The study of North American Indians was one of the original interests of the Smithsonian Institution. In fact, the first scientific report it published dealt with Indian remains in the Midwest. Such contributions by the Institution to the study of man were early and vital , and had much to do with the development of anthropology in America. Today, because of the unique material in its anthropology archives, the Smithsonian continues to be a prime source of information for scholars and others seeking knowledge of the original Americans.

In 1847, one year after the Institution was founded, the Smithsonian Board of Regents declared its interest