Archives West Finding Aid

Background: tan/beige Border: none Design: Four pairs of 1” red stripes. Each of the eight stripes is bordered by small weave of black/brown.

Background: blue Border: none Design: Grey, black, red, white, and blue interlocking geometric design. The central line of the piece is marked with six small, red, cross-designs in small grey and brown box-designs. On each side of this centerline, are three (six total) larger grey, black/brown, and white interlocking-box designs surrounding another six small, red, cross-designs.

Background: white Border: One end slightly fringed, the other woven. Both ends bordered with narrow black/brown and red stripe. Design: Black/brown and red chevrons with grey center blocks. The red dye shows slight color-run into the white background.

Background: white and light brown/tan (center) Border: full, black/brown Design: Two significant grey columns the length of the piece. These grey columns are angled-in on each side by a zig-zag of stacked diamonds. Diamonds are red against the grey column. The zig-zag of red diamonds are mirrored by black/brown diamonds. A white central column runs the length of the piece and comes to points at the far ends. This white column is also angled-in by the zig-zag of stacked diamonds, with the black diamonds bordering this central white column. Three small geometric shapes, two black/brown on white, one white on tan (center), are located in the central white column.

Background: red / grey Border: full, black/brown Design: Two grey columns with geometric diamonds of red (white centers) decorating the length of the columns. These columns are bordered by zig-zag of stacked diamonds of black and red that themselves create diamondsSmall patch job, using white “yarn.”

Stuffed muslin construction with leather costume. The doll cloths are decorated with seed beads. There are a number (apprx. 18) of hairs attached to the head with an over-all stitch that goes from the “forehead” to the nape of the doll’s neck. Face: A small “pouch” of leather is stitched over the muslin doll “frame.” The facial features of the doll are accomplished with white and dark blue seed beads. Shirt: Fringed with V-neck bead decoration on the front and back of the shirt in red (white hearts), dark blue and white seed beads. Bottom of the shirt the leather is cut in a zig-zaq “hem.” Repeated 3-row, beaded “diamonds” decorate the edge in red and dark blue. On the front, left side of the shirttail, one “diamond” consists of three rows of dark blue and one row of white seed beads. Pants/Leggings: Extend from the dolls “groin” the top of the moccasins. Fringed with zig-zag red (white heart) and dark blue seed beads decorating the seam. A section of beadwork is missing from the doll’s left pant-leg. Moccasins: Top decorated with dark blue, white and green seed beads. Edging decorated all the way around with light blue seed beads. On the bottom of the right moccasin the letters “T” and “H” are written in ink.

Stuffed muslin construction with leather costume. The doll cloths are decorated with seed beads and leather strips. Although there may have been a number of hairs secured to the head of the doll with a single over-all stitch that goes from the “forehead” to the nape of the doll’s neck, there remains one single hair. The front and back torso of this doll shows a number of small pin-sized holes. A weevil-type casing was noted under the dolls skirt in the “groin” area. Black thread was used to repair the doll’s right arm. Face: A small “pouch’ of leather is stitched over the muslin doll “frame.” The facial features of the doll are accomplished with white and dark blue seed beads. Dress: Leather construction. Decorated with light blue and white seed beadsSleeves and bodice: sleeves are attached at the torso of the dress as “flaps”; common in many Plains Indian style dress constructions. Both the seam and the open “cuff” are cut in a zig-zag “hem” and the sleeves are decorated with seed beads on the front and back : light blue cross design. The center of the cross is a single white seed bead. Both the front and the back of the dress displays a V-neck bead decoration in light blue and white seed beads. The point of the V continues into a light blue cross, slighter larger than the crosses on the sleeves and also with a white center accomplished by four white seed beads. Belt: A simple leather strip accomplishes the tied belt. The loose ends are also each tied in a small knot. From these knots six to seven “fringes” of leather finish the length of the belt. There is also a fine thread that wraps entirely around the doll at this “waist.” Skirt: The “hem” of the skirt is trimmed in a zig-zaq pattern. Slightly above this cut trim is a continuous light blue and white seed bead stripe. The white seed beads in this stripe appear as squares or boxes on a light blue background. Five small rectangles (3 rows of 6 beads) made from light blue seed beads are placed on the front and again on the back of the skirt. Each rectangle has one, narrow, folded leather strip hanging from it, to appear as two “fringe.” The seam of the skirt, as it passes down the sides of the doll, is fringed. Leggings: Extend from just above the “knee” to the ankle. The leggings are separate from the moccasins. Leggings are decorated down the seam length and around the “cuff” with light blue and white seed beads in the same pattern as the skirt’s “hem” decoration. Moccasins: Top begins with light-blue seed bead decoration then moves into dark blue and white seed bead pattern. Edging of the moccasins are decorated all the way around with green seed beads. On the bottom of the right moccasin the letters “T” and “H” are written in ink.

