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SIA RU007209, Gibbs, George 1815-1873, George Gibbs Papers, circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862

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Summary

Creator:
Gibbs, George 1815-1873
Title:
George Gibbs Papers, circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862
Dates:
1850, 1850-1862, circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862
Notes:
George Gibbs (1815-1873) was an ethnologist and expert on the language and culture of the Indians of the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of Harvard University, Gibbs moved west during the gold rush of 1848 and eventually secured the position of Collector of the Port of Astoria, Oregon Territory. From 1853 to 1855, he wasa geologist and ethnologist on the Pacific Railroad Survey of the 47th and 49th parallels under the command of Isaac Stevens. In 1857, Gibbs joined the Northwest Boundary Survey and served as geologist and interpreter until 1862. The last decade of his life was spent in Washington, D.C., where he undertook studies of Indian languages under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution
Summary:
This collection consists primarily of journals kept by Gibbs while in Oregon Territory, 1850-1853, and on the Northwest Boundary Survey, 1857-1862. The journals contain zoological and ethnological observations, accounts of collections made, and Indian vocabulary. Also included are notes on the forest growth of Washington Territory, circa 1860
Topics:
Anthropology, Natural history
Subjects:
Gibbs, George 1815-1873, Northwest Boundary Survey, 1857-1861
Form/Genre:
Field notes, Collection descriptions
Local Number:
SIA RU007209
Physical Description:
0.1 linear meter

Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7209

Gibbs, George, 1815-1873

George Gibbs Papers, circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862

Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator: Gibbs, George, 1815-1873
Title: George Gibbs Papers
Dates: circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862
Quantity: 0.1 linear meter.
Collection: Record Unit 7209
Language of Materials: English

Historical Note

George Gibbs (1815-1873) was an ethnologist and expert on the language and culture of the Indians of the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of Harvard University, Gibbs moved west during the gold rush of 1848 and eventually secured the position of Collector of the Port of Astoria, Oregon Territory. From 1853 to 1855, he was a geologist and ethnologist on the Pacific Railroad Survey of the 47th and 49th parallels under the command of Isaac Stevens. In 1857, Gibbs joined the Northwest Boundary Survey and served as geologist and interpreter until 1862. The last decade of his life was spent in Washington, D.C., where he undertook studies of Indian languages under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution.

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Introduction

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

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Descriptive Entry

This collection consists primarily of journals kept by Gibbs while in Oregon Territory, 1850-1853, and on the Northwest Boundary Survey, 1857-1862. The journals contain zoological and ethnological observations, accounts of collections made, and Indian vocabulary. Also included are notes on the forest growth of Washington Territory, circa 1860.

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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7209, Gibbs, George, 1815-1873, George Gibbs Papers

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Container List

Box 1

Folder 1 Journal, Astoria, Oregon Territory, 1850-1853

Box 1 of 1

Folder 2 Journal, Northwest Boundary Survey, 1857-1862

Box 1 of 1

Folder 3 Notes on Forest Growth in Washington Territory, circa 1860

Box 1 of 1

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