Footage shot by William Van Valin as leader of the John Wanamaker Expedition to Pt. Barrow, Alaska for the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Footage known under the main title TIP TOP OF THE EARTH: ARCTIC ALASKAN ESKIMO EDUCATIONAL SERIES; includes subtitles and intertitles to explain shots. Materials depicted include: activities pertaining to reindeer herding (roping, counting, marking, and butchering animals); seal hunting including the solitary trek of a hunter over rough ice; the difficulties of returning over ice with prey in tow; using a dog team to pull bearded seal fromt he water; women butchering seal with ulu; sewing hides for umiak covers; dried seal skins being prepared as trade goods; scenes associated with whaling; butchering whale at water's edge; removing whale jaw to extract baleen; cutting out and cleaning baleen; community recreation of "nela-ka-tuk"--tossing individuals on stretched walrus hide. Views of archaeological excavations at Pt. Barrow showing sketal and cranial remains; scenes of Pt. Barrow during the midnight sun. community recreation--walrus hide toss. View of archaeological excavations and scenes of the midnight sun.
Legacy Keywords: Dogs as transportation Alaska ; Sleds as transportation Alaska ; Fishing salmon Alaska ; Boats use in hunting Alaska ; Hunting guns Alaska ; Food quest hunting fishing whaling Alaska ; Food preparation butchering drying Alaska ; Food preservation techniques of Alaska ; Cooking utensils ; Ecology seasonal movements Alaska ; Ecology seasonal movements ; Dancing drums Alaska ; Food communal distribution Alaska ; Animal husbandry reindeer Alaska ; Herding reindeer Alaska ; Hides seals preparation of ; Boats umiaks used as shelter Alaska ; Archaeology excavations Alaska ; Recreation community Nelakatuk ; Whaling butchering Alaska ; Dogs as transportation Alaska ; Houses igloos construction of ; Blood as food Alaska
Local Number:
HSFA 1986.5.1 - 2
Collection Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Collection Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Collection Citation:
Tip top of the Earth: Arctic Alaskan Eskimo Educational Series, Human Studies Film Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Sponsor:
Cataloging supported by Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