Six sticks make the lodge frame. One stick acts as a smoke-flap pole – the cuff and “pole” for the other smoke flap is missing. String is loosely tied around the poles toward the apex. A “hoop” of split wood functions as the base of the lodge where the base of each “lodgepole” is secured by a combination of carved notch and string lashing. The lodge cover is a brittle leather that shows significant signs of decay. The cover has been “stained” a bit darker, and painted with green line around the base of the lodge and around the door entry. A small amount of red and/or brown pigment is also evident with the green stripe and as a marking beside the door entry. No door accompanied this toy tipi. Small, colorful feathers “hang” from the remaining smoke flap. This piece is fairly fragile. Currently, polyester “batting” is used to insulate and support the structure.

Leather construction. Large beaded cuffs are lined with red material (not wool). Both gloves are marked with the initials “T.H.” just inside the cuff. The outside edge or seam of the cuffs are fringed by cutting the excess leather into narrow strips and twisting. Gloves: each hand is decorated with a single flower motif. The petals display exceptional “lazy” stitch beading with tiny, faceted, light blue seed beads. The petals are then outlined in the same type red, and then dark blue seed beads. The center of the flower is dark blue bordered by orange with short orange rows or “veins” extending into the light blue petal. At the “joint” of the middle fingers – where the finger portion of the glove attaches to the hand portion, on both gloves, you can see two rows of pink hand-stitching. Cuffs: Background: white seed beads, bordered by a row of green seed beads, then a row of alternating white/red (white hearts) seed beads, bordered by another single row of green seed beads. Decoration: at the center of each cuff is a two-tone blue buffalo design in profile, done in lazy stitch using tiny, faceted seed beads. The single horn on the buffalo’s profile is accomplished with tiny brown and silver beads, as is the eye and two pale beads make the mouth. Below the blue buffalo, twin leaves with veins seem to “sprout” from the seam where the cuff and hand of the glove meet. These leaves are done in tiny, faceted dark green with tiny, faceted coppery-brown beads stitched within the leaf design as the stem and veins. Each leaf has nine points. Between the twin leaves and directly below the blue buffalo, nine “berries” or a nine-bloom “blossom” is depicted in basic, light blue seed beads – each “berry” or circle shape is bordered by tiny, faceted red and tiny, faceted dark blue beads. Above the blue buffalo a floral “swag” is beaded. The center decoration shows three yellow and black petals (?) corn cobs (?) or possibly feathers (?) surrounding a small pink and green circle. “Behind” these yellow and black items two “buds” of pink beads, tipped with orange-red beads and outlined in a light-green seed bead. From this central symbol a single line of dark green beads dips left and right to become the stem for two blossoms exquisitely beaded using various tiny, faceted, and unfaceted seed beads. The petals (6 petals on each flower) are red-orange with a smoke-blue vein pattern (3 prongs in each petal) each petal is bordered with a single row of alternating tiny black then clear beads. The center of the blossom is yellow, surrounded by transparent blue, surrounded by a single row of tiny coppery-brown beads. “Behind” each blossom medium-green leaves are beaded with yellow-green “veins” and borders.

Leather construction. Small leather cuffs are lined with brown patterned material (not wool). Both gloves are marked with the initials “T.H.” just inside the cuff. The outside edge or seam of the cuffs are fringed by cutting the excess leather into narrow strips. Gloves: Each hand is decorated with an intricate floral design. Near the cuff, a substantial green and copper-brown blossom is beaded with a yellow center and short red lines radiate from this center. The short lines on the left glove are accomplished with three red (white heart) seed beads each. The short lines on the right glove are accomplished with two re (white heart seed beads each. Below this green/brown blossom and closer to the “fingers” of the glove are three, smaller white “blossoms” with yellow centers and dark blue accents. These smaller blossoms are visually “attached” the larger green/brown blossom by a line of single white beads like “stems.” From these stems several beaded, light green and brownleaf-like images. This white blossom/green leaf combination is accented with light blue beads. At the “joint” of the middle fingers - where the finger portion of the glove attaches to the hand portion, on both gloves, a single rows of blue hand-stitching secures the seam. Cuffs: Background: leather Decoration: At the center of each cuff is a floral design using primarily white and three colors of blue seed beads. The focal blossom is six-petals of white seed beads. Each petal is accented with a few aqua-blue seed beads. The white blossom has a beaded center using tiny, dark red seed beads. From each side of this focal blossom, two, medium-blue leaf-like structures are beaded with copper-brown and light pink “centers.” The base of each leaf’s stem is accented with a few light blue seed beads. Three “stems” (single lines of white seed beads) come from the focal blossom toward the edge of each cuff. These stems are accented with light blue seed beads like tiny leaves, or thorns. The middle stem ends in two medium blue leaves with white centers, which support a three-pronged red “flower” that is edged with a single row of white seed beads. This red blossom also has a copper-brown center. On either side of this red blossom and atop their own white “stems” are two floral-like forms of dark blue, with pink centers and outlined with a single row of white seed beads. These images are accented around the white edge with red (white heart) seed beads.

