A Great Teller of Stories and Legends of the Eskimo Race
Object Details
- Author
- Hansen, Leo
- Subject
- Thule Expedition (5th : 1921-1924) Report of the Fifth Thule Expedition, 1921-24
- Category
- Historic Images of the Smithsonian
- Born in Greenland of a Danish missionary father and an Inuit mother, Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen, 1879-1933, was a Danish arctic explorer and ethnologist, who between 1921 and 1924, led a small band of colleagues in a journey of investigation across arctic North America from Hudson Bay to the Bering Strait. In 1910, he established his Thule station at Cape York, Greenland, the base for seven expeditions, five led by Rasmussen himself. Rasmussen was an excellent explorer, interpreter, and translator. He documented many Inuit legends that may have gone unnoticed without him. His work helped future explorers and he is remembered as the first man to cross the Northwest Passage by dog sled. He made a visit in 1924 to Washington, D.C., with several of his expedition companions. The visit was documented by Science Service, a news service established in 1920, which also publicized his expeditions.
- For additional pictures of the Fifth Thule Arctic Expedition, see 2005-8623, 2005-8625, 2005-8626, 2005-8627, 2005-8628, 2005-8629, 2005-8630, 2005-8631, 2005-8632, 2005-8633, 2005-8634, 2005-8635, 2005-8636, 2005-8638, 2005-8639, 2005-8640, 2005-8641, and 2005-8642.
- For additional pictures of Rasmussen's 1924 visit to Washington, D.C., see 2005-8624, 2005-8643, 2005-8644, 2005-8645, 2005-8646, 2002-8647, 2005-8648, 2005-8649, 2005-8651, 2005-8652, 2005-8654, 2005-8656, and 2005-8657.
- Summary
- His face framed with fur, he was one of the great tellers of stories and legends who gave Rasmussen information on the folklore of the Eskimo race. The white objects are lip ornaments.
- Contained within
- Smithsonian Institution Archives, Science Service Records, Record Unit 7091, Box 409, Folder 2
- Contact information
- Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
- 1924
- Standard number
- 2005-8626
- Restrictions & Rights
- No restrictions
- Type
- Photographic print
- Person, candid
- Physical description
- Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and white; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Person, candid; Medium: Photographic print
- Smithsonian Archives - History Div
- Topic
- Arctic peoples
- Body piercing
- Clothing and dress
- Eskimos
- Folklore
- Inupiat
- Jewelry
- Indians of North America
- Scientific expeditions
- Storytellers
- Record ID
- siris_sic_11541
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Usage conditions apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.