American Indian -- Eastern -- trade pipes Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1940-1967
Scope and Contents:
The papers include letters, notes, drawings, clippings, photographs, bibliographies, lists, reports, manuscript and copies of a mimeographed form "Survey of Pipes of European Manufacture Traded to the Indians in the Easterndsprecs." Many of the papers in this collection relate to the Omwake pipe collection which has also been donated to the Smithsonian.
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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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.
Henri Geiger Omwake (Ohm-way) was a school official in Delaware, a very active amateur archaeologist, and an authority on pipes of European manufacture that were traded to American Indians. His study of the subject began in the 1940s and continued until his death. Omwake was one of the main organizers of the Archeological Society of Delaware, the Sussex County Society of Archeology and History in 1948, and the Kent Archaeological Society in 1965. He served on the Delaware State Archeological Board.
Related Materials:
The Omwake trade pipe collection (around 150 specimens) has also been donated to the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Some of the materials in the Henri Geiger Omwake papers include notes that relate to objects in the artifact collection.
The National Anthropological Archives holds material related to Omwake's work on the Townsend Site excavation in MS 4669 The Townsend Site near Lewes, Delaware and MS 7223 Archaeological report on the Townsend Site in Delaware.
The Detroit Public Library holds the Henri Geiger Omwake papers, 1950-1963.
Restrictions:
The Henri Geiger Omwake papers are open for research.
Access to the Henri Geiger Omwake papers requires an appointment.