Leather construction. Small leather cuffs are lined with black patterned material (not wool). The outside edge or seam of the cuffs are fringed by inserting an extra piece of leather in the seam and cutting this leather “flap” into narrow strips. The cuff of the right glove is filled with polyester ticking. Two inches of the seam on the hand-portion of the right glove is torn out. Glove decoration: Each hand is decorated with a three-blossom, floral design. A single “stem” of white seed beads begins where the cuff joins the hand of each glove. This white stem is accented with green seed-beads like small leaves. The blossom on the end of this stem has five petals. Three petals are made from translucent white seed beads and bordered with dark blue. The remaining two petals are aqua-blue seed beads with red centers and bordered with dark blue. The center of the blossom is made of coppery-green metal beads. The other two blossoms on the “hand” of each glove is of the same design, using the same colors, but they have hardly any “stem” to speak of and appear just off the border from the cuff. At the “joint” of the middle fingers - where the finger portion of the glove attaches to the hand portion, on both gloves, a single rows of green hand-stitching secures the seam. Cuffs: Background: Leather. Machine stitching. Decoration: Another three-blossom, floral design decorates each cuff. However the blossom style on the cuff is entirely different than the blossom type on the hand of the glove. Three “stems” of green seed beads begin at the cuff/hand seam. The center stem is accented with light blue seed beads like “leaves” or thorns. At the blossom the same shade of green seed beads fork out like two petals or leaves cupping the rest of the blossom. However, these beads are smaller and slightly faceted. The “internal” portion of these flowers is completed with tiny, faceted, dark blue and silver, faceted seed beads. (the faceted silver beads may be metal). The “top” of the blossoms are done in pearl white seed beads with red (white heart) bead accents positioned to look perhaps like stamen.

This black and white photograph was taken at Wind River Indian Reservation in 1965 by “Tubby” Houston.

Black ink of heavy, cream-colored matt stock. In “Tubby” Houston’s hand: Chief Washakie 1798-1900 Chief of Shoshoni Nation 1848-1900. All articles displayed are gifts of Washakie to Indian Agents at Lander Wyoming 1865-1900. The card is then signed by Mr. Houston. The donor correspondence notes Mr. Houston had these articles on display in his home until his death.

Closed frame. Wood. Copyright 1900 Rose and Hopkins de…

One small paper bag with four claws inside. “Bear 2.25” is handwritten on the outside of the bag, however, Howard Houston reported these were eagle claws. One claw is significantly larger than the other three, and each claw has been drilled and backed with a putty/cement substance. Houston reports these claws as included in the gift he received from “Iron Eyes” Cody.

One pair, small, beaded moccasins of leather upper construction and some paper or cardboard sort of material make the moccasin soles. One of the laces have a small amount of a red substance rubbed into the leather. The laces from each shoe are tied together to keep the tiny moccasins together as a pair. The majority of the beadwork is finished in white seed beads and borders the entire edge of the uppers, the tops of the moccasin is also beaded, but not fully beaded. Cross-like symbols decorate the tops. Red (white hearts), yellow, green and three shades of blue seed beads are also incorporated in the white seed bead design. Some ink “scribbling” appears on the bottom of the right moccasin.

Approximately 18 inches in length. Constructed entirely of threaded, seed-size hexogen beads. The majority of the beads are shiny black, however translucent coppery and amber beads are also included in the design. The “pendant” portion of the necklace is accomplished with a 1” x 1” square “fabric” of beads. This appears to have been constructed on a loom. Twelve beaded “fringe” hang from the lower portion of this square. The neck portion of the necklace alternates between loom-like bead “fabric” and four beaded strands.

A shoebox of loose, unprepared, porcupine quills and small dark blue glass pony-size beads. A few larger egg-shaped, aqua, glass beads are also loose in this shoebox. The shoebox is approximately ¼ full of quills. Masking tape on the top of the shoebox reads: Genuine Porcupine Quills – Eagle Claws (see item 9). Whale bone Wampum (see item 12) from Northwest Tribe given to me 1953 by Oscar Cody (Ironeyes) Full blooded Cherokee and signed; Howard (Tubby) Houston.

Nine strands of disc-shaped beads of various shades off-white with a slight opalescent quality. Each string of beads is strung on sturdy twined cord or string. Five strands are more than 35” long each. One strand is 25” long and has an identification card attached. Writing on the card; 112 600 is possibly a lot number and price. The remaining three strands are 17”, 12”, and 10” long.

Single strand of large glass beads. Necklace is strung on coarse cord. The most common bead is pony-sized and aqua color. This is accented with somewhat larger dark blue. Two larger pink beads, four black and two white pony-size beads accent the basic strand design. Two large egg-shaped green, two large round medium blue, two medium large, egg-shaped light blue, and one large round pink glass beads are also included in the necklace design.

