The collection consists of twenty (20) drawings by Henry Wood Elliott. There are fifteen large black-and-white watercolor and pencil views of fishing and hunting in Alaska, two small watercolors made in British Columbia, and three ink sketches made while Elliott was serving with the Hayden Survey in Wyoming in 1870.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note:
Henry Wood Elliott (1846-1930) was a conservationist, naturalist, artist and scientist. From 1862-1878 he worked for the Smithsonian Institution, studying and sketching natural history. In 1864 he traveled to British Columbia in his first field expedition. From 1869-1871 Elliott worked on the U.S. Geological Survey. Between 1872 and 1890 Elliott made three trips to Alaska to investigate seal conditions on the Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea. His sketches of St. Paul's Island provided persuasive evidence of the need to stop the seal slaughter. He authored the first international wildlife conservation treaty, the Hay-Elliott Fur Seal Treaty of 1911. When not in the field Elliott lived in Cleveland, tending to local business matters and his vineyards.
Local Numbers:
NAA MS 7119
Related Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives hold an additional drawing by Henry Wood Elliott in MS 18229.
Drawings by Henry Wood Elliott are held by the Smithsonian Institution Archives; Archives of American Art; Cleveland Museum of Natural History; University of Alaska Museum; Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and others.
Separated Materials:
An oil painting by Elliott, Tlingit Indians Raking in Eulachon, was transferred to the Smithsonian American Art Museum (1985.66.397,304).
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Genre/Form:
Works of art
Drawings
Watercolors
Citation:
MS 7119 Henry Wood Elliott drawings, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
