochiti Water Vessel” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 638 (p.408) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained f
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Cochiti Water Vessel” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 638 (p.408) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0375
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0375
This engraved woodblock of “Navajo Indian with silver ornaments" was prepared, after a photograph, by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Plate XX (p. 178) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Navajo Indian with silver ornaments" was prepared, after a photograph, by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Plate XX (p. 178) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “Navajo Silversmiths” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Matthews, Washington
block maker
J. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.0442
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0442
This engraved woodblock of a “Dipper - province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 299 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Dipper - province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 299 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.1725
catalog number
1980.0219.1725
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 426 (p.357) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indi
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 426 (p.357) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0280
catalog number
1980.0219.0280
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled Cup – Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 297 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fo
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled Cup – Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 297 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.1796
catalog number
1980.0219.1796
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of “Signal for ‘buffalo discovered’” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 337 on page 532 in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Sign Lang
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Signal for ‘buffalo discovered’” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 337 on page 532 in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Sign Language Among the North American Indians” in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1879-80.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
maker
Nichols, H. H.
author
Mallery, Garrick
ID Number
1980.0219.1523
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.1523
This engraved woodblock of a “Vase with animal heads” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 137 (p.96) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Vase with animal heads” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 137 (p.96) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0896
catalog number
1980.0219.0896
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Fault with thrown beds flexed upward” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 71 (p.184) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Fault with thrown beds flexed upward” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 71 (p.184) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
printer
Government Printing Office
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Powell, John Wesley
ID Number
1980.0219.0101
catalog number
1980.0219.0101
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Bottle with geometric devices” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 165 (p.116) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colo
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Bottle with geometric devices” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 165 (p.116) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0814
catalog number
1980.0219.0814
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian Village” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 43 (p.119) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian Village” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 43 (p.119) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). The illustration was drawn by Thomas Moran, and engraved by John Minton (fl. 1875).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Powell, John Wesley
original artist
Moran, Thomas
graphic artist
Minton, John
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1424
catalog number
1980.0219.1424
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled cup, Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1886 as 298 (p.327) in an article by William H.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled cup, Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1886 as 298 (p.327) in an article by William H. Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0152
catalog number
1980.0219.0152
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of an American Indian board and wrapping for a baby was printed and published by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology about 1880.Currently not on view
Description
This engraved woodblock of an American Indian board and wrapping for a baby was printed and published by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology about 1880.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
ID Number
1980.0219.0481
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0481
This engraved woodblock of a “Canoe Burial” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 23 on page 171 in an article by H.C.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Canoe Burial” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 23 on page 171 in an article by H.C. Yarrow (1871-1876) entitled “Mortuary Customs of North American Indians” in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1879-80.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
author
Yarrow, Harry Crecy
block maker
Grottenthaler, V.
ID Number
1980.0219.1510
catalog number
1980.0219.1510
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of “Shell Gorgets – the Cross” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Plate LI.1 (p.268) in an article by William H.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Shell Gorgets – the Cross” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Plate LI.1 (p.268) in an article by William H. Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Art in Shell of the Ancient Americans” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
A gorget is a piece of shell that has been engraved and perforated so that it can be worn as a pendant; in this case, it has been engraved with a cross insignia. The caption beneath the image reveals that the gorget was found in Union County, Illinois.
In a footnote to his article, Holmes identifies “Kate C. Osgood” as an accompanying artist on his collecting expedition.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
printer
Government Printing Office
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0080
catalog number
1980.0219.0080
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock for “Dancer holding up the great plumed arrow” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 54 (p.434) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock for “Dancer holding up the great plumed arrow” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 54 (p.434) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “The Mountain Chant: a Navajo ceremony” in the Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1883-84.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1887
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
block maker
A. P. J. & Co.
author
Matthews, Washington
ID Number
1980.0219.0438
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0438

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