Catalogue of the Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics 1903-1933

Catalogue of the Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics, 1903-1933

1 records storage box (1 linear ft.)

Abstract:

Catalog records describing specimens of Native American relics in the Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics at Amherst College, including the original collection of Dr. Edward Hitchcock (AC 1849) and later additions from other sources, including the collection of D. S. Kellogg. Supplementary materials include two printed catalogs of the museum, 1903-1904.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the Gilbert Museum Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Restrictions on use:

Requests for permission to publish material from the Papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Historical Note

The Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics refers to a collection of bone, stone and pottery implements believed to have been created and used by Native Americans in the New England region. In 1853, Professor Edward Hitchcock, Jr. (AC 1849) presented his collection of 721 specimens of Connecticut Valley Indian relics to Amherst College. In 1857 it was increased to 1,100 specimens. This collection formed the foundation of the Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics, named for George Henry Gilbert (1806-1869) of Ware, Massachusetts, a generous benefactor of the College. Hitchcock continued to curate the museum together with two other scientific collections in the Appleton Cabinet (later known as Appleton Hall), the Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet and the Adams Zoological Museum. In 1903 the collection numbered nearly 3,000 specimens.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

This collection is organized into three series:

1. Gilbert Museum catalogue (six volumes)
2. D. S. Kellogg Collection
3. Supplementary Material

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the Gilbert Museum Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Restrictions on use:

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

[Identification of item], in Catalogue of the Gilbert Museum of Indian Relics [Box #, folder #], Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library

History of the Collection

Additional Information

Contact Information

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Robert Frost Library
PO Box 5000
Amherst, MA 01002-5000

Phone: (413) 542-2299
Fax: (413) 542-2692

Email Reference Form: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/info/askus.html
URL: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives

Series 1: Catalogue Volumes
In volume 1, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, AC 1849, explains that "the design of this catalogue is to perpetuate some knowledge of the specimens in the collection in case of any accident resulting from fire, breakage, theft or otherwise." He further explains that for accuracy, the diagrams in the volumes are traced, rather than drawn. The catalogue begins with Dr. Hitchcock's own collection. It includes accession records of collections added later, with their cost and the source of funding in most cases. The Kellogg collection, consisting of about 15,000 relics, is included in Volume IV. "I.C.P.," who catalogued entries Z-1 through Z-44 has been identified as Irvin Chaffee Plough, AC 1942.
Explanation by Dr. Hitchcock of the catalogue and the method of making diagrams. Entries 1 through 2297			Box 1: folder 1
Entries 2298 through 3234			Box 1: folder 2
Pages 1 - 95: entries 3235 through 4597			Box 1: folder 3
Page 96 - 251: entries 4977 through 7655			Box 1: folder 3
Pages 29 -end: entries 4598 through 4675			Box 1: folder 3
[entry numbers 1676 through 4974 omitted]			Box 1: folder 3
Noted as the Kellogg collection			Box 1: folder 4
Pages 1 - 295: entries 7657 through 13,145			Box 1: folder 4
Pages 297 - 299: entries Z-1 through Z-44, catalogued by "I.C.P."			Box 1: folder 4
Pages 1 - 50: entries 13,233 through 14,484			Box 1: folder 5
Pages 51 - 263: entries A-1 through A-4675			Box 1: folder 5
Pages 264 - 287: entries 20,0001 through 20,358			Box 1: folder 5
Note on page 51: "A = 15,000 A1 = 15,001 A4222 = 19,222 etc.			Box 1: folder 5
[numbers 13,146 through 13,232 omitted]			Box 1: folder 5
One page only: Entries 13,851; 13,942; 13,852; 1571			Box 1: folder 6

Series 2: D. S. Kellogg Collection
Kept with the catalogue since it relates directly to a major part of the Amherst collection.
Kellogg's bound volume of notes, collection dates, and tracings			Box 1: folder 1
Loose pages removed from bound volume			Box 1: folder 2
Notes on the archaeology of the Champlain River valley			Box 1: folder 3
Kellogg's list of Indian camp sites			Box 1: folder 4
Typescript: Extracts relating to his collection of Indian Relics from the Journals of D. S. Kellogg			Box 1: folder 5

Series 3: Supplementary Material
The printed Catalog, which appeared in 1903 and again in 1904, is a short one with photographs of some of the items on display at the Gilbert Museum, as well as narrative about the museum.
"Catalogue of Indian Relics in the Gilbert Museum." 1903 edition		Box 1: folder 6
"Catalogue of Indian Relics in the Gilbert Museum." 1904 edition (2 copies)		Box 1: folder 7
F. B. Loomis articles:
"On the Shell Heaps of Maine,"	1912	Box 1: folder 8
"Dr. Hitchcock and the Amherst Indian Collection,"	1915	Box 1: folder 8
"Early Man in Florida,"	1926	Box 1: folder 8
F.B. Loomis notes: small heaps,	1933	Box 1: folder 8