acknowledgments

This book and exhibition program were inspired by the late Ann Stevens. In 1979 she visited the Smithsonian Institution and viewed its holdings of Alaska native artifacts. Upon doing so she inquired about the possibility of showing a portion of the collection in Alaska so that the beauty of the artifacts could be shared by all Alaskans.
A year later, during an Arctic museum training workshop supported by the Smithsonian Institution's Educational Outreach Program, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was invited to examine these same collections at the request of our Alaskan participant, Rachael Craig. Senator Stevens also urged us to prepare a traveling exhibition that would tour a number of the finer specimens to Alaska, where they had originated, We decided that the exhibition should concentrate on the collection of Edward Nelson, made one hundred years ago on the Bering Sea coast.
While still in the planning stage the project benefited from the advice of Ronald Senungetuk, Alan Munro, Robert Shalkop, Martha Cappelletti, Ruth Selig, Ann Bay, Anna Riggs, and Charlene James.
Dr. Richard Fiske, Director, National Museum of Natural History, decided that the first exhibition to be produced by the museum for installation in the new Thomas M. Evans Gallery should feature the Nelson Collection, one of the hidden treasures of the museum. Dr. Fiske's enthusiasm for and support of the project has made the entire exhibition and book program possible.
We would like to thank the many people in Alaska who extended assistance to us during two planning visits to the state. In Anchorage, Saradell Ard Frederick guided us through contemporary art collections, and Robert Shaw permitted us to use unpublished archeological specimens. For a pleasant and informative visit in Fairbanks we thank Wendy and Robert Arundale, Jean Aigner, Steve Jacobson, the Photographic Archives of the Elmer E. Rasmussen Library, William Sheppard, Ken Pratt, and the University of Alaska Museum. In Juneau we were assisted by the Alaska State Museum and by Lynn Price Ager.
Our two visits to Bethel provided an invaluable introduction to life along the Bering Sea coast. For this we axe indebted to Phyllis Morrow and Chase Hensel and the Yupik Language Center of Kuskokwim Community College, who also aided us as interpreters and invaluable guides. Phyllis and Chase escorted us into the "Big Lake" country where we learned more about ongoing traditional life from Mary and George Andrews and Andrew Chicoyak of Nunapichuk, and advised on the use of Yupik terminology. James H. Barker of Bethel made available photographic materials, while artists Edward Kiokan arid Kay Hendrickson provided modern ethnographic information.
In the Smithsonian's Department of Anthropology we have appreciated the strong support provided by Douglas Ubelaker, Chairman, and Clara Ann Simmons, Elizabeth Beard, and Carolyn Lewis. Jane MacLaren Walsh and Nigel Elmore followed many leads in a frustrating and still unresolved search for Nelson's Alaskan diary. This important document was never submitted to the Smithsonian and its location is unknown. Jane Walsh has also assisted in extracting Yup'ik terms from Nelson's dictionary manuscript. Jane Norman and Catharine Valentour supervised the conservation of objects. Aron Crowell prepared subsistence pattern data and Dosia Laeyendecker identified woods. Paula Fleming assisted in locating ethnographic photographs.
People in other departments have assisted the project. George Watson, Richard Vari, and Charles Handley provided taxonomic information. Roxie Laybourne identified feathers. Jean Smith lent office space. Suzanne Morris, Barbara Bridges, Wendy Bruneau, and Meredith Weber gave much to the project as student interns. The Office of Photographic Services, Development office, and the Natural History Office of Exhibits provided excellent support.
Other institutions that generously loaned us material or supplied us with photographs are Alaska State Council on the Arts, Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum, Visual Arts Center of Alaska, Atlantic Richfield Company, Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, United States Department of the Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Indian Historian Press, Lowie Museum of Anthropology, Museum of the American Indian-Heye Foundation, National Museum of Denmark, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Alaska State Museum, Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, and University of Alaska Museum. We also extend thanks to individuals who have generously loaned materials from private collections.
We thank the two illustrators who have cheerfully prepared a number of fine pieces of work: Jo Ann Moore for the drawings and Molly Ryan for the charts and maps. Jeanne Barry has had the monumental task of editing this book under unusual circumstances. We thank her and the Smithsonian Institution Press for their efforts.
The contributors to the volume also assisted us in other ways. Henry B. Collins generously shared a lifetime of Alaskan experiences with the authors. Thomas Ager of the U.S. Geological Survey made available photographs and provided advice, as did Dorothy Jean Ray while studying the Nelson drill bows, and Saradell Ard Frederick who selected the contemporary art and initiated loan requests. Anthony Woodbury has contributed the opening section of the qasgiq essay and has made available Yupik texts from Chevak, Alaska. Linda Lichliter Eisenhart analyzed Nelson's grass baskets and contributed essay material on these objects.
Throughout the many months of intensive work on this project we have neglected family, friends, and professors, cutting phone conversations short and discouraging visits. We thank those who have been so understanding, especially Lynne Fitzhugh who created many evenings of cheer when she was able to tear us loose from "the Nelson lab."
Special thanks go to the Alaska State Council on the Arts and its Chairman, Anna Riggs, and its Director, John Blaine, for planning assistance, coordination, and advice. Jessie A. Brinkley of the Smithsonian National Associates Program, and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. have made this publication possible.
Alex Castro joined this project when it was in its formative stage. He participated in selection of materials to be illustrated, determined format, and designed an elegant book in keeping with the high quality of the Nelson artifacts. Joel Breger patiently, diligently, and with unending humor photographed the impossible. Were it not for their unstinting efforts this ethnography would be something less than visual.


Published for the National Museum of Natural History by the Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 1982
Cost: $25. for Hard Cover, $18.50 Soft Cover

Information about the resource can be found at:

ANKN Clearinghouse P.O. Box 756730 Fairbanks, AK 99775-6730 Tel: (907) 474-5897 or email: ANKN Clearinghouse

Charles Kashatok Yup'ik Curriculum Specialist P.O.Box 305 Bethel, Alaska 99559 Tel: (907) 543-4853 or email: Charles_Kashatok@fc.lksd-do.org

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