One pair, well-worn moccasins, flat shoe design, leather construction, with fully beaded tops. The stain of wear on the bottoms of these moccasins attests to their having actually been worn. The majority of the top beadwork is done in orange seed beads with a number of diamond shapes in dark blue seed beads. Predominantly yellow seed beads accented in various geometric designs done in green, red, and dark blue also borders fully around each moccasin. The right moccasin is in much better shape than the left moccasin. Several strands of beadwork are missing from the top of the left moccasin. The leather of both moccasins is brittle and hard, but the material of the left moccasin is in a particularly precarious state. The “tongue” of the left moccasin is missing – or more probably is turned under and into the front part of the shoe. At some point, what appears to be some type of tissue paper was placed inside the “toe” of the left shoe. It may be that the left moccasin got wet, and someone tried to keep the shape of the leather by absorbing excess water and filling the moccasin with paper. Because of the brittleness of the leather – the moccasin cannot be manipulated to remove this tissue paper or retrieve the moccasin tongue if indeed it is inside the shoe. A small cut or tear is evident in the tongue of the right moccasin. This has been “patched” with a few hand stitches. Stitching around the heel of the right shoe is torn out. This pair of moccasins is wrapped in muslin.

Nine strips of quilling make a 7 ½” x 2” quilled flat that ends in leather fringe. White background, geometric design in red. Backing of unknown material covered in patterned blue cloth. 23” black horsehair attached. Pink ribbon-type material is tied in a knot around the horse hair about 5” below where the horsehair is attached to the quilled piece.

Oxford index card box filled with flint stones of various sizes. Many show obvious signs of knapping.

Graber Olives box of leather and quill “decorations.” Two pieces. One piece is 9 ½” long, the other is 68” long. Both consist of a thin leather piece from which numerous quilled “loops” hang. The top of each loop is decorated with a horn or hoof “bell.” From the bottom of each “bell” dangling into the quilled “loop” is a fuzzy material – probably unspun wool – slightly yellowed. The pattern of quills vary but white, yellow, and red predominate. A number of broken pieces of quillwork and broken loops. The Trappings are placed between two sheets of bubble wrap. A masking tape “label” describes the contents: “Horse Trappings give to me in 1947 by my aunt Alice Sheldon from her Washakie collection by her and my Grandfather Benjamin Sheldon. Collected between 18** and 1900 from the Windriver Reservation.” This description is signed Howard (Tubby) Houston.

Approximately 24” by 14” (base width).Leather construction, stained light. Eleven “poles” make-up the frame – these are also lightly stained. Two “smoke-flap” poles are also included and tied on the back of the lodge. One smoke pole still attahes to the smokeflap, the other is broken free from the other flap. The smoke flaps are trimmed with small metal cones and horsehair. Some cones are missing. The front of the lodge is held together with small pole pieces (often referred to as lodge “pins”)– some have partial bark. A few cones and horsehair decorate the front of the lodge (along the front, pinned seam). The door flap is circular, with scalloped edging and is fastened to the lodge by a tie around the lowest lodge pin. The lodge cover is decorated with paintings of animals and humans. Some humans have horn headdresses while others sport feather headdresses or no headdress at all. Several human scenes are depicted. Most figures wear loincloths (many are red) and appear to depict battle or hunting scenes. One figure is unique in that the loincloth is (possibly) brown and the body is covered in blue dots. Close to the door of the model, a figure appears to have fallen in combat. A depiction of a meeting between two individuals on horseback appears on the upper “back” of the model. Several horses are depicted on the lodge cover, only one does not have a rider. However this bare-back horse is depicted behind the painting of an individual who wears a loin cloth and appears to be “crawling” with a quiver of arrows on his back. Two bison are painted on the lowest portion of the lodge cover (where it might skirt the ground on a real tipi. The model is stabilized in packing “peanuts.”

Pliable tanned leather construction, with short “cuff” and wide tongue (forked), leather lacings and beadwork decoration. Band of lazy stitch beadwork circles the whole shoe. Background of band is in white seed beads with the toe tips decorated in geometric pattern using dark blue, orange, red, green, dark green, and light blue seed beads. The right toe beadwork has been repaired. On the sides of the shoe, this band is decorated in geometric patterns with dark blue, orange, red, and dark green seed beads. This design alternates with another geometric design done in black, light blue, and light brown seed beads. This band stops just short of the inner, ankle side of the shoe and leaves plain, undecorated leather for about 7” where the inside of the shoes might rub. The tops of the moccasins are decorated with a wide strip of beadwork. White seed bead background, decorated with two 8-pointed beaded, geometric stars of red, orange, and dark green, outlined in dark blue. A single line of black seed beads completes the lower edge of this strip of beadwork. Across the top of the moccasin at the point where the shoe meets the cuff, a smaller band runs horizontally. The colors are black, white, black, white, orange, black, white, black, on either side of a dark red patch. Each moccasin has a cardboard inset to protect the shape of the shoe. Little wear is indicated on the sole of the moccasins.

Fairly brittle leather construction. Very short “cuff” flaps with narrow tongue (forked) and rounded leather laces. Full beaded uppers. Background of white seed beads is accented with geometric “lodge” patterns using dark blue, yellow and red (the lodge “doorway” is yellow and red. These lodge patterns alternate with lodge patterns in red seed-beads with yellow and dark blue doorways. The toe portion of the moccasins are stuffed with what appears to be a paper substance for support. Wear is indicated on the sole of the moccasins.

