A GRAND FAILURE:

ROBERT A. TRENNERT, JR.

In 1876 the United States was engrossed in celebrating its one-hundredth birthday. This was also a time when the average citizen felt keenly aware of the American Indian. Eastern newspapers, for example, along with stories about the centennial celebration, printed daily news of congressional committees on Indian affairs and reports of Indian wars then being fought on the frontier. The Custer massacre at Little Big Horn occurred during the official celebration itself. In such an atmosphere an exhibition on American Indians at the centennial exposition seemed destined to be a successful attraction. The fact that the exhibition took place at all is an example of the love-hate attitude that white Americans have traditionally felt toward the Indian. While the nation waged war to destroy the culture of its indigenous population, it ironically created an exhibition that presented a favorable picture of what was being destroyed. Unfortunately, the results proved less than satisfactory.

The question facing the government as it first came to grips with the exhibition concerned what should be included in the display, and, indirectly, how the Indians of the United States should be portrayed. Would it be appropriate to invite large groups of Indians to come to Philadelphia as a living demonstration of

The author wishes to thank Temple University for financial assistance and Stanley Beshunsky, a graduate student, for his research assistance in the preparation of this article.

their customs and culture, or would it be better to present a static display of Indian arts, crafts, and ethnology? The story of the Indian exhibition at Philadelphia is that of a few dedicated people attempting, within the limits of their biased views of the American Indian, to present an effective, living display of contemporary Indian life. Dominating this group was Spencer F. Baird, the aggressive assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who had general responsibility for collecting the materials, constructing the display, and running the exhibition. Baird coordinated his activities with the Office of Indian Affairs, which, with the Smithsonian, was responsible for the exhibition, and with the leaders of the United States Centennial Commission.1

When Baird began planning the exhibition in 1874, he had an ambitious project in mind. Along with John Wesley Powell and other Smithsonian experts, Baird wanted to accomplish several significant things. The international exposition afforded a rare opportunity to enlighten the American people about the Indian, and their main goal was to have "a series of objects illustrating the habits, cus

The two Indian commissioners working on the centennial were Edward P. Smith, who served until December 1875 when he was replaced by John Q. Smith. The Centennial Commission was made up of representatives of all branches of government. Those planning the Indian display, in addition to Baird, were John Eaton of the Interior Department and Colonel Stephen G. Lyford of the War Department.