The Collection

Collection Items

Catalog Number : 64192
Accession Number : 27301
Tribe : Creek
Region : Henryetta, Oklahoma
Material : Glass beads, cotton textile, suede, yarn, rib
This red bag is lined with brown cotton. The strap exhibits a diamond geometric design. It is rectangular, with an interrupted white bead design on the triangular flap in front, and a parallel design of two wavy lines on the right side. There are black yarn tassels on bottom.
Source : Donated by Mrs. Richard Herzfeld and Friends of the Museum. Collected by James Howard anthropologist and collector, in 1979 at Fife Collection (store).
Catalog Number : 59708
Accession Number : 21054
Tribe : Ho-Chunk
Region : Great Lakes area
Material : Glass beads, cloth, wool, yarn

This bag is beaded in both geometric and floral designs. The strap has a diamond geometric design; the pouch has a larger diamond design and flowers. It is trimmed in red wool, with brown wool tassels.

Source : Donated by Mrs. Irving Ott of Milwaukee, WI. Unknown collector.
Catalog Number : 240
Tribe : Menominee
Region : Great Lakes region (Northern Wisconsin)
Material : Glass beads, cotton, thread, wool yarn
This bag exhibits an elaborate use of geometric beadwork that completely covers the cotton backing, with exception of the edges. Large blue and red glass beads are attached to the red yarn tassels at the bottom; white opaque beads attach the gray and red tassels to the chest straps.
Source : Purchased from H. W. Shaw.
Catalog Number : 64823
Accession Number : 27301
Tribe : Northeastern
Region : Eastern Woodland?
Material : Glass beads, velvet, leather, silk ribbon, and metal.
This bag has large shoulder straps with floral designs beaded directly onto the leather; the straps end in octopus tabs. The pouch, also with floral designs, is small with no horizontal panel, and a flap; it is trimmed in light blue piping. The bottom is edged in bells.
Source : Purchased from Rex Arrowsmith, a trader in Santa Fe, in 1968. Probably from 1880-1920.
Catalog Number : 63374
Accession Number : 26273
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Devils Lake, Fort Totten Reservation, North Dakota
Material : Glass beads, velveteen

This bag is fully beaded on the straps and pouch, on a black velvet backing, with a floral motif on a white bead background. The bottom is fringed with red beads on green and yellow yarn. An otter track design runs around the edges of the pouch and horizontal band.

Source : Purchased (with funds from Mr and Mrs Richard Bourne of Whitefish Bay, WI.) from Rob Anderson of Ridgewood, IL, the collector.
Catalog Number : 55842
Accession Number : 17430
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Great Lakes (Wisconsin)
Material : Glass beads, cotton textile, velvet, wool, silk ribbon, wool yarn
This bag has a large pocket beaded with an iridescent blue/white background. It features a large flower and leaf design. The horizontal band is beaded directly onto the black velvet backing. The tassels are cotton loops with a green fringe.
Source : Donated by Mrs. Gustave Kojatzke of Milwaukee, WI. Unknown collector.
Catalog Number : 64300
Accession Number : 27301
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Great Lakes Area
Material : Glass beads, cotton textile, velvet, wool yarn, cotton thread.
This pocketless bag has a square loom beaded bottom panel with tabs. The bottoms of the tabs end in large glass beads with red and black yarn tassels. It exhibits a white-beaded otter-tail design at the top of the panel; the black velvet portion above this design has a floral motif. The shoulder strap is loom beaded.
Source : Donated by Mrs. Richard Herzfeld and Friends of the Museum. Collected by James Howard, anthropologist and collector, in 1946.
Catalog Number : 67279
Accession Number : 29374
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Great Lakes Area
Material : Glass beads, cotton fabric, velveteen

This bag with a full pocket has a spot-stitched beaded bottom panel. Loom beaded tabs are attached to the bottom and end with purple yarn tassels. The bag exhibits a white beaded otter-tail design at the top and sides of the panel; the black velvet portion above the pocket has a floral motif. Green twill tap edges the bag. A cloth tag with the number “124” has been sewn inside the pocket with different thread than the thread used in the bag’s construction. The straps are loom beaded with asymmetrical designs, and edged with purple twill tape.

Catalog Number : 64320
Accession Number : 27301
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Great Lakes Area, North Dakota style
Material : Glass beads, cotton textile, velvet textile, ribbon, cotton thread.
This bag has a fully beaded strap with dense floral designs. Backed with black velvet, the pouch is beaded in a floral motif against a white background. The horizontal panel is beaded directly onto the black velvet. Olive green piping edges the bag, and the tassels are beaded loops.
Source : Donated by Mrs. Richard Herzfeld and Friends of the Museum. Collected by James Howard, anthropologist and collector, in 1965 in Midland, South Dakota.
Catalog Number : 64377
Accession Number : 27301
Tribe : Ojibwe
Region : Great Lakes Area; collected at Sisseton, South Dakota
Material : Glass beads, cotton, wool yarn, cotton ribbon

The large multi-colored floral design is beaded against a white beaded background. The bag has red ribbon trim on all sides, a beaded yarn fringe along the bottom edge, and a cotton cloth backing.

Source : Donated by Mrs. Richard Herzfeld and Friends of the Museum. Collected by James Howard, anthropologist and collector, in 1965 at Sisseton, South Dakota in 1967.