December 6, 2001

Media only: Public Information Officer (202)786-2875
Public only: (202)357-2700

Smithsonian Libraries offers important digital edition about American Indian life on Web

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries has launched its newest digital edition, John C. Ewers' "The Horse in Blackfoot Indian Culture." This classic study, on view at www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/BAE/Bulletin159/, examines how the introduction of the horse to Plains Indian cultures affected many aspects of Indian life, ranging from hunting methods to social relationships. The monograph is reproduced on the Libraries' Web site in its entirety, including the original photographs that accompanied the text. An introduction by Dr. Candace S. Greene of the Smithsonian's Department of Anthropology situates the work within its original historical context and describes Ewers' considerable contributions to Plains Indian studies.

This latest digital edition is drawn from the publication series originally issued in print form by the Smithsonian's Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE). The Libraries launched the first of these bulletins in digital form in 1996 with an anthropological paper from bulletin number 164, titled "Hair Pipes in Plains Indians Adornment," also by John C. Ewers. The Libraries' digital editions of these significant BAE reports provide international access for both the public and the scholarly community to authoritative information about Native American languages, cultures, and history. Maggie Dittemore, Anthropology Librarian, stated, "For the first time, it is possible for anyone, anywhere to view these and other important and highly influential texts. Digital technology has made it possible to start bringing the Smithsonian Libraries to the research community rather than requiring them to travel to us. We hope that our Web offerings will have an impact on public school curricula and the interested public in a similar way."

Nancy E. Gwinn, Director of the Smithsonian Libraries, further noted, "Our ever-growing series of online publications is a testament to Smithsonian Libraries' strong commitment to providing a rich array of resources to the widest audience possible. Our digital editions keep our doors open to everyone, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No appointment necessary."

To access Smithsonian Libraries' complete list of digital editions, please visit: www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections. A host of other rare books and valuable studies are available for viewing, including, among many others, François Nicolas Martinet's Ornithologie, from 1773-1792 and Tycho Brahe's Astronomiæ instauratæ mechanica from 1602. All digital editions contain prefatory essays by Smithsonian Institution or Smithsonian Libraries' on-staff field specialists. The Libraries encourages researchers, educators, and the general public to bookmark this virtual bookshelf and visit it periodically. New digital editions will be posted on a regular basis.

The Smithsonian Libraries is a 22 branch system with online exhibitions, rare books, and information services online at www.sil.si.edu. The library catalog is at www.siris.si.edu. The Libraries serves the Smithsonian and the public with information and reference support. Its collections number 1.5 million volumes including 40,000 rare books, 2,000 manuscript groups, 180,000 microfilm and -fiche, and nearly 300,000 commercial trade catalogs dating back to the 1850s and representing over 30,000 companies.

# # # #