1892-1895: Frank Russell Collection: ethnographic materials, birds and mammals

Frank Russell's expedition to the Arctic

Twenty-three year old University of Iowa graduate student Frank Russell (1868-1903) embarked on his epic solo journey into northern Canada in August, 1892. He spent over two years traveling alone covering 3,000 miles by train, boat, dog sled and on snow shoes. He returned to Iowa City in October, 1894, receiving a hero's welcome. The trek shattered his health. Russell died 10 years later, at the age of 35, of tuberculosis.

Collecting musk oxen was the primary goal of Russell's expedition. Scientists at the time assumed musk oxen were doomed to extinction. Collecting some of the last specimens for the Museum was thought the responsible thing to do before they disappeared entirely. Russell was also directed to collect whatever other large mammals he could, along with birds, insects, fossils, plants, cultural material and data on the weather.

Every spring and fall the Doug Rib tribes gathered at the edge of the northern barren ground to prepare for the musk oxen hunt. In March 1894 Russell traveled to Ft. Rae, near the Great Slave Lake, and tried to persuade hunters to take him along. He ran into an unexpected obstacle -- the natives believed the animals Russell sent to be mounted in Mollah Edna, the white man's country, would live there happily forever and lure all the other caribou and musk oxen to leave the North and join them. Russell finally persuaded a party of hunters with the promise of food, tea and 1 dollar per day.

The hunters saw a herd on the tenth day of the trip about one mile away. Russell's companions abandoned all pretense of good hunting manners and raced ahead. He was left far behind to struggle with his sled and supplies. By the time Russell arrived on the scene, the natives had slain the animals and claimed them for themselves. He was better prepared when they came upon another herd six days later. Again the natives deserted Russell; however, he had stripped off his bulkiest clothing and emptied his pack of all but bare necessities. This time he managed to keep up with the sprinting natives and shot three musk oxen for himself. Three days later they spotted another large herd. Unfortunately, Russell's sled bogged down in soft snow going up a steep hill. By the time he reached the top, the others were a quarter of a mile ahead and seemingly about to end his last chance to collect the oxen. Russell later confessed in his journal that at that moment he gave up all though of hunting musk oxen and imagined he might just shoot the natives instead. However, at the last moment, a group of four large bulls broke off from the herd and ran in Russell's direction. He managed to kill them all.

It was a difficult journey back. With a 500 pound load of seven musk oxen pelts and skulls, Russell's overloaded and top-heavy sled fell over frequently, sometimes a dozen times for every 100 yards of progress. He did not ride the sled but ran behind it for 400 miles on snowshoes, hanging on tightly so as to stay with the dogs. The party was trapped in a blinding blizzard for the day. The little food they had was given to the dogs. Their fire wood ran out and they had to burn their tent poles to stay warm. When the weather warmed, the ground softened and the Russell's feet got caught in the mud, making every step difficult.

Reference:  Russell, Frank. Explorations in the Far North, 1898, University of Iowa.

Frank Russel Collection List

Catalog number, Object, Ethnic Origin, Specific Location
34932 Needles, Bone (11) Eskimo Point Barrow, Diomedes Island
24928 Labrets (28) Eskimo Point Barrow, Diomedes Islands
34933 Implements, Miscellaneous (9) Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
09602 Tinklers, Metal (34) Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
11016 Case, Needle Eskimo Diomedes Islands
23938 Knife, Crooked Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
11028 Labrets (2) Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
21353 Ivory, Mastadon Ft. McPherson, Peel River, Northwest Territory
10966 Point, Arrow (Pile) Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10965 Point, Arrow (Pile) Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
11010 Knife, Women's (Ulu) Eskimo Richard Island
10956 or 10957 Point, Projectile Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10946 Needle, Netting Dog Rib Ft. Rae, Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territory
34936 Wood, Carved (3)
34937 Wood, Carved
34938 Bowls, Stone Pipe (5) Eskimo
10958 Knife, Snow Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
09628 Steel, Fire Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
34941 Artifact, Unidentified Wooden Eskimo
10867 Arrow, Bird Point Eskimo Peel River
10861 Arrow, Bird Point Eskimo Peel River
10862 Arrow, Bird Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
10863 Arrow, Caribou Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
11005 Swivel, Harness Eskimo Diomedes Islands
11027 Scraper, Skin Eskimo Diomedes Islands
10964 Knife, Snow Eskimo Cape Bathurst, Northwest Territory
10951 Needle, Netting Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10943 Drill, Bow Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
11009 Hook, Fish Eskimo Anderson River
10908 Ladle Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10841 Hammer, Stone Eskimo Anderson River
10928 Lamp, Soapstone Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10859a Bow Eskimo Richard Island
10864 Arrow, Bird Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
10860 Arrow, Caribou Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
10906 Mittens, Polar Bear Skin Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10910 Boots, Dress Eskimo Cape Tchaplin (East Cape)
10903 Trousers, Woman's Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10905 Frock, Woman's Eskimo Herschel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
11031 Labret Eskimo Cape Bathurst
10909 Umiak, Model Eskimo Point Barrow, Diomedes Island
10865 Arrow, Caribou Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
10866 Arrow, Bird Point Eskimo Peel River, Northwest Territory
11029 Labret Eskimo Stokes Point
11030 Labret Eskimo Stokes Point
10828 Drum Dog Rib Ft. Rae, Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territory
10960 Float, Net Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10963 Sinker, Net Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
10954 Spear, Bird Eskimo Stokes Point
11032 Spear, Bird Eskimo Diomedes Islands
11033 Bird Spear Eskimo Diomedes Island
09612 Needle, Netting Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
10931-10934 Harpoon Head Stokes Point or Hershel Island
10848 Snow Shoes Loucheaux Ft. McPherson, Northwest Territory
09621 Canoe, Birch Bark Model Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
10849 Snow Shoes, Hunting Cree Grand Rapids, Manitoba
09626 Vessel, Bark Cree Grand Rapids, Manitoba
10829 Drumstick Dog Rib Ft. Rae, Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territory
34931 Needles, Miscellaneous (4) Eskimo
10890 Pouch, Bullet Loucheux Peel River
34907 Frock, Infant's Rain Eskimo
09622 Paddle, Model Canoe Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
09623 Paddle, Model Canoe Cree or Metis Grand Rapids, Manitoba
09583 Cradle Cree
10894 Tinder, Willow Catkins Eskimo Hershel Island, Yukon Coast, Arctic Ocean
24939 Slippers, Sealskin Eskimo Prince Albert Sound, Victorialand
10917 Snares, Rabbit (2) Chippewyan Fort Chippewyan
34934 Ivory, Fossil Eskimo
34939 Antler, Worked Tip Eskimo
34906 Pieces, Gaming (7) Eskimo