The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1909-03-05
CURIOS OF TOzIER'S
GREAT AND RARE COLLECTION
To BE AT SEATTLE FAIR
Legislature Of State Of Washington Is
Asked to Provide for Its Purchase
Was Gathered by Captain Tozier Of
Revenue Cutter Service While Along
Northwest Coast-History Of Same.

This Magnificent Collection, " as it
is called by the curator Of the United
States Museum in Washington, d. u
was made by Captain D. F. Tozler dur
ing the many years he was in command
of the United States revenue cutter
service of the Northwest Pacific coast
Collection of Indian Curios.
Captain Tozier was an enthusiastic
and indefatigable collector, who spared
neither effort nor money IN his deter
mipation to secure specimens OF every
thing made, and in actual use by the
/ Indians of Alaska, Northwest British
| Columbia, and the state Of Washington.
His official duties took him, year
after year, into all the bavs and har-
bors of three thousand miles OF sea
coast. He visited every remote Indian
Village of the islands and main land,
from the Aleutian isles, our most
northwestern possessions, down the Pa
/ eife shore to the Columbia river,
| Crew. Harbor, Straits of a Juan de
Fuca. Puget sound and Hood 5 canal,
always with the fixed purpose Of gath
ering the most characteristic and valu-
able specimens existing in the places
visited, to add to his collection.
1t took him years, in some cases, to
secure a particular piece that he want
ed, and only the most indomltaole per
severance and patience, with hoeral
cash payments, has accomplished his
purpose to make this the most complete
collection of the work of the Indians
of Northwest America, that has ever
been made.
In addition to the exhaustive Alas
kan and British Columbia collection,
every known tribe of the state OF
Washington is represented by its bas-
kerry, carving or bead work.
?, Many of these Indian tribes are al
/ ready extinct, while the others are rap
, idly passing away, or being merged
into reservation settlements, so that
the distinctive work of the existing
, tribal remnants of Indians is even now
l almost wholly lost, or so mixed that
the specimens to be found today OF
recent manufacture are almost value
s less for chronological purposes.
D The scientific, chronological and his
; torical value of this collection can
= hardly be estimated now, and it Will
grow more valuable as time goes on, if
I il is properly cared for and preserved
as II euOulu DEs 4AO AN" PANNNo "a
ancient Indian work in existence today
are being scattered all over the world
{ and it will never again be possible tC
o get together so valuable a collection a:
this represents, because it is made W
J largely of the most ancient specimen:
: to be found in Northwest America.
u In the collection are IL mammoth
house totems measuring from 6 to Il
feet high and weighing from 600 t.
10000 pounds (aceording to Professor
Gilstrap's estimate), which are con
i ceded to be the best representative,
q specimens of this kind of work extant
1t is stated on good authority that i
cost the British Museum of LondoI
= $4,000 TO land only one similai
house post in London.
There are also the largest and bes
specimens to be found of war, racing
sealing, fishing and travelling canoes o.
cedar, and bidarkkas made Of skin anC
intestines. The large war canoe meas
- ures 40 feet in length and would easil.
carry IS men. A racing canoe is still
d longer, measuring nearly As feet from
e stem to stern, but as narrow and grace
full in line as a modern college shell.
There are whaling, fishing, war an,
ceremonial outfits and paraphernalia
Dancing and ceremonial masks an
head dresses of every known tribe il
Alaska and Washington. travelling
le chests, wonderfully carved and deco
g rated, and more wonderfully joined to
If gether. Carved feast dishes of ever
variety, many of which are curiousl
h inlaid and polished. Curious old seat
> of ancient design. Copper shields an
! bead, horn, ivory, shell, copper an
: silver ornaments. Black slate earveu
/ boxes, plates, totems, pipes, small fg
ures, etc. This slate collection is alon
a very valuable collection.
nj over 1900 Baskets.
VI There are over 1900 baskets, ancien
hats, mats and pouches, representa-
le the work of every tribe of the state 0
Washington and Alaska, and shown
Of every variety of weave, Irvine and col
to and every stitch used in intoxicating
ar embroidery and beading known to tn
Indians.
- The study of American art will i
time make this collection notable 10
its variety of artistic designs. TIL
legends connected with them are a
n interesting as the specimens themselve.
er and as valuable in thir way becaus
IN tACF ~ al LudL Tan DC secured Q
ce prehistoric American literature.
. This collection is far too large TO b
properly cared for in any ordinary mi
q scum, and many valuable specimens i
it are being damaged and forever 10,
to the world because of the crowde
and packed condition in which it
is, being stored, where moths and destru,
ed tive vermin have access to it. and hav
already destroyed many things ths
n can never be recovered.
The owner realizes that he cannC
: himself secure for this collection th
Oh home and care required for its prese
a. walton, and he desires to have it place
es where it will forever receive care con
it. mensurate with its value, in order I
preserye il for the adnnatinn of or