National Anthropological Archives

MS 970 Letters from James G. Swan to George Gibbs

Summary
Collection ID:
NAA.MS970
Creators:
Swan, James G., 1818-1900
Old Toke
Gibbs, George, 1815-1873
Dates:
July 20, August 20, and September 4, 1855
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
9 Pages
Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Contents relate to medicine men; story of the Thunder Bird; notes on religion, customs, tribal names, etc.
Scope and Contents
Letter of July 20 gives names of tribes from Columbia River to Cape Flattery, obtained from Old Toke; refers to vocabularies requested by Gibbs but not yet recorded by Swan, and visit to Capt. Vail at Gibbs' request, about collection of debt. Letter of August 20 discusses medicine "Tomanawas," relates stories of Thunderbird, the "Smisspee" (duck), the winds, and customs and religious beliefs of Indians from Columbia River to Nisqually.
Using the Collection
Citation
Manuscript 970, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
More Information
Local Numbers
Local Numbers
NAA MS 970
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Names, tribal -- American Indian -- Northwest Coast Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Folklore -- American Indian -- Northwest Coast Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Medicine -- American Indian -- Northwest Coast Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Language and languages -- Documentation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- medicine men Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- Ethnology Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- Ducks Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- winds Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- tribe names Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Indian -- Northwest Coast -- Thunder Bird Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu