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Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology
to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891
"Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology" by John Wesley Powell is a scientific publication written during the late 19th century. This report details the ongoing ethnological research and fieldwork conducted among North American Indians. It covers various topics, including linguistic classifications, archeological findings, cultural practices, and insights from prominent scholars contributing to this field of study. The opening of this report begins with a letter of transmittal from Powell to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, outlining the Bureau's objectives and accomplishments for the fiscal year 1885-1886. It emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts while inviting contributions from explorers and scholars to expand knowledge on Native American cultures. The text introduces the structure of the report, which includes the Director's report, field exploration findings, office work, and accompanying scientific papers on linguistic families, the Ojibwa Grand Medicine Society, and Cherokee sacred formulas. It sets the stage for a detailed examination of the methodologies and findings stemming from those studies.