Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-15
INDIAN COLLECTION !.
: WORK OF 50 YEARS.
Mrs. Baldwin, Chippewa.
Loans Elaborate Display
to interior Library.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

In the library of the Indian Service,
Department of the Interior Building,
is to be seen a remarkable collection Oh
Indian articles, representing variety
of handiWork known to the American
aborigines. The collection, which is
private one and has been loaned to the
Indian Service by its owner, is the re-
suit of over 80 years of Jealous search
ing and assembling together by an IN
dian woman, Mrs. Marie Louise Botu-
neau Baldwin whose mother and father
wered both of the Chippewa tribe.
Mrs. Baldwin, who Is the holder Of
two degrees of law from the Washing
ton College Of Law and now Is with the
purchase division of Indian Service, de-
teranining f. -ght rates for supplies
sent to units of Indian services through
out the country, has gathered together
her Indian collection with the knowl-
edge of a connoisseur. Every item ac-
quired by her is genuine, and in many
cases was used by relatives. friends or
members of Mrs. Baldwlns family.
A beautifully beaded tobacco pouch
of fringed buckSkin, showing the floral
designs used exclusively by the Chip
pewa Indians, was, used throughout his
lifetime by Mrs. Baldwin's father. In
q case close by lies the stone pipe. also
used by her father, whose life history
was as interesting as is that Of his
daughter, Mrs Baldwin. Next to the
pipe are flint and steel used in lighting
the pipe. The process, as described by
Mrs. Baldwin, seemed almost as simple
as the cigarette lighter OF modern times
Only Old Women Smoke.
Relative to the smoking articles in
her collection, Mrs. Baldwin was asked
II the women of her tribe smoked as
well as the men.
"Only the old women" she replied.
Several years ago." she smiled, Il re-
turned to visit my old home, and
friend of my father told me he would
like to call on me and smoke the pipe
of peace with me. laughed and tod
him that I did not smoke. But, ne
said. you smoke cigarettes, don't you?'
Again" said Mrs. Baldwin, II told
him that did not smoke, because only
old women smoked and I did not con-
slider myself old enough that that"
In the case with the pipe and the
uieces of steel lies an old turnip, with
cred and dried with time. 1t Is not
likely to attract, the interest OF the
THAT turnip," explained its collector,
as perhaps the only one to be found
in any Indian collection. 1t has been
Ill
Der, It is the kind of turnip which was
grown by the Indians of North Dakota
and Minnesota, and was ground ana
made into -four by them"
Spoons of Buffalo Horn.
Spoons of buffalo horn, exquisitely
beaded leggins and the beaded legglnS
and moccasins used by the Comanche
Indians are included in the case con-
tanning the smoking outfit of Mrs. Bald
wins father.
At the other end of the room Is a
case containing several very fine game
bags, showing the floral designs peculiar
to her tribe.
Instead Of the square and conven-
tional designs used by most Indian
tribes, the Chippewa followed the de-
signs of nature" explained Mrs. Bald
win, land copied flowers, trees or
leaves" as @
One of the game bags was given to,
Mrs. Baldwin by an old woman on the
Chippewa reservation. Two other very
fine ones were given by relatives. Re-
garding the last two a humorous story
was related.
"A cousin owned these two bags" said
Mrs. Baldwin. He was very anxious TO
give me one for my collection, but said
he was afraid to do so, as his wife
would have fit if he did. But
never mind he told me. I will put one
aside some day when she will not miss
it, and then give it to YOU
"A few days later" continued Mrs.
Baldwin, "I was talking to his wife. I
should love to give you one Of these
bags said the wife, but If I did Gus
would have ut. But never mind.
Some day will put one aside when he
cannot miss 1t, and will then give 1t to
you
Got Both Bags.
Shortly afterward," laughed Mrs.
Baldwin. both Gus and his wife sent
me game bag, and to the day OF their
deaths neither knew that the other had
given me a bag. In that way / &C
quired two Of the finest bags In my
collection"
An outstanding item OF the collec-
ton Is an deliberately headed horse
blanket A halter of buckskin, trimmed
with colored porcupine quilts. lies be-
side the blanket. There is also an in
tereSting dress made entirely OF tiny
shells, or "wampum," which Mrs. Bald
win explains is perhaps one OF the old
est items in her collection and speci-
men Of the Oldest form of "wampum"
known to the Indians. Little shells like
those used on the dress were used long
before the days of beads brought over
by the white man.
ut Is an interesting fact" stated Mrs.
Baldwin, that wampum Of the kind
found on this Indian dress was found
also on the north coast of Ireland, dat
ing back to period prior to the white
mans associations with the Indians"
Mrs. Baldwin's collection embraces
works of many tribes besides those OF
her own, the Chippewa. Many of her
most interesting pieces were purchased
from Miami Indian, who at the time
was an agent travelling throughout the
Indian reservations of the country. This
mans entire collection was brought by
Mrs. Baldwin, and in this way she ac-
quired some beautiful pieces of Navajo,
Hopi, Pueblo and other tr'Val handi-
work.
Snake Dance Stick.
An elaborately decorated stick with
trimmings of beads, feathers and tiny
tin ornaments that rattle was used by
the Hopi Indians of Arizona in their
famous snake dances. In contrast there
stands close by demure little doll
papooSe carrier used by small Ute In
dian girls to carry baby dolls upon their
backs.
p The period when headwork among