Medium-sized gourd, lightly stained and painted with black solid body, and thin line figure: elk. Possible unfinished animal on opposite side – solid black – possible bird or snake head. Other “drawings” on the rattle appear to possibly be later additions, might be tipis. A faded color is apparent on these images: green, otherwise outline looks as if it might be pencil. A leather washer and orange cord fix the top of the rattle where thin orange cording wraps around blonde and black horsehair to make an approximate 11” “tail.” The rattle handle is constructed of wood – possibly a narrow re-used piece of wood (for example from a piece of furniture). An old stain is evident, and is worn or pealing at the end of the handle. A narrow dowel goes through the gourd where a few rattling items have been enclosed.

Approximately totaling 17” in length, a tear/spike stone is wrapped as the head of a small “club” the handle is made from wood and covered in stretched rawhide with a stitch-line of sinew running the length of the handle. Toward the head of the club a rip is visible in the rawhide which almost circles the handle. Leather is wrapped over the head of the club for extra security. The middle of the club handle is slightly decorated with black string. The black string appears to have held in place dyed red feathers and possible porcupine quills. The ends of the feathers are still tied with the string, but the “body” of the feathers are long gone. A single string of blue beads is closely looped on the very top of the club head. Another string line indicates at one time, there may have been more than this single line of blue beads.

Small bowl sized horn ladle is minimally decorated with a bit of leather fringe and six dyed and flattened porcupine quills. These fringe and quill wrap snuggly around the handle of the bowl/ladle. The quills alternate purple and yellow. Those quills closest to the end of the “handle” are the most faded. The back of this fringe piece is stitched with black thread and unrefined stitches. The ladle itself is made from horn (sheep? Buffalo?) a few significant chips are taken out of the edge. This damage look particularly old. There is a crack in the horn at the base, where scoop meets handle. The back of the bowl shows tool markings.

Necklace of “whalebone wampum” and “eagle claws” which were given to “Tubby” Houston from “Iron Eyes” Cody in the 1940s. Ten claws. There appears to be a “pendant” missing. The focal point of the necklace is framed by the two largest claws while the other eight claws get progressively smaller as the necklace wraps around the back.

“Northwestern, Whale bone ‘wampum’” collected by “Tubby” Houston. A gift to Houston in the 1950s from “Iron Eyes” Cody a “Full-Blood Cherokee” (!). This single strand of beads is exactly the same as beads found in Box 2 item 14. This strand is kept in a manila envelope and it is believed items in this Box are often used to display example artifacts of the Wind River Indian Reservation.

26”x3 ¼“ beaded piece, construction on muslin or linen with binding of red material with small off-white dot pattern. The beadwork is not loomed. Background of white seed beads, geometric design using dark blue, yellow and green seed beads (stacked, off-set rectangles). Decoration on one end is accomplished with three small rectangles of blue beads (6x3 beads each rectangle). The other end is finished in a narrow yellow band, bordered by a single strand of black seed beads. Three large triangles, with the triangle base beginning at the yellow/black strip, moving away from the yellow/black strip to the triangle peak, occur at the other end of the beaded piece. Overall the piece is in good shape, no missing beads are immediately noted, though most of the white seed beads are soiled.

Probably constructed of cow horn. Significant arch in the handles, and relatively short “scoops.” Handles are carved to be less thick near the neck. This portion is wrapped with died porcupine quills. Spoon (1) Most quills on the handle are natural to purple in color. In the center of this wrapping, six porcupine quills are dyed orange. Many of these quills are in poor shape and have split, torn form their insertion points, or have been lost. At the end of the handle, right before it widens again, six leather “fringe, about 5 inches long are attached to the end of the handle right before it widens to form the tip of the handle. These strips are also quilled. Quills on these strips are closely wrapped and dyed faded green, re/purple, and a few were left in their natural off-white state. Each strand is then finished with a small tin/metal “cone bead” and a small horsehair tie. The horsehair is a muted orange. The spoon or “ladle” portion of this piece has “Shoshone Agency” painted in black in very clear handwriting. Spoon (2) Most quills on the handle are natural to slightly green in color. These however are in very bad shape and most are broken. In the center of this wrapping, nine porcupine quills are dyed bright orange. This center portion shows little to no sign of wear and these orange quills are in excellent condition. Tied toward the end of the handle, are two 5 inch, one 13 inch, and two 3 inch “fringes.” These are wrapped with dyed porcupine quills. The 3 longer fringes are wrapped with light green quills and end in a short portion of purple quills, a metal cone bead and a short tuft of horsehair (dyed orange). The two short fringes are wrapped with natural and purple dyed quills and then tied together at the end. A single cone bead and a short tuft of orange horsehair hangs from the handle without a porcupine fringe. The spoon or “ladle” portion of this piece also has “Shoshone Agency” painted in black in very clear handwriting. However, the letter ‘c’ in ‘agency’ is missing… rubbed off? Significant damage of an indeterminate type has eaten away a good portion of the back of this spoon.

