William C. Sturtevant (1926–2007)

his book provides an excellent way to study Native American tribal differences and similarities in personal ornamentation. There are 38 photographs of artifact collections that were drawn from the Smithsonian and New York's American Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, opening 21-26 September 2004, will certainly allow more detailed study. This book's 249 pages give a general anthropologic overview that can be used as a guide for further research.

Editor Colin F. Taylor, the book's technical consultant, is the curator of North American ethnology for the Smithsonian. His involvement allowed publication of objects and photographs that just possibly have been included in the new National Museum of the American Indian. In many ways, this book would be excellent to review prior to visiting the new museum.

The book is divided into nine geographic areas of North America then is further divided into tribes from that area, informing us about linguistics, ethnic styles of clothing and embellishment, and whether the tribe relied upon hunting and gathering or had an established agrarian culture.

Many old photographs are sprinkled throughout the book to show how Native Americans dressed before they were absorbed into non-native culture. Both the index and the bibliography are thorough -- a very beautiful book to add to your collection.… (mere)