Pressed specimen of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias Incarnata) from plant about three feet tall with pale rose-colored flowers. Collected on the farm of William George and said by him to have formerly been used as a source of fibers for cordage (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 3).
Pressed specimen of another hickory. This one called "bitter-nut" by Sturgeon. He says that no hickorys grow on the island except these two. "Bitter-nut" he says can be used for basket handles and rims but, since it breaks easier, it is not used if "shell-bark" can be obtained (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 7).
Pressed specimen of a hickory, the type used for basket handles and rims by Sturgeon and said by him to be the type preferred by all basket makers on the island. He calls it "shell-bark." The rim for basket, field no. 116 (UMMAA 13956), was made from it. Collected 7/12/33 in Dave Osahgee's wood lot (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 6).
Sweet grass from a bundle being used by Mrs. Sturgeon. Said by her to have been gathered late last summer (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 110).
A "melon" type basket made primarily by Mr. Levi Sturgeon. The dyeing and weaving with yellow and red splints was done by Mrs. Sturgeon. The splints are woven in near the handle-basket junctures (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 109).
Handle and frame for basket, of same type as UMMAA 13952. Made of shell-bark hickory, dyes Seal Brown, made by Sturgeon on the afternoon of 7/7/33 (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 108).
Black Ash basket splints about 1/2 inch wide, dyed brown with Seal Brown Diamond Dyes. The dying of this material was observed. The strips were trimmed by hand with a pocket knife (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 102).
Narrow black ash basket splints cut with a stripper by Mrs. Sturgeon. The strip from which they were cut had been previously dyed with a dye said to be Diamond brand, yellow. The dyeing process was not observed (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 100).
Narrow black ash splint cut with a stripper by Mrs. Sturgeon, dyed red. The strips were made for basket UMMAA 13952 (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 101).
Same as UMMAA 13943 and 13944, as to source and date of collection. It is the inside piece of an annual ring split twice (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 105).
A splint representing a portion of an annual ring, and the full thickness of the ring. It was taken from a log bought from the Potawatomi chief. It has been trimmed on both edges and smoothed on both sides with a pocket knife. It is said to be unusually thin and when split once would make a good splint for delicate work. A splint of this kind was called a "grain." Obtained from Mrs and Mr. Sturgeon (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 103).
Portion of annual ring which has been trimmed, smooth, and the splitting begun. From the same log mentioned in UMMAA 13941 and UMMAA13942. It was considered to be of very poor quality, hence the low price. The rings were considered to be very thick and coarse (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes).
Portions of annual rings from a log bought from a neighbor of Mr. Sturgeon for $0.25. The pounding out of these rings was observed and photographed (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 111).
Bought from William George for $0.75. It was considered by Sturgeon to be a little too crooked, but was selected by him as the best of a group of six or eight trees which were examined. The others were thought to be too knotty. The rings of this tree were considered by him to be thin, pliable, and of good texture. The tree was about thirty feet tall, it being about fourteen feet to the first limb. The log was seven feet ten inches long when cut, and the remainder of the trunk to the first limb was discarded as it was too knotty. 5 inches at the diameter at the base, 3.5 inches in diameter at top, having twenty rings. The tree was cut about 6 inches above the ground (from Volney Jones' 1933 field notes, Field no. 112).