(1) Tiny beaded moccasins Tiny moccasins with fully beaded tops. Less than 3” long and 1” across. May be infant moccasins – but extremely small, probably “souvenir” items. The two are tied together with a short length of twisted strings at the back. A single strand of tiny seed beads decorate the mouth of the shoes and along the tongues. These beads are white, dark blue and translucent red. The blue beads are slightly faceted. Green is the predominant color of tiny, faceted seed beads decorating the fully beaded tops of the moccasins. A strip of light blue, dark blue and red 9white heart) tiny seed beads travels down the top of the moccasins from the base of the tongue to nearly the point of the toe. Separating the green beads into two panes. In the green panels, small coppery brown, faceted seed beads decorate the green background with small (2 x 5 bead) rectangles. Along the border of the top of the moccasins there is a band of white, dark blue, and translucent red seed beads. (2) Small beaded moccasins 4 ½ “ x 1 ½ “. Moccasins of leather construction with no sign of wear whatsoever. Probably souvenirs. Large, unmatched tongues and significant “cuffs” are stitched to the moccasin proper. The tops of each moccasin are beaded in a single blossom floral pattern. The blossom has a brassy faceted seed mead center, translucent yellow radiates from this center in 4 “petals” however, the yellow is finished with white, and then surrounded by tiny faceted green beads to finish each of the five petals. Finally, a border of tiny, mostly faceted dark blue seed beads border each petal. Rays of red (white hearts) and more brassy faceted beads compliment the junction between each petal. Tiny, slightly translucent rose-colored beads fan off at the “base” of the blossom – at the attachment of the tongue to the shoe – towards the sides of the shoes where the beads form a curl or swirl. The “Cuffs” are attached with obvious red hand stitching in zigzag pattern. Though obviously a pair, these miniature moccasins are not attached together by a string or leather thong as is indicated in many other miniature moccasin pairs.

Three strands of quilled fringe looped and secured with a small leather thong, a metal, cone bead and a short swatch of horse hair dyed cranberry red. The fringe itself is constructed of leather, and the quills are dyed bold colors, (red, purple, orange, green), flattened, and wrapped around the leather. Colors alternate, creating bands of red, purple, green, and orange. One fringe is finished with another short leather thong through the end of the leather fringe. Each side of the thong is finished in a metal cone bead and a short batch of horse hair- also dyed red, but very faded. It appears the other two fringes ended the same way (with the horse hair and cone beads) but these end pieces are now missing. Fringes are about 10” in length.

Mostly large glass or ceramic beads, mostly light or dark blue, with some bright red, green and yellow pony beads. Single black pony bead and a single white pony bead (near the necklace fastener) are also included. Beads are strung on a white shoelace, and tied together to form an 11” inch “necklace.”

Leather construction – very brittle. Extra “heel” piece has been inserted and stitched into each moccasin both on the inside and then on the outside bottom of the shoes (actually the left heel piece shows evidence of stitching – the right piece may be glued). The sole of the shoe shows small shoe nails holding the heelpiece to the moccasin. Two ties of some other leather are fastened toward the back of the moccasins by cutting a slit in each side about where the ankle is and running these leather thongs through the slit and then through a slit at one end of the thongs. A band of yellow seed beads, with dark blue and white seed beads in geometric designs circle the border of the shoes. However, the back of the heel is not beaded. The tops of the moccasins are decorated with dark blue seed bead rectangles in an almost “patchwork” effect, where a rectangle of leather shows through between rectangles of beads. This blue/leather background is further decorated by alternating white and red beaded rectangles to form a V. Two jingle bells decorate each shoe, however the right shoe is missing one bell. On the left shoe, which still has both bells one bell is slightly larger than the other. Each moccasin is “stuffed” with white tissue paper.

Possibly a “Mexican Lace” style of beadwork. Strip is unfinished, seed bead work - about 14 inches long, ½” wide. This style of beadwork builds on zigzags to accomplish an “open space” design within the strip. The center color is medium blue and runs the length of the piece. A dull orange colored bead borders this and the outside edges of the strip are done in yellow. Each junction, where beads come together is accomplished with a translucent red bead. This piece has been repaired at least twice. Currently, one repair attempt has not held up and so this beadwork is in two pieces.

21 inches of loomed, seed, beadwork fastened to make a “head” or possibly a “hatband.” Background beads are translucent amber color. Translucent green beads appear at intervals forming H or I shapes toward the center of the strip and running the length of the headband – 22 “H”s total. The length of the band also sports a zigzag pattern of white seed beads as a border on either side of the “H”s. At the point where the loomed piece is brought together, five single strands of beads make a “fringe” to finish off the seam. Four of the five fringes are made with translucent green, amber or pearl colored seed beads and finished with a small loop of light blue seed beads. The fifth fringe is completely different from the other four. It is composed of red (white hearts) and medium blue seed beads. It also ends in a small loop of light blue seed beads. This ‘odd’ fringe is the fifth fringe (it does not mark the middle).

