Thomas Talbot Waterman Observations Among the Ancient Indian Monuments of Southeast Alaska (1922)

In 1922, the United States National Museum detailed Thomas Talbot Waterman to assess how many totemic monuments existed in native 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 natives regarding the meaning of the carvings, which were mostly mythological. Waterman also recorded a relatively complete list of native 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, Agency History. Record 292810