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Native American
Native American - Northeast and Southeast Woodland ➔ Birchbark Box

Identifier:

203667

Description:

This square, lidded birchbark box has sweetgrass edging and floral motifs embroidered in the center of the lid and on the sides. Blue and pink porcupine quills are also used as crosshatch decorations on the sides of the lid. It was made by a Chippewa maker. 

Date:

1926 – 1975

Materials:

Sweetgrass, Birchbark, Porcupine Quills

Current Location Status:

In Storage

Collection Tier:

Tier 2

Source:

Gift of the Estate of Ruth Herrick

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Exhibits/Programs:

Anishinabek: The People of this Place (1995 – 2025)

Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place (after 2026)

Redesign of the Anishinabek: The People of this Place exhibit. Ideas for potential artifacts.

Related Entities:

Chippewa (creator)
Alternate names: Ojibway, Ojibwe, Saulteaux Estate of Dr. Ruth Herrick (donor)
Born on July 6, 1895 in Ohio, Ruth Herrick became known as one of the first women physicians in Michigan. She studied at the University of Chicago Medical College and at Blodgett Memorial Hospital. Afterwards she began her practice in 1931 in Grand Rapids. She was an avid collector and took a strong interest in archaeology, having lectured at the Greenfield Village Museum and wrote and published a book entitled "Greentown glass: the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company and allied manufacturers (1959)". In 1961 she cooperated with the Kent County Medical Society in compiling a historic medical collection. She retired in 1973 and later passed away after an automobile accident on June 7, 1974, with many of her assets bequeathed to the Public Museum.