21 inches of loomed, tiny seed and tiny faceted seed beadwork fastened to make a 2” wide “head” or “hat” band. Background beads are predominantly white. These white beads show quite a bit of dirt or sand which slightly mutes the colors. The “inside” of the headband is much brighter. Design is basically geometric, very intricate, and employs many colors of tiny, most often faceted seed beads. Colors include translucent yellow and translucent green toward the outer edges of the band, translucent purples and tiny, faceted brass seed beads form paired diamonds in an alternating pattern with larger “hollow” red and green diamonds. The red and green diamonds have an internal design made with the same translucent purple that appears in the paired diamonds. Other small design is incorporated in this piece. The length of the band is finished on each side by a border of tiny “looping” beadwork in light blue seed beads and tiny, brick-red faceted seed beads. At the point where the loomed piece is brought together, nineteen single strands of beads make a “fringe” to finish off the seam. All of the fringes are made with tiny, slightly faceted rose pink beads, tiny, faceted brassy beads, tiny faceted dark blue beads, and finished with a small loop of tiny brick-red faceted seed beads.

21 inch length of artistically woven horsehair is finished in the back with braided black horsehair “laces” and a tiny blond horsehair bead. The black horsehair laces are finished with a swatch of blond horse hair. The bulk of the band is woven blond and black horsehair.

One pair souvenir leather moccasins. Measure apprx. 2” x 1 ½”. Tied together with miniature leather lace. The tops of the moccasins are decorated with a strip of beadwork four beads wide and 12 beads long. At the top of the strip two small lines of beads compliment the strip. These are done in light blue and yellow. The main strip begins with three rows of yellow seed beads then alternates between red (white hearts) and light blue seed bead rows. A border of light blue seed beads circle the foot of the moccasin and follow the seam up the back of each moccasin.

Tiny, 1 ½” x ½” brushed paper moccasin souvenirs. The paper is made to feel and look a bit like leather. The tops of the moccasins are decorated with stippling. The heels of the moccasins are tied together with a piece of burgundy colored yarn.

8” long and semi-tubular, this item is fully beaded (wrap beading) with white, dark blue, and red (white hearts) seed beads. Secured in places with additional wraps of thread and some sort of glue. One end of the item appears to have a beaded “cap” decorated as well with white, dark blue, and red (white hearts) seed beads. The cap cannot be removed. At the top of this “cap” is a short leather thong tied together to make a loop. The beadwork is wrapped around what appears to be a rawhide “tube” the inside may be empty, or the rawhide may be wrapped around a long slender unknown item.

4 ¾” x just over 1” at its widest point this stone is obviously worked into a “spearhead.” At the base, some type of flat red cord has been wrapped at least 8 times and tied off. There are remnants of an additional thread material that tied off at the red cord tie-off.

5 1/2 “ long. The top of the pouch is gathered together with a leather thong. This pouch is decorated along the outside seam with lime-green seed beads. One face of the pouch is also decorated with seed beads in an inverted triangular or pyramid shape. The majority of the pyramid is done with light blue, bordered first with dark blue, then with red seed beads. Ten pairs of short beaded rows decorate each “step” of the pyramid. These rows are made with translucent yellow seed beads. The other face of the pouch is decorated with “whirling cross” symbol popular among several Plains and Southwestern groups. Two of the “legs” are made with lime-green seed beads, the other two are made with black, faceted seed beads. The middle of the cross consists of four rows of six bright red seed beads. Unknown item/items are stored in the pouch.

4” x 3 ½” dark, extremely soft leather construction. Front face fully beaded. Back face not beaded. Small flap closes the top of the pouch -secured with three featureless, brass buttons. Seam and the flap bordered with short rows of translucent purple seed beads. Face of the pouch is decorated with seed beads. The background is predominately a light blue, bordered by a “candy cane” design of pink and black seed beads, five beads wide. A single blossom of translucent pink seed beads dominates the center bordered by translucent green seed beads. The center of the blossom is black and bordered with yellow seed beads. From the center, between each green and pink petal, a line of 11 seed beads ends in three circular patterns: like small blossoms or buds. Smaller blossoms are slightly translucent white seed beads bordered w/dark blue seed beads. Pouch appears to be empty. A narrow leather thong loops through a small cut in the pouch tied together to form a loop.

6” x 4 ½” including short fringe. Fringe averages just under 1’ in length and circles the pouch at the seem. The top of the pouch is cut in a zigzag and is drawn together with a leather thong or lace. The front face of the pouch is beaded with a multi-color floral design with three blossoms and two rays that end in a pair of green and tiny faceted brass bead circles. Two of the blossom patterns match. The third, middle blossom is composed translucent pink, solid lime-green, and tiny faceted brass beads. This blossom is bordered in the same opalescent white seed bead that appear as “stems” and border the two lime-green and brass circles. The blossom type looks much like a paintbrush. The paired blossoms are composed of yellow, translucent green, translucent orange, and also detailed with a few dark blue seed beads. The paired blossoms are bordered with a tiny light blue seed bead. A short section of fringe, toward the top of the pouch has pulled out from the seam. At some point, someone attempted to patch this with a dark brown thread. The pouch is empty.

5 ½” x 4” leather construction. The top of this pouch is cut in a zigzag edge. Small holes ring the top of the pouch for use with a drawstring. Remnants of a drawstring (leather lacing) remain. The seam of the pouch is decorated with green and white seed beads. One face of the pouch is decorated with a border of square shapes accomplished with green and white seed beads. Long rows of mustard-yellow seed beads divide the face into six sections. Four of these sections sport a small square. These small squares are made with a center of medium-blue seed beads, and bordered with white seed beads. The other face of the pouch is decorated with a border of green and mustard-yellow beads – the complete border resembles a horseshoe shape. Another, smaller horseshoe shape towards the center of the bag face is accomplished with white and green seed beads in a similar lay out. The very center of this face of the pouch sports two square shapes. These are accomplished using white seed beads bordered by green seed beads. The pouch is empty.

Apprx. 2” tall this slightly carved “pole” sits atop a small wooden “stump” base. A hole is drilled through the top of the “pole.” Two faces appear to be carved toward the base of the pole, one above the other and are painted. Another “face” that incorporates an “owl-like” body with wings is the topmost figure on the pole. This is also painted.

Just under 2” x 2” this piece of beadwork appears to have been both stitched and glued to a small piece of red wool. Lines and diamonds of dark blue and yellow seed beads decorate a white seed bead background. The “bottom” edge is fringed with 17 strands of white seed beads (with a few yellow seed beads). This “fringe” averages 1” in length and each strand is finished by looping the beads back into the strand. The loops are accomplished with light blue and dark blue seed beads. Each loop has a single pink bead at its “apex.” The “sides” of the piece also sport short looped bead strands. Apparently there were originally three of these strands on each side, but the topmost strand is now missing on the right side of the piece. Each of these beaded strand/loops are multi-colored and a little different from one another, but match the strand/loop on the opposite side. The red fabric shows signs of possible insect damage.

12 1/2 “ long and 1 ½ inches wide. Blue and black pony beads are strung on a nylon shoelace type material with leather stops between each blue/black section. Each section consists of four strands of five beads each. At the middle (front) of the choker, a leather lacing is attached with string around the central lowest pony bead. Both ends of the lacing pass through a yellow, then green, then yellow pony bead to make a single strand from the choker proper. Then each end of the lacing threads 10 alternating blue and black pony beads. This “pendant” is 4” long. The choker fastens at the back with to leather thongs (relatively thick strips) tied together.

Leather construction. Two snap-flaps. 2 ½” x 3 ½” Square. “Howard Houston Laramie Wyoming” is just barely visible on the inner flap. The wallet is fully beaded. Background of white seed beads. The initials “L” and “A” are beaded on the outermost flap in tiny red and tiny translucent yellow seed beads. The wallet is decorated with a floral and leaf patter. The petals of the blossom are red (white hearts) and pink. The center of each petal consists of a single row of silvery beads. The flower stem uses the same silvery beads. The center of the blossom appears to have been tiny, faceted brass or copper beads – but may have been melted or otherwise destroyed. Two wing-like patterns veer off at the base of this blossom’s stem. They consist of mustard-orange background and are compliment with single strands of translucent purple seed beads. Emitting from the “top” of the blossom, and passing over the fold of the wallet is a large, beaded leaf in bright green seed beads. Dark green seed beads finish the “veins” of the leaf. The wallet is empty.

7” long, leather construction. The “front” of the sheath is fully beaded. Background is white seed beads. The top of the sheath is decorated with a 2” red and black geometric shape made also of seed beads. The lower ¾ of the sheath (where the actual blade would be inside the sheath) is docrated along the border with triangles of yellow seed beads bordered with black seed beads. An inner “border” marks where the cutting edge of the blade would be inside the sheath. This border is made of black seed beads. Four yellow squares, bordered in black seed beads finish of the “central” decoration. At the “tip” of the knife sheath, a short (1”) piece of leather is wrapped with white, black, yellow, black, white seed beads. A small metal cone bead finishes this end. At the opening end of the sheath, a short leather lacing passes through the sheath and is tied together to form a loop. There is nothing in the sheath.

Large, acid-free, archive envelope with one long strand (apprx. 40”) one short (6 ½”), and a number of loose variegated white disc-beads. Also a few wrapped quillwork remnants.

Large, acid-free, archive envelope containing various, seed pod, and tooth-like beads, with occasional trade beads are strung on short lengths of stiff leather (?) pieces.

Large, acid-free, archive envelope with various corn kernels (different colors, green, yellow, orange…etc) strung together. Inside of this larger envelope is a smaller envelope also containing a handful of various-colored corn kernels. These have also been strung, but have broken and are in short lengths.

Large, acid-free, archive envelope containing a broken necklace strand. The remaining portions are mostly pod seed beads, small white shell beads, and small wooden beads. Three long, slender claw-like (?) wooden pieces are drilled toward the heavier end of their length. The wood color is a dark red. Maybe carved to resemble large claws for a child’s “toy” necklace?” These long wooden pieces were obviously the center point of the necklace.