Expedition History, 1922

Subject

This is an expedition history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of expeditions to set it in its historical context. If we have identified SIA collections containing documentation of this expedition, they will be listed under "components," or "see more items in," below. Clicking on those links will open a brief description of relevant records.
Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1922, page 67
Explorations and Field-Work of the Smithsonian Institution, 1922, pages 115-134
In 1922, the United States National Museum detailed T. T. (Thomas Talbot) Waterman to assess how many totemic monuments existed in towns in southeast Alaska and to gather information on the carvings. Totem poles were examined, sketched and photographed, showing the number of poles and the state of preservation. Accounts were gathered from the local people regarding the meaning of the carvings, which were mostly mythological. Waterman also recorded a relatively complete list of Native American place names in the southeastern part of Alaska (this list also contains the translations and explanations of the names). The expedition conducted a hasty archeological survey of coastal Alaska concluding that only one site was a possibility for future excavations. Julius Sternberg served as photographer on this expedition.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Mixed archival materials

SIA AH00418