19th century anthropologist James Mooney conducted outstanding research, especially among the Kiowa and Cherokee Indians with whom he lived, relates anthropologist JoAllyn Archambault.

Edward Nelson’s 1877-1881 Western Alaska Expedition was the beginning of the Smithsonian’s close collaboration with Arctic peoples to this day, as told by Curator William Fitzhugh.

The U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838-1842) collected many one-of-a-kind cultural objects, as told by Curator Adrienne Kaeppler.