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I shall go up there and open it according to your method of trenching and slicing. I shall have a photographer with me and shall take careful notes. I will send to you reports of my results if you desire them.

My wife is a little better. She is now now at home. I brought her from the hospital last Wednesday. She is gaining slowly. I told her that you had mentioned her in your letter and she wishes to join me in thanking you for your kind wishes.

I received your enclosed form of your catalogue books. I had about finished a place for records which I based on the system which you use in New York. The Committee here have approved of this plan and I am now having the books made. I will send you a sample page. I shall also use cards.

I thank you for your suggestion in regard to ink. I have thought of using Higgins India Ink. I have tried to get the "Government Record Ink" here, but I fear I shall have to write to Washington or New York for it.

With many thanks and sincere appreciation for your kindness and interest, I am,

Faithfully yours,

F. H. Gerrodette

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July 15th '96.

Prof. Franz Boas, N.Y. City

Dear Dr. Boas:

Your kind favor was recived. I thank you sincerely for your kindness. I found your explanation of much use to me in finally preparing our plans for record. We have adopted a system which I think is very similar to yours. Instead of a "Location Book" I have added two columns to the "Inventory Book" thus combining the two. The location entries are to be in pencil that they may be easily erased whenever the specimens are moved. We shall have a card catalogue but the committee objects to such a large card so that I have arranged for a separate card for a sketch when that is necessary. I prefer the size of the card which you use but I do not believe I can get it.

I find that I like Museum work very much; as much as I expected, but still not as much as I should like collage work in the same line. I am in hopes that will come later. I expect to open a mound this month.

My wife has been questionable since

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my arrival here. She has spent some time in the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. We are boarding and therefore I do not have proper facilities for caring for her at home so I got a room for her in the hospital. I have her at home now and she is getting on fairly now but slowly.

With kindest regards to yourself and Mrs Boas, from us both, I am

Very sincerely yours,

F. H. Gerrodette

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5th '96

My dear Smith;

You kind favor was received. I was very glad to hear from you. I thank you for the formulas for cementing. Prof. Putnam suggested French bonnet glue. I fear that I shall have to use the La Page's glue. I cannot get the others. I have looked all about for them in this city but without success. Can Winchell's cement be purchased here anywhere as far as you know? If it can be bought I should be pleased if you could tell me where I can get it.

I received your former letter allright and I am under the impression that I answered it some days ago. If I did not I intended to do so.

I received Dr. Boas letter just after I had written to you. I have written to him acknowledging it. It was of great assistance to me.

I sincerely hope that, if you so desire you may get out into the field this fall. I shall be glad to hear of your plans if you do go. It is possible that we may want some of the material which you collect. We might be able to take material in the line of textiles, fictiles, or implements, etc, but we could do nothing now with casts of the feet, hands, faces, etc. I wish I could ask you to get me some good negatives but the time is not yet ripe for that here. Let me know of your plans before you start.

I would be pleased to receive a [ ] one of the photographs of your work.

With kindest regards and wishing you every success, I am,

Faithfully your friend,

F. H. Gerrodette

H. I. Smith, Esq. American Museum of Natural History, N.Y. City

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July 5t 96,

The Nassau National Bank New York City

Gentlemen:

Kindly send me statement of my account to date, giving amounts and numbers of checks. This will greatly oblige,

Yours very sincerely

F. H. Gerrodette