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Smithsonian Institution Archives
George Gibbs Papers, circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862
Summary
- Collection ID:
- SIA.FARU7209
- Creators:
-
Gibbs, George, 1815-1873
- Dates:
-
circa 1850-1853, 1857-1862
- Languages:
-
English
- Physical Description:
-
0.25 cu. ft. (1 half document box)
- Repository:
-
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Introduction
Introduction
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Descriptive Entry
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.
Historical Note
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.
Administration
Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives
Using the Collection
Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7209, George Gibbs Papers
More Information
Notes
Personal Papers
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibbs, George, 1815-1873 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Stevens, Isaac I. | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Northwest Boundary Survey, 1857-1861 | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Harvard University | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Pacific Railroad Survey of the 47th and 49th Parallels | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Anthropology | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Natural history | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Field notes | Genre/Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu
