Spencer Baird, the second Secretary of the Smithsonian, dispatched naturalist Edward W. Nelson to the wilds of Alaska for four years (1877-1881), where he became known to Eskimos (now called Inuit) as ‘the man who collects good-for-nothing things.” Those things are now among the treasures of the Smithsonian’s anthropology collection, including ivory carvings, exquisite fur garments, ceremonial masks, kayaks, photographs, songs, and charms. Nelson was not alone, as scores of other naturalists and scientists were sent by the Smithsonian to Labrador, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia to document Arctic cultures in the circumpolar region.

The Smithsonian’s Arctic Studies Center continues this legacy by conducting research throughout the Arctic in collaboration with Indigenous communities. The center’s exhibits and publications explore the roots and vitality of northern cultures and peoples. Director William Fitzhugh discusses how Nelson’s research laid the foundation for 150 years of natural history and anthropological studies, as well as exhibits and public programs that continue to this day.

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