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National Anthropological Archives
Guide to the Alfred T. Agate drawings from the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.MS382524
- Creators:
-
Agate, Alfred T., 1812-1846
- Dates:
-
1838-1842
- Languages:
-
Captions are in English and Spanish.
- Physical Description:
-
5 Drawings (visual works)2 Engravings
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of five (5) watercolor drawings and two (2) engravings made by Alfred T. Agate for the United States Exploring Expedition. It includes portraits of King Kamehameha III of Hawaii, Kotowatowa (a Maori chief), and unnamed individuals from Brazil, Peru, Fiji, as well as illustrations of Maori ornamental carvings.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Alfred Thomas Agate was an artist, painter, and miniaturist, known for his landscapes, portraits and scientific illustrations. Agate was born February 14, 1812 in Sparta, N.Y. In 1838, he joined the Scientific Corps of the United States Exploring Expedition as a portraitist and botanical artist. He spent four years traveling around the world, mapping the coast of Oregon, documenting hundreds of islands in the Pacific, and collecting more than sixty thousand plant and bird specimens. In 1842, Agate settled in Washington, D.C., and prepared his drawings for the expedition's multi-volume report. He died January 5, 1846.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mr. M. C. Hopkins to United States National Museum, May 7, 1942. The collection was transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives in July 1969.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Alfred T. Agate drawings from the United States Exploring Expedition (MS 382524), National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Related Materials
Related Materials
The National Anthropological Archives holds additional Agate drawings from the United States Exploring Expedition in The Division of Ethnology photograph collection (Photo Lot 97).
The Naval History and Heritage Command Archives holds the Alfred Agate collection.
More Information
Variant Title
Variant Title
Natives of Oceania, and ornamental architecture, signed "A. T. Agate, del., A. T. A., del.
Local Numbers
Local Numbers
NAA MS 382524
USNM Accession 16909
Bibliography
Bibliography
Two watercolor drawings and both engravings were reproduced in Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (1845). The artist's name appears in list of crew members as "Alfred S. Agate."
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Oceania | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| South America | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Portraits | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Engravings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Works of art | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842) | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu
